By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Cross River State Commissioner for Rural Transformation, Mr Edem Okokon Effiom, has joined other indigenes of the Efik nation in Cross River State to condemn the recent comment credited to former governor of Cross River State, Mr. Donald Duke, against the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade, in a video, describing Duke’s comment as ridiculous and unecessary.
Effiom made the remarks yesterday while reacting to Duke’s statement in a viral video where he clamped down on Governor Ayade’s personality, criticizing the state governor and accusing him of mismanaging the resources of the state.
Effiom, who claimed he and Duke hail from same community in Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State stated that Ayade’s performance outclassed the performance of former Governor Duke, when he served the state as governor.
He said, “Let His of Excellency, former Governor Duke show us one culvert which he constructed in our village in Akpabuyo LGA throughout the period he served as governor. If you go to Obudu, you find out that Ayade helped many young men to change thier levels.
“He was the first person to arrest and lock up the former Obong of Calabar, a sacrilege and abomination that we never experience in Efik kingdom, yet we still celebrate him.
“He brought the stool of Obongship to disrepute, yet we didn’t cast aspersion on him, because he was on the saddle as governor. Today, he is same person who is deriding and making ridiculous comments against the state’s sitting governor.
“Imagine today, we have our Efik son, distinguished Senator Bassey Edet Otu, who the All Progressives Congress, APC, under the leadership of Governor Ayade, gave the ticket to contest the position of governor and same Duke is disparaging him, working against Otu, claiming it’s not the turn of the South.
“And I asked: on what grounds is Mr Duke standing to say it is not the turn of the South?
“Let’s not forget that even in thick darkness, a blind man can still make his way to his father’s compound; that at the fullness of time, all of us would find our way to our fathers compound.
“In 1999 the entire people of Southern senatorial district, both in the defunct All Peoples Party, APP, and almost all the parties collapsed their structures and stood by Mr Duke for him to win his election.
“Unfortunately today same man is constituting a barrier to Otu’s victory, and had been busy campaigning against the very people who stood by him.
“What moral justification does he have, that today he has assumed the position of messiahnic emperor, claiming to be right than every other Efik son.”
