Essien Ayi is a member of the House of Representatives. The lawmaker, who represents Akpabuyo/Bakassi/ Calabar South Federal Constituency, in this interview with journalists in Calabar, speaks on how his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, looks good to keep its hold on power in Cross River State. CORRESPONDENT Bassey Inyang was there.
Excerpts…
Does the Southern Senatorial District have any agenda concerning the 2015 governorship election in the state, following stickers bearing the messages from Gershom Bassey seen in town?
There is nothing like a southern agenda as far as I am concerned. If you follow the happenings in the state you will see that it is the South that started it, followed by the Central. It is only fair that the North should take it. I am not aware of any southern agenda. I was part of the state caucus when they decided that the North should have it and I don’t think anybody raised any eyebrow. It was agreed unanimously. For the stickers of Gershom Bassey people are talking about, it said ‘if monkey work, whether e no go chop’. That does not mean that you want to run for governorship. There are so many ways that monkey can work and chop. And there are so many positions.
Is there any particular person you think the party leaders prefer from the north?
Whosoever would emerge will come from the north. Who that would be, we don’t know yet. Maybe at the end of the primaries we would know. There are so many who have indicated interest. Only God knows who will be governor in 2015.
Do you think that a popular person would be chosen as the governorship candidate of the PDP?
I don’t think that if we go for primaries and it is conducted in a transparent and orderly manner that would not raise any doubt, and somebody emerges and you say the person is not popular. No. A popular person will emerge if we go for a very transparent primary and the right people are accredited, and the vote and results are announced and somebody says the person is not popular. So, a popular candidate may win.
Do you see the APC as a credible alternative to the PDP?
The APC is credible because as they have come together, they are a stronger force than they were before as different parties. Has they have come together and have states they control coupled with the defection of five of our governors, it would be definitely stronger than what it used to be. So, we should brace up and know that the opposition is going to be stiffer than before.
What I don’t like to do in politics is to underrate. When you see people coming back and the opposition is strong, you have to be strong. When you underrate, you have problems.
What is your ambition as far as the 2015 election is concerned, more so as it is being speculated that you still intend to return to the National Assembly?
I have not told anybody my political intentions for 2015. But I know that at the appropriate time I will say it. For now I have not yet decided what position I will contest. So, it is just rumour. Normally in politics there is a lot of rumour. We have been in this thing for a very long time.
Do you agree with those that say President Jonathan has a hand in the problem in Rivers State?
I don’t think the President has a hand in the crisis in Rivers State. If you watch the Rivers State crisis very well, it is a fight between the governor and the Minister for Education who was his chief of staff, for reasons I don’t know. I know this problem started when the court ruled and removed the executive that was in place which was, maybe, favourable to Amaechi and now put an executive favourable to Wike. So the fight is between Amaechi and Wike. I don’t see the president’s hand there. For the removal of the commissioner, what I saw were 22 commissioners who were moved. If it was only Rivers State then maybe one would have said there is something wrong, but 22 commissioners have been moved and it is a routine thing. Occasionally, they post them. I don’t see it as anything. If it was only Rivers I would have said maybe apparently it is because of the crisis in Rivers State, but it was 22. I think it is a routine posting. You can see even the air force also.
What is your reaction to speculation that you and your supporters have concluded plans to defect to the All Progressives Congress?
I am aware of some text messages making the rounds in Cross River State to the effect that I have concluded arrangements to dump the ruling People’s Democratic Party, of which I remain a founding member in the state, to defect to the All Progressives Congress with my teeming supporters and loyalists. To the best of my knowledge, this rumour and the accompanying text messages are the handiwork of some political desperadoes and unscrupulous elements who will stop at nothing to achieve their selfish aim.
Let me restate for the purpose of posterity that I remain a pillar of strength for the PDP in the state and country at large. Over the years, I have been consistent in my commitment to the party which I, along with a few others, laboured to nurture from the cradle. I use this opportunity to call on my supporters to discountenance the said text messages and wicked rumour and to keep faith with the PDP which has faithfully delivered democratic dividends in the state since 1999 till date. They should not waver for any reason or allow themselves to be enticed nor misled by elements who neither mean well for them or the state.
But have you ever considered that option?
I must reemphasize that I have never conceived nor considered the option of leaving the PDP and will never be associated with such. PDP remains the party for Cross River and the best option for us all.
Though there have been a lot of pressure from opposition parties for me to join them, I want my supporters to remain calm for it shall not happen and it is not going to happen for now.
If such a thing would happen, I would duly inform everybody. So for now, nothing like that is happening and I want to debunk that because I have been receiving a lot of messages and calls. I have seen the text message saying I am defecting with 2,000 of my supporters. For now I don’t think there is any cause for action.
The new national chairman is trying to put things in place and to correct a lot of wrong doings that has been in the party, and I think we should give him a chance to nurture the party to the PDP that we used to know. He is a man of peace. Trying to reconcile and bring everybody back is good, and we should support. I don’t see him as someone who is power drunk though he has been a governor for two terms. I see him as a calm person who means well for the party. Since he assumed office, he has been touring the country trying to speak with those who left angrily. People like former heads of state and so on, are trying to reach out to everybody.