By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A youth group operating in Cross River State under the aegis of Great Yakurr People’s Forum, GYPF, has charged the caucus of the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and other stakeholders of the party in charge of zoning aspirants for local government council chairmanship position to zone the chairmanship position to Yakurr One, so as to situate the party at a vantage position for the 2027 governorship polls.
Spokesperson for the group, Comrade Festus Ikpi, gave the charge during an interactive session with journalists on Tuesday in Calabar.
Commenting on the zoning of the council chairmanship slot ahead of the polls scheduled for November 2, 2024, the group stated that it is pertinent to make their input on the issue so that those responsible for the zoning of power can have a sense of direction to avoid making costly mistake.
Giving insight to why the call became necessary, Ikpi said, “As we speak, Yakurr Two has a serving senator, Eteng Williams, who before his elevation to the status of a senator, served for three terms as a lawmaker and subsequently, Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
“The chapter chairman for APC who doubles as caucus leader, Comrade Dave Okpebri, an indigene of Asigha community, is a bonafide individual from Yakurr Two, among others who we cannot mention here, are from Yakurr Two constituency.”
He stressed that it will be ideal for the chairmanship position to be zone to Yakurr One, that has about eight wards with numerous polling units, compared to Yakurr Two, that has only five wards with less than 12 polling units, if not for Mkpani Agoi, which has about 20 or 35 poling units.
He added, “If you compare this statistics to Yakurr One, Ugep Uban alone has 76 polling units in constituency 1, any attempt to pick a candidate from a place that has 10 polling units can put the party at risk when it comes to delivering candidates of the APC in the 2027 governorship election.
“Picking chairmanship candidate from Yakurr One would make the party formidable ahead of the 2027 governorship election due to its high level of voting strength. If you pick a candidate from a constituency with low voting strength and a rival party decides to pick its candidate from a constituency with high voting strength; this will subject the APC to very tough battle if it doesn’t lose to the rival party in 2027.
“For instance, Ugep Uban alone has 76 polling units under Yakurr One, any attempt to pick a candidate from other place with say 10 polling units, that alone would put the party at a disadvantaged position to deliver the APC candidate in 2027.
“What we should be looking for now is a grassrooter, who is down to earth with enormous capacity to mobilize for 2027 governorship elections, notwithstanding the fact that 2027 is yet to come.
“Like Pope John Paul 11 and the Japanese entrepreneur and author of ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad,’ Robert Kiyosaki said, ‘No futuristic leader limits himself to the present alone, as the future starts today.’
“Politics they say it’s a game of wits, APC should look for where it would capture more votes for the forthcoming local government elections.
“I see the council election as an avenue for the APC to prepare itself, and strategize ahead of the 2027 elections. My thinking is that it’s a matter of two years for the party to consolidate in Yakurr ahead of 2027.
“Our priority should not just be on zoning, but on winning elections, the ticket should be given to a sellable candidate who can help the governor return to the Government House in 2027.
“The Bible tells us that is a taboo to go back to Egypt, we have left the PDP. The proper arrangement would have been under the APC, which is a new party; the party is on ground Yakurr Local Government.
“Our target should be how to win 2027, if we want to consider zoning and we take this thing to where we can’t deliver, we can have a chairman, but difficult for us to the deliver the governor in 2027.
“Our agitation is for the ticket for the council chairmanship position to be given for Yakurr One, and allow the party to consolidate after three years, when the party have consolidated, then it can allow Yakurr Two to take over after exhausting their three years.
“If we have a chairman and lose 2027, the arrangement would be altered, for the purpose of this argument, my advice to the kingmakers is to look at the credibility of the candidates with the ability to mobilize for the party ahead of 2027. Not because we heard about local government autonomy, everyone will begin to jostle for the position.
“If you take someone from a constituency that is in the minority, and another party decides to pick their candidate from a constituency that is in the majority, the APC will certainly have a tough fight. What we are saying is that the APC should pick its candidate from constituency one that has high voting strength, if the party is desirous to win in
2027.
“Ugep Uban alone has 76 polling units in Yakurr One, any attempt to pick a candidate from constituency two, which has 10 polling units would put the party in jeopardy as far as 2027 is concerned.
“Some would wonder why we are emphasizing on 2027, even when the governor is yet to exhaust his first tenure, no futuristic leader limits himself to the present alone.
The group urged the APC, which is like a new party in Yakurr to go for someone with the capacity to deliver the goods rather than allowing sentiments to dictate its decision.
