Ibeshi seeks one term as Cross River governor

A former National Publicity Secretary of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi, has formally declared his intention to contest for the gubernatorial position of Cross River State in 2019, pledging to do just one term of four years in office.

In his address at the occasion tagged: “Mission to rescue Cross River State,” he lamented that the incumbent, Prof. Ben Ayade, abandoned the legacy projects initiated by previous administrations of Mr. Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke.

He blamed Ayade for watching helplessly without taking any reasonable action to revitalize Obudu Ranch Resort, including the Cable Car at the facility, the first in West Africa.

Ibeshi, who said his manifesto is “Rescue 2019”, listed 23 unfulfilled promises of the Governor Ayade, including vows to commence the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport and the 260-kilometre Superhighway in 2017, as well as, the construction of two megawatts power plants in the 18 local government areas, among others.

The gubernatorial aspirant said plans were already apace to revive and open new phases of development in the moribund Tinapa Business Resort and Obudu Ranch Resort in the Calabar Municipal and Obanliku local government councils respectively.

He assured that he would achieve his goal of reviving the legacy, but moribund projects through an action plan termed ‘Project 2’ and initiate a new phase in entrepreneurship development.

He said: “A good government must be responsive; there must be consensus building as a policy framework.

How can any leader lead by merely imposing his or her will on the people?

My government shall be one that listens and responds to the yearnings and aspirations of our people. Therefore, this will lead to other key features, namely equity, effectiveness and efficiency.

He promised to run an open government, stressing: “I would foster regular town hall meetings for citizens to meet their councilors, council chairmen, House of Assembly members, governor and the National Assembly members for accountability through briefings and needs assessment.

“If you give me the opportunity, I am here to serve you for just one term of four years, completing the two terms of Northern Cross River Senatorial District under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP); a precedence already benefited by South and Central Senatorial Districts, respectively, in keeping with the zoning arrangement designed by our leaders as boldly printed in my 71-page manifesto hereby presented.”

He added that any government that does not anchor its focus on probity and accountability would not serve the people that elected it.