From Judex Okoro, Calabar
A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Chief Sam Bassey, has stated that the back-to-south mantra of the Cross River State governor Prof. Ben Ayade, favours the party’ governroship candidate in the state, Prof. Sandy Onor.
Chief Bassey, a former foundation member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) who left the party two months ago following the marginalisation of minorities within the southern Senatorial district of the state, said Cross River is both patrilineal and matrilinea.
Justifying his support for Professor Sandy who is from the Central Senatorial district of the state, he said someone can enjoy benefits or privileges from any part of the state if either of your parents are from the state.
In his words:”Even the “Back-To- South sentiment is very good for Prof. Sandy Onor because his mother is from Akamkpa local government area of Cross River State and Cross River state is both patrilineal and matrilineal.
“Examples abound of persons whose fathers are non Cross Riverians but mothers with Cross River State Citizenship that have been appointed and elected into public offices in and outside Cross River State.
“They cut across the three senatorial districts of Cross River state. We have one from the central senatorial district who is currently the chairman of a federal blue chip board.
“The father of this great gentleman is not from Cross River State but his beloved mother is a great daughter of Cross River State. We are very proud of him.
“The point here is that even if the ssntiments of “back-to-south” is invoked, Sandy Onor is very qualified for the 2023 governorship of Cross River State”, he said.
Beyond the sentiment, he posited that Onor is the most appropriate candidate for the 2023, explaining that he (Onor), “having risen to the pinnacle of the academic community as an erudite Professor of history with many publications that have made appearances in prestigious international journals to his credit.
As a former chairman of Etung local government, former vice chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), chairman of the Cross River State Local Government Service Commission as well as Cross River State commissioner for agriculture and environment,
Onor “is a round peg in a round hole hence the most qualified to take charge of the state.”