By Ebriku John Friday
A notable stalwart of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Hon Anthony Asuquo (Etete of the Universe) on Thursday said, the leader of Cross River Caucus in the National Assembly, Senator Gershom Bassey has vindicated his earlier call for those who want to leave the party to do so, noting it won’t stop its shine and rise in the state.
Hon Asuquo, who has been very vocal in his support for Governor Ben Ayade as the leader of the party in the state, in a statement released today stated that Senator Gershom’s recent interview published on Vanguard Newspaper has disassociated the NASS Caucus from the self-seeking position of Rt Hon Jarigbe Agom, a member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency.
Rt Hon Agom had in a recent interview with journalists in Calabar boasted that the PDP in Cross River State will collapse if the party’s delegates list for it’s postponed state congress is changed.
But in a swift reaction, Hon Asuquo in a widely circulated interview called on those who are antagonising the governor to leave the party adding that their leaving the party won’t stop it from waxing stronger, assuring they will take the party to the next level.
In a statement Asuquo titled, CROSS RIVER NASS CAUCUS LEADER, SEN GERSHOM COUNTERS MR JARIGBE’, he said, “The African adage that says children dream dreams while Adults see vision can best describe the press release granted by Caucus leader of NASS members from CRS Sen. Gershon Bassey to counter, contradict, condemn and disassociate NASS from the calumny and infantile outburst by Mr Jarigbe.
“When I released a video condemning the press release granted a few days ago by Mr Jarigbe and telling anyone who wants to leave the party to go ahead and the party will remain intact, people called to tell me that I was not serious.
“I am therefore happy to say that the press statement released by Sen. Gershom Bassey has vindicated me.
“Mr Jarigbe ‘s press release granted a few days ago has been described by public affairs commentators as immature, dishonorable and slanderous.
“I therefore see the position taken by the leader of NASS caucus as an attempt to remove the NASS from the selfish opinion of Jarigbe.
“Sen. Gershom in his response stated that there was no truth that PDP NWC collected any bribe of #500m nor did the Governor sidelined the NASS.
“The Senator went further to counter the prediction by Mr Jarigbe that the party will not collapse rather the party will have a clean sweep in the forthcoming elections because the Governor is building consensus across all stakeholders to achieve harmonization.
“We have also been informed that the erratic action of Mr Jarigbe has caused him serious problems with his colleagues who have seen that the bribery allegation he made against NWC members has affected the relationship of the entire NASS with the PDP NWC.
“We also heard that Mr Jarigbe has been warned not to use the name of NASS members to fuel further crisis.
“I remain my original self
“Comrade Etete from Calabar South.”
