Earlyface

Ever since Donald Duke stamped his authority on the politics of Cross River State at the turn of the century, politics in the commercially laid back state has been a staged affair. Now, rumbling between the camps of the governor and the Senate leader is shaking the status quo.
Having been zoned by both the PDP and the All Progressive Congress to the Northern Senatorial District of the state which comprises of five local government areas, so many contenders are muting their interest for the post.
They include the loyalists of Senator Liyel Imoke and “outsiders” and from their body language; every aspirant is in strong contention no matter irrespective of the odds.
Governor of Cross River State, Liyel Imoke
Already jostling for the coveted position is an array of influential and powerful politicians from the district. They include Mr. Fidel Ugbo,  the serving Secretary of  National Planning Commission, Mr. Goddy Agba, the General Manager Crude, NNPC, Professor Ben Ayade, the Senator representing the Northern  Senatorial District, Mr. John Odey, former Minster of Environment, Mr Larry Odey, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Mr Fidel Egoro, Deputy State Chairman of the PDP, Mr Mr Tanko Ashong, Legal Adviser NEMA, Mr Legor Idagbo, Commissioner for Works,  Dr Julius Okputu, former Commissioner for Environment and Mr Peter Ojie, Commissioner for Local Government Affairs.
It is also generally believed by almost everybody that the PDP is the only party in the state with the capacity to produce a governor in 2015.
One group, comprising of core Imoke loyalists believes that Senator Imoke as the leader of the party  in the state should be given the leverage and free hand to pick  a successor, while the other group contends that  the array of aspirants for the prime position  should be allowed to contest on a free and fair platform for the   winner to emerge  on merit.
Those who want Imoke to pick a successor argue that having piloted the affairs of the state for eight years, he is well versed and adequately positioned to know who is competent enough to handle the affairs of the state after his exit.
“Mr Donald Duke wasted his first four years on trial and error; he hardly knew the names of the villages and communities not even those of his supporters. That is not what we want again in this state but someone who would hit the ground running and who should that person be but the one who has been following Imoke and is conversant with the politics and personalities in this state”.
Mr Lawrence Ekpe, a PDP stalwart told Vanguard.
Some political leaders of the PDP in the Central Senatorial District of the state, where Senator Victor Ndoma Egba, the Senate Leader comes from, also hold this view.  These include Hon Owan Eno, House of Representatives member representing Obubra/Etung, Hon Chris Eta, Ikom/Boki Federal Constituency, Hon Bassey Ewa, Yakkur/Abi Federal Constituency and their supporters.
*Ndoma Egba
In a meeting held recently at the instance of  Rep. Eno, the again came to fore as majority of the speakers insisted that  Senator Imoke should be allowed to pick a successor. “He was the one who brought the PDP flag from Abuja in 1998 and has since then been the light in the tunnel and as a governor he deserves the right to pick a successor to succeed him”, Eno told the leaders.
Eno said clandestine meetings are being held by those he called “faceless” with the view to subverting the plan by Senator  Imoke in order to install  their own stooge as  governor.  “Governor Imoke means well for the state and has the massive support of the party members and where he stands is where every one of us here will stand so let no one deludes himself that he will subvert the plan by the governor to have successor of his choice”.
Speaking in the same line, Rep. Bassey Eko Ewa said Senator Imoke has been championing unity in the PDP at the national level and so should not be distracted at home by people who out of their personal ambition want to distabilse his  political  plan.
“Most initiatives by President Goodluck Jonathan to bring unity to the party is being driven by our governor so he needs the total support of everyone in the party and not to be clouded by personal  ambition of some people.”.