BEVERLY HILLS, May 25, (THEWILL) – Former Governor of Cross River State and Leader of the People’s Democratic Party in the place, Senator Liyel Imoke, says the original PDP has returned with the defection of his successor, Professor Ben Ayade, to the rival All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Imoke made this known in Calabar during a stakeholders meeting organised by the party.
He denied collecting gratifications to enable Ayade to become Governor in 2015, saying the allegation amounted to an insult aimed at ruining his reputation.
The former Governor said: “I took responsibility and risk for the emergence of this government.
“People say I collected money to bring this government, what an insult!
“They want to damage your name and ruin your reputation for doing them a favour.
“I don’t want a situation where the interest of the state is compromised, that is why I don’t talk.”
Imoke said the state had always been a PDP state and the movement of one person did not change that fact.
He said: “The original PDP is back and will give power to the people.
“Cross River State is a PDP state and the movement of one person does not change that fact.
“We asked no one to leave and they left, with that I think we have seen the hand of God.
“At no point in time did we have a party led by one man, one family, not responsive and not able to carry everyone along.
“It’s very painful because power came from the people.”
He said the party needed a generational shift in 2023, praying that God should forbid the next Governor from being a “food on the table Governor.”
Also speaking, the Caretaker Chairman of the PDP in the state Efiok Cobham, said PDP was not in a hurry to hand over the state to APC.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
