WAYAS IN THE SADDLE, A STEP AHEAD FOR CROSS RIVER APC

The first point of feeling that comes with every ambition or vision, is the unflitching desire  to serve from all aspirants. This feeling no matter how real or fake it maybe, leaves many people with a feeling of nostalgia, perhaps to really wish that the very best ascends the ladder of service. 

Be that as it may, the general understanding associated with every aspiration, is the love for service. This undiluted truth has the same standing with the aspiration of Joseph Wayas Jnr. More interestingly about the aspiration of Wayas is that, it is coated in a vision other than merely an ambition, thus his vision for Cross River State APC is quite holistic and aims at integrating the party and connecting it to the Federal through a robust consultative approach of key stakeholders to consolidate on the status of the party as a formidable  ruling party in both the State and the country at large.

While no ambition or as it is with Wayas, a vision cannot be fully conceptualised without a stroll on history, the person of Joseph Wayas Jnr, is a strong bargain for the State for any national discuss and negotiations.

In Cross River State today, and within the narrowly shared Northern  Senatorial District that has Obanliku, Obudu and Bekwarra as a Federal Constituency on one side and Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency on the other side, the region to obviously benefit from the forthcoming State Congresses with particular reference to the office of State Chairman is the Obanliku, Obudu and Bekwarra Federal Constituency and more specifically, Obanliku Local Government Area.   The temptation of judging the Governor and the Minister coming from this region is quite palpable, but wait for a second...

As 2023 draws closer, Northern Senatorial District at its best, can only boost of something close to either a Deputy Governor or the Speaker of the House of Assembly, and fair enough within Obanliku, Obudu and Bekwarra Federal Constituency, it will be a political injustice to direct such favour to such a region, hence the need to settle the Federal Constituency with the position of State Chairman.

When ever the discuss on Obanliku arises, the fear of competence always rares its head, but has Obanliku ever failed?

History becomes rich here as stories abounds of the ingenuity of the erstwhile 1st Republic Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas, the performance of a woman in the Cross River Civil Service as Head of Service in the person of  Madam Mary Theresa Ikwen, the high tech brilliance of the former head of Nigeria Drug Law Enforcement Agency headed by  Mr. David Ashang (erstwhile Secretary to the State Govt). Included in this Obanliku first eleven, special mention goes to Barr. Fidelis Ugboh (fmr Secretary to State Govt and fmr Executive Secretary, National Planning Commission) and the still young and ready to serve Barr. Mike Aniah (fmr Secretary to the State Govt). The Sterling performance of a one time Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly as held by Rt. Hon. Frank Adah, the very impressive handling of the Justice office by the present Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State in the person of Barr Tanko Ashang, as well as the Rducation Commissioner Hon. Godwin Amanke.

The list is endless as to what Obanliku sons and daughters can do if given the opportunity to serve,

It is against this backdrop, that the candidacy of Wayas becomes germane and should be supported. 

When the issue of service arises, there is always a complete open door for everyone to aspire, but for a contest like that of a State Chairman of the APC, one with the wit and might should obviously and only be considered, and Wayas succinctly fits into this description.

Taking a look at the different aspirant jostling for the position of State. Chairman of the APC in Cross River State, one would conclude that, the choice of Wayas as State Chairman will tally with the yearnings of the youths and of course party men and women of the All Progressives Congress. For instance, withing the Obudu political block, any choice of a candidate there, infringes on the sensibility of the people, since in no sense should there be a Governor and a Minister from the Local Government to have a State Chairman added, this also tells of Bekwarra LGA, where there have a two term sitting House of Reps member . While Ogoja is considered the bride of the North, the political upliftment of Ogoja cannot be well expressed in having the State Chairmanship position, since Ogoja stand a chance in hitting it big come 2023, any attempt to settle Ogoja with the choice of a State party Chairman when she has been serving the party on the level of Board of Trustee (BOT) may mean undermining other regions with less party presence like Obanliku. Yala Local Government Area has served the party in the State, both in deputising and also assuming the position of acting Chairman at the demise of the substantive Chairman. Withing Central Cross River and Southern Cross River State, contemplating a party Chairman from these Districts may mean undermining Cross River North. 

The position of State Chairman, does not only entails one who is familiar with the 196 wards of Cross River, or the 18 LGAs, it also requires one who has the ability to open every door  in Abuja and beyond, it requires one who does not necessarily need an introduction, it requires one who has the long standing membership experience of being a party man, and one who can carry out the affairs of the party in line with the dictates of the leader of the Party, the State Governor, without fear or favour. This is who and what the next State Chairman of the APC in Cross River State should be.

Having searched with a clear intention to find the best for Cross River APC, the search light yet again beams at Mr. Joseph Wayas Jnr. He has the capacity to making the party great, and while other aspirants maybe good and capable, Wayas is simply the best and most capable, with him, Cross River State APC will be a step ahead from other  states in Nigeria.

With my investigation as a field writer, I can only deduce from what the people are saying to mean that; Na only Joseph Wayas Jnr we want.

Justice Nweke

Writes from Calabar-Nigeria