Only God Can Decide Who Succeeds Imoke – Ibeshi Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi is a cerebral politician who has had national limelight first, as member, House of Representatives, 1991-1993, and the first elected National Publicity Secretary of the PDP in 1999. He is one of the men seeking to take over from Senator Liyel Imoke as Governor in 2015. He spoke with Politics Herald Editors on the 2015 Governorship election in Cross River State. Q. You are reported as one of the frontline aspirants for the PDP Governorship ticket in Cross River. How well is your candidature received? A. Thats quite some cheery information to know that I am considered a frontline aspirant for the PDP Guber ticket for 2015. Considering the number of those whose intents from Cross River North have been known and those yet to reveal their intents, that is really some delightful information. If in your words I am considered a frontline aspirant it shows that my candidature is well received by quite a good chunk of the observing public eagerly waiting for the uncertainty currently beclouding who will take over the mantle of leadership from Governor Imoke to be unearthed. The eagerness amongst the populace is understandable due to the unique branding enjoyed by Cross River State since 1999 to date especially as the economy of the state since 2007 has been frugally managed with little or no resources by Governor Imoke using templates and skills that have kept the state not only alive but attractive as a one stop investment destination. Q. Since the party primaries would be by electoral college where delegates would vote, whats your connectedness to these delegates A. Since making my intents public, and knowing the intensity of Party Primaries by Delegates, I have deployed my understanding to working along the framework given by the leadership of the party to reaching out to 1. Members of the three Senatorial District Caucuses inaugurated by the governor to intervene in consensus building to arrive at ensuring minimum rancor, minimum cash distraction of electorates, minimum violence and best suitable candidate to run the affairs of the state given its very precarious socio-political status after 2015 election. 2. My ground canvassers have deployed maximum means to organize Seminars and TownHall Meetings to educate youths and expected delegates/electorate in general on the need to understand the difference between opportunity and capacity in deciding leadership in 2015. The fact that some have opportunity to serve does not mean capacity. Some may have capacity to serve and lead but no opportunity. My advise while interacting with them has been to make a determined effort to distinguish between capacity and opportunity to use their electoral mandate to make an informed decision to elect a successor to Imoke who has both cerebral, spiritual and political capacity to run a state as fragile as Cross River without destroying the hard work done by the PDP since 1999 to date. Q. Are you in anyway interfacing with other candidates towards having the best candidate from the North given the number of people who have indicated interest to run? A. I think some of you know my kind of politics by now. I have held a couple of meetings with my co aspirants from the North one-on-one. Some feel constrained to discuss knowing we all have the same aspiration while some feel quite elated that I could call them for discussion. The reason I try meeting with those disposed to meeting is because I know out of the crowd, only one aspirant will be governor in 2015 so why not discuss with whoever that maybe as God will be the final determinant in this issue. Those we have interfaced so far have been open enough at least for me to understand their disposition. I am sure before Primaries there will be more consensus building amongst those already interfacing to arrive at who would represent most interests indicated. Q. What do you think makes you the candidate to beat? A. It would be presumptuous to say I am the candidate to beat having been in politics for 22 years now. I won elections under Option A 4 to the House of Representatives in 1992 and won a Party National Election in 1999 at Eagle Square to emerge the first elected National Publicity Secretary of PDP. None of these two experiences presented me as the candidate to beat. All were won by the grace of God in my life. And as you know man has no hand in grace and calling by God. If God has called and this is the timing by Him, then I can rest assured in His will. One thing I know is that God rules in the affairs of man and He has the hearts of kings in His hands. My confidence is in Him. Q.What difference do you anticipate to make as Governor, if you are elected in 2015? A. I am glad you asked that question about difference. Let me quickly say I am proud and happy to have known and been part of the two governors who have branded Cross River State a one stop investment destination since 1999 to date. Whatever Cross State will be has already been crafted. I understand the vision and the dream for the state since I am part of that integral dream that has been executed thus far. In any building plan, finishing is the most artistic and expensive and in most cases most delicate! Same thing in bridal make-up. Finishing is what people see not knowing how much work has gone underneath before the fine colors or furnishing or decor. I know I will finish very well what began as a dream of some young men from Cross River State in Lagos in 1995 and has been carried thus far. I know the colors needed and masking needed. I know the gaps and I know the tunnels. I am a combination of governor Imoke and governor Duke. I will add a fine finish to this beautiful building called Cross River State if given the opportunity to serve as governor in 2015 because I have the capacity.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Aug 2014 18:14:34 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015