By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A group operating under the aegis of Legacy and APC Foundational Members in the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, has charged the state governor, Ben Ayade, and the state APC chairman, Alphonsus Ogar, not to forget to carry members of the group along when it comes to fixing party members into key positions by the hierarchy of the party.
Part of what the group is agitating for is for the party leadership to carry their members along in the scheme of things, rather than relegating them to the background.
According the group, carrying every one along would give the old party members sense of belonging in the APC fold.
The group claimed that it’s members were the ones who who toiled day and night, spending their meagre resources to keep the APC in order before the state governor, Prof. Ayade defected from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, alongside his supporters to join the party.
A resolution arrived at at the end of an extraordinairy meeting convened by the group at Vanel Hotel Calabar, and read by a chieftain of the APC Barr. Eteng. E. Eteng, in company of the convener of the meeting, Barr. Ekpo Nsa, and other group members, stated, “Despite our excitement, enthusiasm, and open arms following our expectations, our spirit have been dampened due to current trend of events.
“We have not been considered for party positions nor benefits from the wards, local government and states chapters and national level of our party.”
The resolution further lamented that old members who toiled day and night to keep the party as one until the state governor defected to the APC had been marginalized, urging the governor to correct that abnormally.
The resolution sighted by our reporter in Calabar reads, “We have been relegated and excluded in the schemes and politics of the party. We have been treated with contempt and we feel it’s time for our dear governor and party exco to be aware of our grievance as we prepare for the forthcoming 2023 elections.
“Our party, the APC, perfomed poorly in the just concluded Akpabuyo state constituency and Ogoja/Yala federal constituency by-elections, because we lacked grassroot support from our members at the grassroot and internal party inclusiveness and cohesion.
“From existing party register, those who recently defected to the APC constitute about 10per cent of registered APC members in Cross River State.
“The neglect and exclusion of Legacy and Foundational Members from the affairs of the party would portend serious danger of failure for the party as evident in the last by-elections in the state.
“100 per cent of key positions of the party from ward to national level are occupied by only those who defected to the party with His Excellency, the state governor.
“Where is the justice and equity in this situation where those who built a house, made it attractive with painful labour and financial burden have been wantonly removed from same house?”
The resolution signed by eleven APC chieftains from the Legacy and Foundational Members on April 9, charged the governor, Prof. Ben Ayade to have a re-think and with no delay dialogue with the aggrieved party members so that their grievances can be addressed to enable the party position itself ahead of 2023 elections.
Clauses in the resolution include appointment of old APC members alongside the new ones to fill existing vacancies at state exco as well as vacancies resulting from resignation of those with intent to run party primaries and elections in the forthcoming party primaries and 2023 general elections.
“Equal ratio and support should be given to Legacy and Foundational Members to contest in the forthcoming elections with those who defected recently with the governor.”
Other issues agitated for by members of the group by as stated in thier resolutions include: awarding of atleast 50 per cent of elective offices available in the state to the legacy and foundational members in the 2023 general elections.
They added, “Our grievances are borne out of our total fidelity, loyalty and support for our leader and governor, Prof Ayade and genuine concern for the fate of our great party, the APC, in the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“It is our desire that our great party, the APC, wins all positions in the forthcoming general elections. We cannot achieve that if the core of our party is continuously relegated. We have our supporters who have stood by us in all these years, during our sojourning days in opposition, who make up a great percentage of active support in Cross River State.”
