The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has castigated the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led government in the state of ‘’playing politics with water supply to the people of the state.’’ The party, in a statement from the Media and Publicity office of the Gubernatorial Campaign Council and endorsed by Bassey Ekpenyong Ita, the co-chairman, said: “For the past four to five days, water supply in the Calabar metropolis, for instance, has been elusive, even at the expense of the religiously- abiding tax-paying people of the state.’’
“In a typical African society, water is as good as life; so valuable that two arch-enemies can always agree at the point of desperation for water. But if the PDP can impose supply cut of water on the masses as a punishment for their decision to reject the party that abandoned them, then it is instructive that the PDP has signed out of political reckoning since it has become clearer that they are poles apart with the people,’’ the statement said.
‘’However, we must reiterate that as a people-conscious, pragmatic and dynamic party, we would not fail in our unalloyed loyalty and commitment only to the people, especially the suffering masses, hence the compulsion on us to announce to the attention of the masses that the PDP government is exhibiting the biggest brigandage to cut water supply as a way of compelling them to go against their already established conviction and will. Africans would dig out sacrilege in that.’’
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The party also said: ‘’The PDP government endangers the lives of Cross Riverians especially as the health care system in the state has been comatose and that the international community must note and warn that with recent outbreak and spread in epidemic in some states of the country, nothing short of a criminal prosecution for human persecution and death will be brought against the PDP leadership following the effect of water supply cut in the state”.
“The People of cross river state had spoken their mind in utter rejection of PDP leadership following the failure of their leader to answer three compulsory questions set for him. Indeed, last Friday, January 30th at the event of the kick off of PDP Presidential Campaign in the state remains evergreen in annals. Punishing them for taking a decision that will change the course history for them individually and collectively is therefore inhuman,’’ the statement added. Meanwhile, the APC gubernatorial Candidate, Odey Ochicha, has assured of the restoration of the dignity and pride of the traditional institution in the state if elected governor of the state. He gave the assurance during a courtesy call on the Oqua Council of Traditional Rulers in Calabar.
According to the gubernatorial hopeful, the APC government will drive a crusade that will ensure improvement in our value system, including confidence-building between the traditional rulers and their subjects. He said he has received assurances by the people of Cross River State to embrace positive change and was therefore, in the royal palace to receive the royal blessing that will ‘stimulate’ the process of victory for the party in the coming elections.
Receiving the candidate and his entourage at council auditorium/palace in Big Qua, Calabar, the Ndidem of the Quas and Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality, Ndidem Thomas Ika Oqua, prayed for the APC train to have smooth and hitch-free campaigns, and wished the gubernatorial hopeful victory at the polls.
