.declares intention

By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR

A business law scholar and indigene of Bekwara Local Government Area, Dr John Onyi-Agaba, has thrown his hat into the ring for the Cross River North Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Chief Executive Officer of Snowspring Group declared his intention yesterday in Calabar, insisting he possesses the wherewithal to dislodge the incumbent, Senator Jarigbe Agom, and former governor, Senator Ben Ayade, who are also eyeing the seat.

Onyi-Agaba, who cited pervasive poverty and underdevelopment in the district as the driving force behind his ambition, said he was moved by the harsh realities faced by his people.

“You will not understand poverty except you experience poverty and the motivational factor primarily is to give back to my people. There’s a path I’ve travelled, and it wasn’t a palatable path at all,” he said.

“As a people, are we doing better? Not at all. You see, when we hide behind the curtains of pretence, we won’t experience growth. But when we face facts, when we see things and discuss things holistically, we will produce positive results,” he said.

Questioning the state of basic infrastructure, the aspirant asked: “Do we have a functional primary health centre that we can successfully carry out a major surgery? No. Are you telling me that it’s not achievable? It is. Why? It’s very possible.”

Onyi-Agaba said his personal experience of life’s hurdles has shaped his resolve to bring fresh ideas and a new development path to the senatorial district.

“For a young man like me, who have gone through the hurdles of life, I want to see if I can help my people in my own little way. And by so doing, I want to go represent them,” he stated.

While acknowledging the contributions of past and current representatives, he argued that change has become imperative for genuine growth.

“If anybody says Ayade has not done well, the person is lying. If anybody says that Senator Jarigbe is not doing well, they are all lying. These are leaders that have done impeccably well. However for growth to take place, there must be a change.

“They have given, they have paid their dues. They have also given their own quota back to their people. They should create an avenue, a platform for a new person to contribute his own quota. With that, growth will be better,” he maintained.

The Senate hopeful listed accountability as his major selling point, promising to subject himself to the scrutiny of constituents if elected.

On zoning and power rotation, he dismissed sentiments, declaring: “Power is not based on sentiment, neither is it given but it is taken… not through violence but through diplomacy.”

The Cross River North Senatorial ticket is expected to witness a keen contest in the APC primaries, with Ayade also warming up to challenge Jarigbe, who currently occupies the seat.