Ayade’s Aide Joins Race For House of Reps Ticket

Cross River State Commissioner for Grants, John Onoh Ulafor, has joined the race to grab the ticket for the Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency byelections. 

Ulafor, who is contesting on the platform of All Progressives Congress, stated this in Calabar on Tuesday, adding that he was on his way to Abuja to pick up the nomination form.

“INEC has come up with a timetable, so the party has also come up with a timetable today, for us to start buying the forms today 18th January. And by Monday 24 January, we should submit those forms. So am heading to Abuja to pick my form.” 

He said he is eminently qualified to run the election, adding, “I have a pedigree that cannot be contested. I was a former member of the House of Assembly, I am a two-time commissioner, a political philanthropist, a grassrooter, we have served this state and have particularly been very loyal to the leader of the party, his Excellency, Professor Benedict Ayade.

“So if he finds me proper to go to the House of Representatives, I will never disappoint him. And moreso, I am very lucky because I come from an area in Yala where, from time to time now, the Ukele Axis have not benefited at all. we have never gone to the House of Representatives. So, I think this is a great opportunity for us. Ukele must be heard, let me go to Abuja, to do the needful, and ensure that we bring dividends of Democracy to our state and Ogoja Yala Federal Constituency.”

According to him, “I come from Constituency Two of Yala. Ogoja and Yala share this constituency, Jarigbe was there as a member of the House of Representatives, and he moved to the senate, the vacancy has been declared, so it naturally returns back to Yala. 

“Now in Yala the other constituency has had it over and over again. So the Ukele axis has never had it which is Yala Two. So we in Yala we are a two-in-one local government. So this is the first opportunity we will ever have to go to the House of Representatives, I mean we in Yala Two axis.

“I have been tested severally. As a member of the House of Assembly, I was remarkable there. And as a commissioner, as DG, as this as that, in Cross River State since 1998 to date.”

He also said, “I have touched lives positively. So it becomes like a continuation in my private life and as a politician and as an appointee of government, particularly under the tutelage of his Excellency, Professor Benedict Ayade. He has taught us to be strong so that the weak can lean on us. That is life!

“If our people have simple life amenities, at least crime will reduce. Everybody will be busy. That is what I am going to bring, and am going to ensure that there will be empowerment that has never been done before.

“I am a grassrooter, I know, and I feel the pain of those down there. I am not talking about being a Lagos or Abuja person, I am a grassrooter. I grew up from the village and became who I am and became what I am today. Professor Benedict Ayade brought me out and brushed me into what I am, and am standing very tall, and I think that, and I feel that if given the opportunity, the people of Yala will never regret.

“I was a former legislator in 1992 and 1993,  the youngest legislator as a member of the House of Assembly, and also the majority whip of the house. So legislation is in my DNA, everyone who knows John Ulafor, knows that I get into arguments that are productive. So that the truth will be sifted from the lies. An argument where sincerity will be put in the front burner. So you will get all of these plus loyalty, I am very loyal. I don’t play with loyalty, it is number one for me, because if you are ninety nine percent loyal and one percent disloyal, then there is a leakage. I am obedient to the system and I do the needful.

“It is a collective responsibility, is not all about President Buhari, what part are you playing to contribute your quota to ensure that together we can give our people the development which we yearn for? As a grassrooter, I came in from the lowest in the society through hard work, and got into where I am today, I learn from everybody, am down there with the lowest, and up there with the high so I learn from everybody.”

He said APC has taken over Cross River State, adding, “You can assess it yourself. In Cross River, APC has taken over everywhere. If it is winning the byelection, forget about it because the very who is who in Cross River State is in APC.”