Ebri, Former Cross River Governor Joins APC As Niger Delta Affairs Minister, Ndoma-Egba, Others Applaud Move
FeaturedNigeria December 20, 2015 Dianabasi Effiong
Vice Chairman, Central Senatorial District of the APC, Mr Cletus Obun, handing over the symbol of the party to former governor of Cross River State, Clement Ebri, in Mkpani, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State who formerly joined the party at his Mkpani/Agoi Ward. Looking on are Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani, former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, Chief Wilfred Inah, former Secretary of the Government of Cross River State and the State Secretary of APC, Mr Victor Ebong, who presented the party’s constitution to Ebri.
. Claims being on a salvage mission….Says “I Looked Before Taking This Giant Leap”
From: Diana Okon-Effiong, Mkpani, Cross River State.
A former governor of Cross River State, Chief Clement Ebri, has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC) with his supporters.
Ebri was governor of the state from 1991 and 1993 on the platform of the National Republican Convention (NRC).
At a formal reception at Mkpani/Agoi Ward in Yakurr Local Government Area, Ebri said he joined the APC with his supporters because he wanted to be a part of the change agenda.
He said that there were reasons why he went into a state of political hibernation before he decided to join the APC.
“I got involved in politics because I wanted change. I wanted things to happen but when I found out that it was not being played the way it ought to be I decided to step aside.
“I tried the APP, I realised that people who got two tenure on party platform jumped ship to another party even after winning elections. I was so annoyed. I did not have that kind of patience.
“After the UNPP fiasco, because we thought that there was more fire power in UNPP, again I left for a while.
“And then my good friend Orji Uzor Kalu invited me one day to be part of his political party, the Progressives Peoples Alliance (PPA). After much persuasion I joined them and did so much to bring it to a desired level.
“After a while I discovered that it was not the kind of thing I wanted to do. I told myself that I will rather be a widow of a hero than the wife of a coward. So at that point I decided to quit.
“I never wanted PDP for anything. So I stayed away completely. There were pressure upon pressure. But I still decided to stay away. I took my time despite pressure before I decided to join the APC.
“We want to form a rescue force to get ourselves out of the situation we have found ourselves today. We are on a salvage mission. Only an APC government can get us out of the doldrums we find ourselves today.
“Thank God I never pitched tent with the PDP. There was so much impunity. In Cross River for instance one person would determine everything. We don’t want a government of impunity. I will always fight impunity.
“We want a government that would carry everyone along and that is what APC stands for. Cross River is collapsing because it was a one man show.
“I thought deeply before joining the party. I looked before I took this giant leap. I am here to serve. I am not here for appointment but I want to be part of the change agenda,” Ebri said.
He also urged Nigerians to be patient with President Buhari. Adding: “We will fix this country. I promise to be a law abiding member. I am coming into the party with a lot of supporters. I urge that there should be no discrimination.”
The Ward chairman of the party, Mr Monday Emmanuel Obuma, who also welcomed Ebri to the party, assured that giant’s strides would be made by the party.
State Chairman of Inter Party Advisory Council in the state, Mr Goddie A Akpama said
Ebri’s declaration was a big boost for the APC in the State and an encouragement for them from his Constituency.
Mr Cletus Obun, Vice Chairman, APC, Cross River Central, specifically thanked Ebri for what he called “this liberation movement he is leading and has accepted to lead’’.
He said: “I am happy that he has acknowledged that it is going to be a tedious journey to make. The mess of 16 months is not going to be removed in six months.
“Politics, democracy, development and progress is not turn-key technology. The instrument of unity, cleanliness, he is taking today is to unite, uplift and liberate our people. You have rightly said that you come not to seek position but to seek to be positioned; that you come not to seek but give because it is in giving that you receive.
“This burden that you have accepted to undertake, therefore, weakens and humbles me.
It is impossible to run a party without a leadership and that leadership is not just the executive. It is indeed the leadership within the leadership and that is, we have been absent in opposition. We want to thank you for respecting and accepting that call.”
He handed the symbolic broom – the party’s symbol – to Ebri
Mr Usani Uguru Usani, Minister, Niger Delta Affairs, said he was pleased that Ebri decide to pitch his tent with the APC
“I am particularly grateful that today we have reasons or occasion to be here. Right at the time of elections Chief Clement Ebri, had worked, directed and advised that votes be cast for Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
“We are thankful to those who are repentant today who thought there was not going to be anyone fit to be President of Nigeria except Goodluck Jonathan. Today they have a reason to be in our gathering.
“As a government in this regime, I want to assure you that by the grace of God that in spite of the paltry resources our (APC) performance in four years will surpass their (PDP) performance in 16 years.
“In times like this in the Second World War, Winston Churchill, said “never in the history of mankind has so much been owed to so few’’.
“This is a moment of challenge of this administration. That is why as ministers up till now government cannot even pay for our hotel accommodation or even residential accommodation. That is the plight of those who see the plight of Nigeria and are committed to its change.
“This administration belief that everything that is dishonourable must be despised by those who are honourable. It demands discipline of those who must work for the society and if you are disciplined enough you must come forward to take your rightful place.
“This administration will not despise what is proper but would rather despise dishonourable values.
“Ebri gave me three appointments in his administration. He was governor of Cross River at 39 and he left the office with great honour. That goes to show that young people also have enough to offer.Although his administration was truncated after 23 months, we thank God he is alive to contribute his quota to society.
“It is said that honour is a reward of excellence only assigned to the good. Ebri is a good man to the core. Let the coming of this our son not be a forum for extortion. We have some greedy party men but pleas stem your greed; without that you will not get respect from anybody.
“If you misbehave any further within the party there are more than enough to take your position. There is no corporate membership in APC. Everybody wishing to enlist in the party should be conversant with the provisions of our party’s constitution.
“In the APC we abide by due process, party rules, INEC regulations and provisions of electoral laws,” Usani said.
He decorated Ebri with the party’s muffler saying the former governor had a special privilege because before this time he did not belong to any party.
Former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, who represented Cross River Central at the 7th Senate, applauded Ebri over the decision to join the party
“We are assembled here to witness history. Today we are assembled here to see a man of history, a man of integrity, zeal and great humility, who has always offered himself for service to others. He is Mr Clement David Ebri. I welcome you to our party and I join you in welcoming him to our party.
“Your Excellency there is no one better qualified than you to offer leadership in this exercise. Cross River will be salvaged and the salvation has just started today. We welcome him from hibernation. The country needs your wisdom because you cannot light a lamp and put it under a bottle. We join him in the salvation of our state and our country.
“Impunity anywhere is not sustainable. It is a big lesson for APC that you do not need to reinvent the wheel. We should avoid the mistakes of the immediate past. With this Nigeria will be on the threshold of greatness.
Chairman of the occasion was Amb. Joseph Tawo Anyanbem.
Representatives of the Nasarawa State governor, Umar Tanko Al-Makura, Minister of Science and Technology, Ogbonnaya Onu, attended the occasion.
Other dignitaries at the occasion included the Vice Chairman of APC in Cross River Central, and former Member of the State House of Assembly, Hon Cletus Obun, APC State Secretary, Bishop Victor Ebong, Labor Party Candidate in the last governorship election, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, Mr. Alex Egbona, former chief of staff to former Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River, former member, Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHA), Mr. Ernest Eki, former Minority Leader, CRSHA, Mr. Alex Irek.
Dianabasi Effiong
