Peter Bassey|13 June 2016|7:45am
Political parties are a central feature of any democracy. There are the vehicles through which citizens come together freely to campaign for public offices, express their interests and define their aspiration for the society. While there are parties without democracy, there can be no democracy without political parties.
In the light of recent happenings in the state, where some former PDP chieftains defected to the All Progressive Congress (APC), the opposition party in the state seems to be more enhanced in comparison to the past years. More so, with the recent nomination of two Cross Riverians for ambassadorial consideration, the gesture by Mr. President is definitely aimed at strengthening the party support base in Cross River as well as South South region, where the party was reported to have failed woefully in the last general elections.
So far the President has nominated and appointed about seven Cross Riverians to function in different capacities in the present administration. They
include:
Pst. Usani Usani.
Minister of Niger Delta Affairs
Rear Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas.
Chief of Naval Staff
Chief Okoi Obono Obla.
Special Adviser —Prosecution.
Mrs. Winifred Oyo Ita.
Head of Service of the Federation
Chief Hilliard Etagbo Eta.
South South Presidential Committee to Reconstitute the Federal Board of Parastatals, Agencies and Commission.
Mr. Martin Nyong Cobham. Ambassadorial Nominee
Mrs Janet Bisong Ojeka.
Ambassadorial Nominee
While I join millions of Cross Riverians to rejoice in this juicy appointments/positions occupied by Cross Riverians, the PDP of which I support strongly should know that these appointments has a political under tone and is well articulated to allow APC take over the leadership of the state come 2019.
My only worry is this, PDP will as usual undermine this analysis and possibly write it off. But Cross River PDP should not only learn from their mistakes of the last general elections that relegated them to opposition but they should also understand that it's no longer going to be a work away match as usual.
What is fashionably designed today may be considered unworkable tomorrow.
Peter BASSEY
Writes from Calabar.