Goddie Akpama|14 September 2017
Last Sunday at the Saint Luwanga Catholic Church in Calabar, the Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress, APC, held what it termed a Thanksgiving service for the recovery of President Muhammad Buhari who recently returned to the country after observing 103 days of medical leave in London.
After the church service, members of the party, with the National Vice Chairman, South South, Mr Hilliard Eta, retired to the reception venue where I became his subject of his address to party members.
In a nutshell, Eta castigated me for supporting, His Excellency, Professor Ben Ayade, especially for challenging those who insult the Governor as a person, and the office of the Governor as an institution, and for insisting that even when the administration is criticised it should be done constructively.
He even wondered whether I am a member of the APC.
Ordinary, I won't have bothered myself, waste my time on Hillard Eta with a reply because within the political arena in the state, he is relatively unknown, as he is still struggling at the tender foot level.
But, I have decided to join issues with him in order to put records straight, and to educate people like Hillard on what is expected of politicians, and patriotic citizens who are interested in the growth and development of the state and Nigeria at large.
First of all, may I advice Hilliard Eta to, stop his day-dreaming about my membership of the APC in the state.
I am APC and he can't change that.
I am a member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) but more importantly a free citizen of Cross River State with a right to freedom of speech, and other rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So, being a member of the APC does not deny me the right to comment on issues affecting the state, and even supporting the Governor and his projects/program if in my opinion he is doing well.
That does not amount to anti-party activities as claimed by Hilliard Eta who is very notorious for engaging in anti-party activities.
Yes. In 2011, Eta engaged in anti-party activities, even as a House of Assembly candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), in Calabar Municipal, by campaigning openly against the senatorial candidate of his party. He campaigned openly in support of the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for purely selfish reasons. Both elections were billed for the same day, and while campaigning Hilliard Eta was heard saying 'House of Assembly, Vote ACN, Senate Vote PDP. By so-doing, Hilliard lost the election because most of the electorate voted for PDP through and through because they could not distinguish between the ballot papers for Senate, and House of Assembly, respectively. What a display of political naivety by Hillard Eta. Lest I forget, when he ran for House of Assembly, I ran for governor of Cross River State on the platform of PPA and performed well in the election which was won by the then incumbent, Liyel Imoke.
Secondly, Hilliard Eta's reaction is reminiscent of the behaviour of a head hunter who feels uncomfortable to walk in front of a man wielding a machete. That is the hallmark of a traitor, Hilliard Eta is exhibiting such tendency by attacking me when there is no reason for that. Why do I say so? It is because in 2011, immediately after he lost the election, he betrayed Mr Cletus Obun, the man who signed his nomination form to run for House of Assembly that he later upstaged through manipulation to become the ACN Chairman in the state. It's a fact! Cletus Obun, is now the state vice Chairman of APC in Central Senatorial District. .
Hillard Eta, please I have not betrayed the APC by insisting that Governor Ben Ayade should be supported by Cross Riverians to succeed. In all my comments, and write-ups, I have never made any negative comments about the APC to create fears in the mind of Hilliard Eta that I am betraying the APC. If Hilliard Eta had accused me to the effect that my recent comments that tend to support Governor Ayade’s administration were a threat to his (Hilliard Eta's) ambition to becoming deputy governor in 2019 to any of the APC top politicians from Obudu in the northern senatorial district, I would not have any problems with that. So, Hilliard Eta, concentrate on your deputy governorship ambition, and leave me alone.
It is not yet time for campaigns.
Meanwhile, I advise you to use your position to reorganize the APC in the state which is completely disorganized. Reorganize the APC in the South South where so many state chapters are in crisis, and ensure members have membership cards, which I think, you don't even have one in your capacity as Vice Chairman South South.
Grow up Hilard, discuss issues and stop been a child brand! Concentrate on your deputy governorship dream.
Thank you.
Goddie Akpama
Is an APC faithful.
