By Agantem Simon
Your Excellency,
Warm greetings and compliments of the season.
Let me, first of all, congratulate you on the achievements recorded by your administration in less than three years. You have successfully sustained the legacy of your predecessor and maintained peace and progress in our dear state.
Your Excellency, some years ago, Cross River State witnessed a political emancipation led by the then Governor, Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade. This emancipation came with great sacrifice but eventually gave birth to the peace, progress, and sweetness we now enjoy in the state.
At that time, usurpers gathered in their numbers to snatch a throne that was never theirs. Yet, by divine providence and the collective will of the people, Cross River prevailed. The wolves that came from outside our borders to steal what belonged to us were defeated, and our dignity as a people was restored.
Your Excellency, Cross Riverians celebrate you for your firmness and your unmistakable stance in political tussles. When a so-called Port Harcourt Emperor attempted to impose Asu Okang, a member of the opposition, you stood your ground against such sacrilege, and it never came to pass. When that same external influence tried to foist his ally, Sandy Onor, upon us, you again resisted with courage and conviction. Today, that desperate bid for relevance has been reduced to mere gossip in beer parlours.
However, the interference has not stopped. Wike and Akpabio have continually attempted to maneuver and manipulate the politics and leadership of Cross River State. They seek to undermine this our state, proudly the first APC controlled state in the South South and the pride of our great party in the region. We must, therefore, continue to resist every ploy to make Cross River subservient to external political overlords.
Due to our low revenue as a state, these men who see themselves as gods have continued to make efforts to annex Cross River State. It is imperative that you continue to resist them by every means necessary.
Just yesterday, I read and saw pictures of Senator Jarigbe Agom Agom at the Presidential Villa with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a meeting facilitated by Senator Godswill Akpabio. What this signifies, Your Excellency, is an attempt by Akpabio to decide what happens politically in Cross River State. It is a calculated move aimed at capturing the political structure of the state ahead of 2027.
It is, therefore, not surprising that Senator Jarigbe hastily defected to the APC without consulting the major stakeholders of the party in the Northern Senatorial District, which he represents in the Senate. Such an act of disregard only reveals the desperation and arrogance behind this orchestrated political intrusion. These individuals are not here to build; they are here to destroy the peace and unity we have enjoyed under your leadership. They have zero regard for zoning, fairness, and balance, which are the very principles that have kept Cross River politically stable and harmonious.
Your Excellency, Akpabio’s plan is simple yet dangerous, he seeks to dominate both Akwa Ibom and Cross River States, controlling their political destinies like a regional emperor. But we must not allow that to happen. Cross River State has its pride, its leaders, and its destiny, and no outsider should be allowed to dictate our future.
Your Excellency, history has placed you at a pivotal moment to defend the integrity, peace, and political independence of Cross River State. The people stand firmly with you, as we trust in your wisdom and courage to safeguard our collective future.
Finally, Your Excellency, as a clear message to those attempting to infiltrate and destabilize our political structure, there must be a mass rally across the state, a united demonstration by the people of Cross River rejecting Senator Jarigbe’s defection to the APC and reaffirming loyalty to your leadership and the independence of our state’s political identity.
GODS’SWILL AKPABIO cannot install a Senator in Cross River State!
Cross River is not for sale, and its destiny is not up for negotiation.
