…Says Ayade Is Our New Party Leader
By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
Former Senate Leader, Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, had dissociated himself from a statement trending in some online media platforms, credited to him that he is the leader of the All Progressives Congress, APC in Cross River State.
Ndoma-Egba debunked this claim while reacting to a statement credited to him by one mischief maker that the former Senate Leader made such claim statement in an interview which he granted to one online media during the official defection of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade to ruling APC two days ago in Calabar.
Refuting the claim, Ndoma-Egba, stressed that he couldn’t have made such statement, knowing too well the tradition of the political party which he belongs, insisting that in a democratic setting as operated in Nigeria, any man or woman, who assumes office as governor, automatically becomes the leader of the party in such state.
He stated that Ayade’s case, couldn’t have been an exception, adding that, as a core party man, who had spent almost half of his life politicking, he is quite aware that once a man assumes office as governor,
automatically the person becomes the leader of the party in question.
He said, “I didn’t need to read it from a text book written by philosopher before understanding the basic rule of party politics.”
A statement signed by Ndoma-Egba’s media manager, Sunny Udeh, refuted the claims made by the online media, credited to his boss, insisting that the report was false, based on falsehood, targeted at tarnishing the good image and integrity which Ndoma-Egba have spent many years to build.
The statement reads, “Our attention has been drawn to a mischievous publication on some online platforms wherein distinguished Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, CON, SAN, was quoted as declaring himself the leader of the APC in Cross River State, while reacting to the defection of His Excellency, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River State, to the APC yesterday.
“We will ordinarily have ignored this. Obviously this is a mischievous attempt calculated at portraying Senator Ndoma-Egba in bad ligh. But for the possibility of some readers being misled by the author and sponsors of the publication.
“Clearly, the objective is to paint the senator as someone struggling for relevance and unhappy with Governor Ayade’s entry into the APC, both of which are very far from the truth.
“For the purpose of setting the records straight, Ndoma-Egba issued a written statement which he personally signed and was published in the Guardian news papers and the National Compass and AIT television congratulating Governor Ayade for his bold decision to join the APC and welcoming him with open arms. Ndoma-Egba did not grant any interview to the said online medium, trying to tarnish his reputation.
“It is public knowledge that even before the entry of Goveenoe Ayade to the APC, Senator Ndoma-Egba was never in contention with anybody for the leadership of the party in Cross River State.
“Instead he has always advocated teamwork, inclusiveness, and internal democracy as the pivots on which any successful political party stands. His interest remains contributing to building a stronger and vibrant APC that will deliver the dividends of democracy to Cross Riverians in particular, and Nigerians in general.
“In case the authors of the frivolous publication, in their haste to please their paymasters, do not know, it is standard practice in party politics to have a sitting governor as the leader of the party in any state. Cross River State is not an exception to this rule and Senator Ndoma-Egba clearly knows and supports this position.
“Finally, Senator Ndoma-Egba reaffirms the message of congratulations he issued yesterday to welcome Governor Ayade to the APC and will work with the governor to position the APC and Cross River State on the path of sustained growth and development.”
