2011 Election: Northern Cross Riverians Call On Imoke To Contest
San Francisco, Sept 15, (THEWILL) - Following the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announcement last week that it intends to hold the governorship election in 36 states of the country next year, the people of the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State have unanimously called on Governor Liyel Imoke to come out and contest for a second term in office.
The call was a resolution contained in a communiqué issued at the end of interactive dinner session of the Northern Cross River Coalition for Liyel Imoke held at Channel View Hotel, Calabar on Saturday.
While presenting the communiqué to Imoke during a courtesy visit on Sunday a day after the session, at Government House, Calabar, they said, "In appreciation of the visionary leadership of His Excellency Senator Liyel Imoke, we the undersigned for ourselves and as representatives of the entire Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State do hereby call on His Excellency to come out and contest for a second term in office."
They pledged to support him completely in his second term re-election bid when he comes out to contest.
The people, however, noted that their area is yet to produce a Governor for Cross River State and therefore appealed that the Governor keeps his promise of handing over "to one of our sons from the Northern Senatorial district at the expiration of his second tenure in 2015/2016."
According to them, their call was hinged on the fact that Imoke has demonstrated rare humility, courage and above all the fear of God in the administration of the State for the past three years, adding that he has pursued developmental programmes that have impacted positively on the lives of the common man in Northern Cross Senatorial District more than ever before.
They expressed that Imoke has been a listening Governor and has an uncommon sympathy for the plight of the people while it has been observed with commendation and approval that Cross River under him has remained the safest state in Nigeria notwithstanding the fact that the state is in the Niger Delta region.
The spokesman of the coalition and one time Deputy Governor of the old Cross River State, Dr. Mathias Offoboche, in an introductory address, described their visit as unique and that their mission was to tell the Governor that the people of Northern Cross River have decided to call on him to contest for a second term.
According to Offoboche, the call was based on the governor’s achievement and pedigree as well as his kindness, love, fairness and humility which is quite exemplary and have endeared him to people.
Responding, Governor Liyel Imoke expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Northern Senatorial District for its show of goodwill and love and endorsement of support which was displayed in a meaningful way as dividend of democracy, adding that he was overwhelmed by the crowd that turned out for the dinner in his honour as he had never seen people from that area gathered like that before.
Imoke disclosed that despite the difference in the state what Cross Riverians have in common is greater and the more they express what they have in common it will be better, adding that the people are honest, sincere, committed, humble and they have one economy which is interrelated and inter-independent and that is the reason why God has put them together in peace and unity more than states that are homogenous.
The governor remarked that while giving glory to God, leaders in the State have integrity and those before have shown the way and were committed to the State, advising that all should sustain the unity of and ensure it as a united people as every section of Cross River has a chance to hold the highest office in the land.
He noted that no part of the society dominates the other because that will not strengthen its unity to forge ahead as there is need to bind collectively as a people "to produce one governor from the north, one governor from the central and one governor from the south".
Imoke expressed that the overwhelming show of love displayed by the people will not be in vain because the challenge of the state is that government will continue to improve on the little it has done and by the time the north produces a governor, his job will be easier because the present administration is committed to the development of the State.
He explained that the administration is committed to set minimum standard for every economy to grow forward whether in the urban or rural centres so that its education will not be substandard or rated as one of the poorest states with dilapidated infrastructure and health care system not functional.
The governor therefore appealed for a united Northern Senatorial District because its strength lies in its unity which should be sustained to have a new Cross River with strong ties and confidence among Cross Riverians, advising that they be united, speak with one voice until a time the next governor of the state is sworn into office while restating his commitment towards the growth of the northern Senatorial District and the state as a whole.
Those who called on the governor included, serving and former members of the National and State Assemblies, former and serving member of the and Federal and State Executive Council, local government Chairmen, political stalwarts, captains of industry, retired senior military officers, former ambassadors and women organization, including Mr. John Odey, Minister of Environment, Brig. Gen. Tony Ukpo, former Military Governor of Rivers State, Senator Musa Adede and Amb. Akpang Obi Odu former Nigeria Ambassador to Korea.
Highlight of the visit was the presentation of two branded tee shirts campaign logo with the governor’s portrait, to him and his wife, Mrs. Obioma Liyel Imoke.