Nyok|9 March 2019
Mr Eyo Ekpo who is contesting for the seat of the governor of Cross River State under the platform of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, has expressed his sincere desire to completely tackle security challenges in the state headlong if elected as governor in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections NEGROIDHAVEN has confirmed.
He made his intention known while answering questions from audience during a live Facebook chat he had recently. Mr Ekpo said that the state government has lost grip on the deplorable security situation in the state, adding that it no longer holds regular security council meeting which has been the norm in previous administrations.
He said: “I don't know if any of you knows that the first time we had a security council meeting in the state after 2015 was in 2016 – one year plus. July 2016 was the first time the governor met with security agencies, and it was because his own brother's wife shop was raided by arm robbers.”
He decried a situation where arm robbery, kidnapping, cultism and militancy have now become the order of the day, and this he said has rendered the state insecure, thereby driving away potential investors who would have come in to grow its economy and create jobs for the army of unemployed Cross Riverians.
His words: “militancy, arm robbery, kidnapping and cultism are now big problems in our state.”
He also expressed concern over the spate of communal crisis in the state which has led to internal displacement of the people in their own lands, with government adopting rather a nonchalant attitude towards the plight of the displaced.
“In the history of Cross River, we have never had the incidence of communal clashes as high as we have today. We have in our own state people who are internally displaced. And the government does not care. It does not bother to go and find out why all this thing is happening.”, said Eyo Ekpo.
On what he would do to tackle this ugly menace, he said that his government if elected would maintain robust relationship with all the security apparatus in the state, as well as ensuring adequate support for them by way of funding. He said he would take economic activities to border communities which would serve as incentive to discourage clashes amongst the border dwellers, since, according to him, any unrest will truncate the people's economic interest.
He also hinted on reactivating the conflict resolution mechanism domiciled in the department of conflict resolution and department of citizens right, which have all been in existence until the advent of the present administration. Mr Eyo equally said that he would re-established local governments which would work in consonance with traditional institutions to nib communal disturbances in the bud before they become issues. He however submitted that the place of the other arms of government in stabilizing the state cannot be overemphasized, and therefore would work closely with them to achieve lasting peace in Cross River.
Out of Every Ten Appointees in C'River, Four will be Women __Eyo Ekpo
In recognition of the important role women play in the socio-political landscape and the society in general, Mr Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, who is vying for the governorship of Cross River State in the Saturday guber poll, has said that if elected into office, his administration would accord priority to women in the course of governance.
He said out of every ten appointments, four would go to the women, whom he said would be considered based on competence. “The more the competence, the more that number will increase”, he assured.
The former attorney general and commissioner for justice, said women would have major role to play especially at the local government level where they would serve as elected chairmen, councillors and special advisers. He added that the SDP has been up and doing in the state as a result of the efforts and commitments put into it by women.
“I recognize completely the importance of our women, not just as the proverbial keepers of our home, but as vital political players. I would even say that a strong part of our being able to hold up the name of SDP in Cross River State is that we have paid special attention to the strength of our women, particularly at the grassroot level, by giving them the space to enable them to actually come into their own as major player in our political space.
“First of all, in our politics in terms of representation, we will take special measure to ensure more women are brought into the space, not just at the state level, but more importantly at the local government level as elected chairmen, councillors and special advisers.”, he stated.