By Frankie Ifop, Calabar
Business mogul and political prodigy, Barr. Chris Agara has said he’s still in the race to contest for the Senate seat to represent the people of Cross River State Central Senatorial District under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Barr. Agara stated this Sunday while filtering questions from newsmen in Calabar. He also debunked the rumours that he was disqualified by the PDP due to tax clearance issues. “I have not been disqualified. I am still in the race. I am fully in the race as well,” he said.
He continued, “To me, these are all rumours and I don’t see that as the basis on why I should be disqualified – so, I was clearly told that and I was also told my certificate is still intact and still with me. Therefore, nobody has disqualified me and I am in the race.”
The magnate said he had his Tax Clearance from both Rivers and Cross River State respectively. Adding that tax clearance issues are not the basis for determining or withdrawing the candidature of a person according to the Supreme Court judgment.
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“What actually happened was that I didn’t see the petition. It was just rumours in the first place that I did not attach my tax receipt to the form that I filled and submitted for screening. That’s not supposed to be an issue because I had my Tax Clearance certificate from both Rivers State and Cross River State that was attached to my form and you know that you don’t take tax clearances if you don’t pay your tax – so you have to get the receipt first before they can even issue you the tax clearance. Sometimes you have the receipts, but you may not be qualified because the payment you made may not be up to the revenue assessment and they won’t issue you the clearance.
“To me, that’s a mischief if you ask me by anybody who may have done such a report – though I have not seen it by myself,” Agara said.
Agara further said his chances of clinching the ticket now is better than before. “My chances now are brighter and better than before.
“You know sometimes certain things happen for their own good if they probably put you in the domain of the public much more than it’s supposed to be. So I think this is a good omen for me and I am very confident like before and even beyond that I am going to win.”
The Senatorial Aspirant assured his supporters that he will win the primaries. “My supporters should remain steadfast, they should even be more determined, come out the way they are supposed to come out and give me the necessary support so that we’ll cut the line well.”
On the conduct of the congress, Agara said, “It should be free and fair. They should allow the delegates to make their choices and if the process is free and fair, of course the public will say it and that will be the beginning of the new PDP we are talking about”, adding that, “If that is done, I’ll definitely emerged winner.”
