₦airaland Forum

NDDC: Cross River APC group protests commissioner’s appointment in Abuja

31st August 2023


Scores of demonstrators took to the streets of Abuja on Thursday to protest President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, Asu Okang, as the commissioner representing Cross River State on the board of Niger Delta Development Commission.

The protest is coming on the heel of a similar one held in Calabar, Cross River capital, on Wednesday.

Tinubu had on Tuesday approved the appointment of a new board and management team for the NDDC.

But the choice of Okang as the Cross River representative on the NDDC board sparked protests among the APC supporters, who insisted that it would be unfair for the President to appoint a PDP member to reap the fruit of their labour.

Thursday’s demonstration in Abuja was led by a group of aggrieved party members under the aegis of Cross River APC Stakeholders.

Chanting solidarity songs and displaying several banners that read, “Asu Okang not an APC member” “Cross River an APC State, not PDP” and “Cross River rejects Asu Okang as NDDC commissioner,” the protesters embarked on a peaceful walk from the popular Unity Fountain to the National Assembly.

Addressing journalists, leader of the group, Bukkie Okangbe, appealed to the President to reward their loyalty by withdrawing Okang and allowing the state governor to decide for them.

She said, “We are here because we want to send a message to the ruling party and President Bola Tinubu that injustice is not good. This is the season of injustice to Cross River and we will not keep quiet. If we have to protest every day, we will continue to do it until we are heard.

“The Cross River stakeholders have been on the ground since yesterday (Wednesday). Our message is clear. The NDDC slot given to one of our brothers is not a bad idea. But we believe in a reward system of who works deserves reward. Somebody who fought against the APC system should not be the first person to benefit from it.

“Even if they say this is a unity government, let the people who work benefit from the reward. We totally reject the slot of NDDC given to Asu Okang. We will continue to protest until the right thing is done. There are so many APC stalwarts in Cross River who are more qualified that should represent us in the NDDC. These are the people who should be appointed, not people brought from another party. We are therefore rejecting the NDDC slot for Cross River.

“If our leader, the governor of Cross River State, has been asked to choose for us, nobody will be here today. We will be fine with it. But as long as the hand of the governor is not there, we will keep agitating until the right thing is done. Enough of injustice to Cross River State. You are aware that we just protested being denied the Women Leader’s slot last week.

“That’s why I lamented earlier that it is a season for Cross River State to receive injustice from the party. It is so sad because we worked so hard for this Renewed Hope. I don’t think this is from Mr President. That’s because I know who he is. I have worked with him three good years before his presidential election. I am sure Mr President will listen to us and do the right thing for the APC camp on Cross River State.”

The new board and management team included Chiedu Ebie – Chairman (Delta), Samuel Ogbuku – Managing Director/CEO (Bayelsa), Boma Iyaye – Executive Director of Finance and Admin (Rivers), Victor Antai – Executive Director of Projects (Akwa-Ibom), Ifedayo Abegunde – Executive Director for Corporate Services (Ondo), Dimaro Denyanbofa – State Representative (Bayelsa), Abasi Ndikan Nkono – State Representative (Akwa Ibom), Monday Igbuya – State Representative (Delta) and Tony Okocha – State Representative (Rivers).

Others are Patrick Aisowieren – State Representative (Edo), Kyrian Uchegbu – State Representative (Imo), Victor Kolade Akinjo – State Representative (Ondo), Dimgba Eruba – State Representative (Abia), Asu Oku Okang – State Representative (Cross River), Nick Wende – Zonal Representative (North Central), Namdas Abdulrazak – Zonal Representative (North East) and Ibrahim Abdullahi Gobir – Zonal Representative (North West).

APC Members In Cross River Reject President Tinubu's Appointment Of PDP Chieftain Mr. Asu Oku Okang as NDDC Board Member.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq2iVyH337Y?si=3PjtcgO2URIVO1Bm

APC Members In Cross River Reject President Tinubu's Appointment Of PDP Chieftain Mr. Asu Oku Okang as NDDC Board Member. pic.twitter.com/XJUFjSEAYo

— Imran Muhammad (@Imranmuhdz) August 30, 2023

We’ll reclaim Gov’t House in 2023, say Jarigbe, Cobham, Asu Okang

As build up to 2023 begins to gather momentum in Cross River State with the formation of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP State Exco, critical stakeholders of the party have promised that they will reclaim the government house in 2023.

The disclosure was made recently in calabar shortly after voting was completed to elect the new leadership of the party in the state.

Former Deputy Governor of the State, Mr Efiok Cobham while addressing party members, promised that the PDP will take over powers from the All Progressives Congress, APC in 2023.

Mr Cobham said they gave Ayade their all and he has decided to pay them evil for good, believing that his departure from the party will collapse it.

He maintained that the governor has committed a great error of judgement, after benefiting from the highest Goodwill of the party, and he is demonstrating utmost ingratitude to the party that brought him to the political limelight.

Also speaking, the newly elected Cross River State Chairman of PDP, Mr Venatius Ikem said, “Our party has been reduced to an opposition party, it is very unknown to us. We are to lay a new foundation to correct the mistake so that we will reclaim the government house in 2023″.

He maintained that there is a resounding commitment and conviction by all the members of the party that the mistakes would be corrected in 2023

Meanwhile, the Senator representing the Northern Senatorial District, Sen. Jarigbe Agom said nothing good comes easy, adding that the party will fight with everything at its disposal to reclaim and restore the state. “What the governor is doing in the state is a complete mirage”, he said.

The former Commissioner for Information, comrade Asu Okang also revealed that before 2023, no fewer than eight local government council chairmen and six commissioners will remain in APC before 2023.

Mr Okang maintained that PDP is Cross River and Cross Riverians believe in the Party. According to him, “PDP is still the party to beat in the state, it is the choice party for the people of Cross River State”.

He said 90% of National Assembly Members are in PDP, stressing that for APC to begin to think about winning the state in 2023 because the governor is in the party is just a fiction of their imagination

He assured that PDP will still win in the forthcoming by-election in Ogoja/Yala federal constituency when it is scheduled to hold.

He thanked Cross Riverians for keeping faith and believing in the party, he assured that PDP will not fail but urged the people of the state to continue in their support for the party.

TemplarLandry:

naptu2:
Asu Okang served as Cross River State Commissioner for Information and Orientation in the administration of Governor Ben Ayade. He was relieved of his appointment when Governor Ayade defected to the APC. He said that he was relieved of his appointment because he refused to join the APC.

He campaigned for Atiku Abubakar and the PDP to win the 2023 elections and he said that PDP will regain the governorship position in Cross River State.

AsomughaChuks05:
This Tinubu government of national unity is a good strategy to weaken opposition parties in certain states if you think about it well. The governor of Cross River should see the game being played here and applaud Tinubu instead of sponsoring protests.