By Abasi Ita, Calabar
A community leader in Mbube, Ogoja, Cross River North, Chief James Achara has stated that credibility and track record of performance will serve as the determining factors amongst his people when they troop out to cast their votes in the upcoming gubernatorial election slated for Saturday, March 18.
Chief Achara who stated this in a statement released in Calabar averred that his people opted to uphold competence above primordial sentiments warning those promoting ethnic bigotry to stay away from Mbube
According to the statement, such clarification has become imperative to checkmate the nefarious activities of some ethnic champions who are bent on fanning the ember of nepotism and ethnicity over proven antecedents.
Chief Achara queried those clamouring for support to APC based on their ethnic background to list the developmental projects attracted by the APC to the area courtesy of the Mbube son who doubles as the Leader of the Cross River State House of Assembly, and Deputy Governorship of the All Progressives Congress Hon Peter Odey in the past eight years.
He disclosed that the people have opted to cast their vote for those who have demonstrated interest in the welfare of the people, even if it means sacrificing their resources.
“In Mbube, competence and performance have never been sacrificed on the grounds of mere ethnic sentiment since the journey of democratic dispensation in 1999, therefore 2023 will not be different with the Cross River State APC deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Peter Odey,” he stated.
The PDP chieftain blasted those canvassing for votes on ethnic sentiment wondering why they forgot to do the same for their own who ran the Senate seat against the incumbent Governor of the State, Ben Ayade weeks back.
In his words “When a competent and performing Ogoja son contested the Senate seat two weeks ago, how many of them came out to whip this cry of ethnicity?
“Where were all these people crying fowl today when an illustrious son of Mbube/Ogoja was contesting for political offices that they now want the situation of Peter Odey who is yet to prove his ability to deliver, different?
“The good people of Mbube will prioritize competence and performance against politics of ethnicity, we have grown above all that all we need is wholesome development not selective, where certain communities can’t have light while others will have, yet we have representatives that their canvassers are now clamoring for our votes on their behalf,” he stated.
Speaking further, the opinion leader who also raised the alarm over a plot by some state actors to unleash mayhem on anyone who will not vote for APC said electorates in the area were willing and ready to maintain vigil at polling units stressing that they can not be intimidated by miscreants
He added ” We will cast our votes, we will protect our votes, we know that our votes will count, it counted two weeks ago for Sen. Jarigbe Agom and Godwin Offionio it will also count again, we need rapid development, not ethnic jingoism, we need people that will deliver Mbube.
“We are aware that they have concluded plans to disrupt elections by telling their people to come out very early to vote, that part of the plan is a good one, but any plan to use violence to stop the people from making their choice will be resisted, we have had enough.”