By Joseph ETTA in Calabar
A former presidential adviser and chieftain of the All Progressive Congress in Cross River State, Chief Okoi Obono Obla is not happy that the state chapter of the party is still going through leadership crisis.
Last year, the national chairman of the party, Adams Oshiomhole had intervened in the crisis bedeviling the party, with a declaration that the legitimate leadership of the party is the one led by Mr John Ochala.
However, the faction led by Mr Etim John is still parading itself as leaders of the party, a development that is seen to be disturbing Obono Obla. The faction has even gone ahead to submit names of candidates for the forthcoming local government elections.
John’s decision to submit names of candidates to CROSIEC came after the Ochala led Exco had earlier submitted names to the electoral umpire in the state.
In a statement, Obla said there was the need for the two opposing factions to give way for the set up of an interim leadership for the state chapter of the party. “I have every moral and legal right and authority to proffer the way forward for APC Cross River State chapter that has been embroiled and enmeshed in an intractable crisis since 2015.
This is because I care. This is because I feel for the ordinary members of the party (some of who have been in opposition in Cross River State since 1999). This is because I am a foundational member of the APC. In all modesty, I can beat my chest and claim that I am one of the founders of the APC”.
APC in CRS had a good opportunity in 2019 but we blew it out of short sightedness, selfishness, wickedness, self-centeredness, self-conceitedness. Some of us think if we cannot have our way, the party must be stagnant, the party must be killed, the party must be undermined and sabotaged. We saw this glaringly in the run up to the 2019 general election. We saw that many of the party leaders sold out.
“However, it is not too late to reform and rebuild APC in Cross River State. The time is now. I suggest the appointment of a caretaker committee which membership should be drawn from outside the state to manage the affairs of the party till another congress is held, to elect new executives for all the structures of the party in the state.”
He said it mischievous for some people to think that litigations would solve the leadership issues. According to him, “some of us wrongly think that litigation or law suits will take us to the promised land. This is wishful thinking.
“Law or court judgements (that declares and invest legal rights cannot solve political questions or disputes). So, the cases in the supreme Court or Court of Appeal or High Court will not help the party. These cases will only result in one faction or group having an advantage to the exclusion of another contending group or faction. We need to practice the politics of inclusiveness not exclusiveness and marginalization.”
