By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Ahead of the forthcoming general election in Cross River State, especially the gubernatorial poll, former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, has admonished charged former Governor Donald Duke and his successor, Senator Liyel Imoke, to emulate the virtues of former Governor Clement Ebri, who governed the state before the duo.
Ndoma-Egba gave the charge while speaking with journalists yesterday at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre, State Housing Estate, Calabar.
He said that it was wrong for any one who had in the past occupied the seat of governor to make utterances which are capable of bringing down the reputation of any one on the saddle or cast aspersion on any occupant of the exalted position.
The duo of Duke and Imoke have engaged in verbal attacks on the person and office of incumbent Governor Ben Ayade in the course of their political campaigns.
Firing the first salvo was Senator Imoke, who informed a Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, campaign gathering that making Ayade a governor was a mistake that he regrets. He had gone on to chastise the incumbent governor for perceived wrongdoings.
This was followed by Mr. Duke, who described Ayade as a failure, while campaigning in Obudu for the PDP gubernatorial candidate.
He followed this up by describing Ayade in unprintable words in another campaign engagement, which was captured on video and which made the rounds in the social media.
In the opinion of the former Senate Leader, Ndoma-Egba, the very discourteous statements credited to the duo are unbecoming of the two former occupants of the exalted office of governor.
The Senior Advocate said, “It is the highest honour everywhere for anyone to be voted and given the mandate to lead as governor and that should not be lost on any occupant of that office, whether past or present.”
The former Senate Leader reminded the the media men present at the event that it is a widely known fact that the two former governors were at some point proteges of former Governor Ebri, who brought them up politically.
He stressed that “fortunately, Governor Ebri is still alive, and the two of them should take a cue from him on how to conduct themselves out of power.”
He added that he is well aware that Governor Ebri had his frustrations and disagreements with the two of them while they held sway as governors, but he never went public with any condemnations, because he sees the office of governor as sacred.
Ndoma-Egba appealed to both former governors, Duke and Imoke, to stop desecrating the high office they once occupied, because it could get back to them.
He further charged the media to start a debate on the standard of conduct for those in public office, whether past or present.
Senator Ndoma-Egba expressed these views while answering questions directed at him on the issue from journalists during a media briefing in Calabar by the governorship candidate of the All Progressives’ Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, to unveil his “People First” manifesto.
