By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Ahead of the 2023 general elections, a socio-political/cultural organisation, operating under the aegis of Ikom Women Mandate, IWM, has thrown its weight behind the candidature of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, gubernatorial cnadidtae in Cross River State, Senator Prof. Sandy Onor, and his deputy, Emana Ambrose Amahwe Duke, to enable the duo realize their ambition of taking over Government House.
Lauding the lawmaker for choosing Duke as his deputy governorship candidate, the group said that with the duo at the helms of affairs, Cross River State, which had in the last seven years been in bondage can once again be liberated from the hands the All Progressives Congress, APC, cabals holding the state hostage.
The women, who came out enmasse in solidarity with Onor and Duke, expressed happiness over the turn out, and vowed to do everything within their reach to ensure that the PDP candidate and his deputy to emerged victorious to occupy the Government House in 2023.
In a brief conversation with the IWM leader, Dr. Mrs Nchajeno Otabi Owan, a former Permanent Secretary in the Cross River State Ministry of Women Affairs, she showered encomiums on the PDP candidate and his deputy, even as she charged the electorate to make ensure that Onor and Duke’s dream become a reality.
She charged Cross River women, both at home bad in the diaspora, to make good use of their PVCs, which she described as being instrumental to the emergence of any individual as state governor.
Owan averred that the PVC is one of the greatest weapon which can be used to determine who becomes the next state governor, asking the group members to leave no stone unturned to ensure victory for the PDP come 2023.
Speaking on the topic, “Our Vote, Our Power,” Owan stressed that the group arrived at a decision to pitch their tent with Onor and Duke because of their track records.
She said, “Onor’s love for widows is one of the attributes that endeared him to me.
“Can’t you see the crowd of colourful women. The crowd of women you see here are not the hired or rented crowd, but women of substance, who by all indications had shown commitment in the Project Onor.
“We are not like others who parade themselves with hired crowd. Ours is made up of women of integrity and proven record, who are prepared to go the extra length to ensure that the victory of Onor and Duke remains intact.
“I believe Onor has 100 per cent chance of sweeping the polls to emerge as governor.
“His character, pedigree, with a proven integrity has never left anyone in doubt. And he has capacity and has been tested and trusted to lead the state.
“Right from the days when he served as Chairman, Etung Local Government Area, he has shown proven capability. Even as senator, he has never given us cause to doubt him.
“I don’t think there is any other individual that is more qualify for the job than Senator Onor.”
The group leader stated that the victory of Senator Onor and Duke remains a critical project to be executed by the group, stressing that the group’s aims and objectives are to galvanize and mobilize Ikom women to intensify support for the duo.
She further stated, “We want to shout out to the whole world that ‘Our Vote is Our Power’.”
Earlier at the ceremony, the state PDP Women Leader, Mrs Florence Inyang, who represented the deputy governorship candidate, Duke, stated that the time has come when the women have to work together as a team, as team work remains the surest way to achieve success, to ensure that “their very own,” Duke, emerges as the state deputy governor.
