A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Henry Onwe, has given reasons why some socio-political groups have asked him to contest the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency position.
Onwe is a business man and a big farmer who hails from South Ukelle in Yala local government area of Cross River State. He has over 100 Crossriverians working in his business outlets which include the oil and gas and agriculture.
He is also a grassroot politician and mobilizer who has been in the game of politics since 1998, rendering financial assistance and canvassing for votes for those he has supported over years.
He told journalists that part of the reasons why constituents from Ogoja/Yala were calling on him to run was because he is accessible, tolerant, a team player, a grassroot politician who has integrity, he plays politics of friendship among others.
Onwe said that he was still consulting with the leadership of the party, especially the leader of the APC in the state, Governor Ben Ayade, on the next move.
He expressed assurance that the APC will emerge victorious in the yet to be fixed by-election for Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency, adding that if he decides to run, he is the right candidate that can deliver the party 100 percent.
“The pressure keeps coming, we are discussing on the way forward that would be beneficial to our people. If the opportunity presents itself and I chose to run, there are alot of things we can do for our people.
“We have undertaken a rapid need assessment of the two local government areas that makes up the Federal Constituency. Our people are peasant farmers and most of them have difficulties in accessing high breed seedlings for their farming. We are going to make these seedlings available for them with a view to increase their yields.
“Also, I have noticed that alot of the boreholes what were constructed by UNICEF over 30 years ago are broken down and fixing them are the easiest thing to do; we need to provide these facilities in order to get our people good drinking water.
“The issue of access to health services is also a challenge; we will ensure that we open access to healthcare in collaboration with relevant health agencies so that healthcare can be made affordable and accessible for our people.
“We are also going to open up access road that would ease movement of farm produce to the market. Most importantly, we are also going to ensure that there is peace at the boundary areas where we represent,” he assured.
According to him, the incessant communal crises that started since 2005 between communities in Yala local government area in Cross River State and Ebonyi state can be brought to an end with a strong motion in the National Assembly, calling on the National Boundary Commission to re-establish the beckon stone so that the people can enjoy peace.
He expressed sadness over the loss of lives of innocent persons who were killed while plying the road at moment of the crises, adding that the continues breach of peace has disrupted the socioeconomic wellbeing of the affected communities.
He assured those calling on him to run that he won’t let them down, adding that he has touched the lives of his people meaningfully in various ventures like fish farming, hair dressing, tailoring, computer training, civil service employment among others.
Onwe noted that if he choses to run and he is elected, he will do more to uplift the lives of his constituents, adding he is a welfarist who is coming on board to render selfless service to the people.
He called on his teeming supporters to play politics without bitterness and to avoid using derogatory and abusive words, adding that as an individual, he believes in politics of friendship.