Cross River Central: Buhari Has No Anointed Candidate – Ricketts

NICHOLAS KALU

Front line aspirant to the Cross River Central Senatorial District seat, Obol Akin Ricketts, has reacted to speculations that President Muhammadu Buhari has anointed a chieftain of the party from the area to be the flag bearer of the district in the 2019 elections.

Fielding questions from reporters after a consultative meeting with APC members and his supporters in Obubra Local Government Area of the State Chief Akin Ricketts said, “the President Buhari that I know as a father cannot take such a blanket decision without considering the yearnings and aspirations of the people of Central Senatorial District.

“Our party is committed to providing a level playing ground for all aspirants to test their acceptability by their people. The claim that President Buhari took the decision because APC has zoned the position of Senate Presidency to Cross River Central Senatorial District is untrue and a cheap political propaganda.

Obol Ricketts, who is one of the front runners for the Cross River Central Senatorial ticket pointed out that his aspiration to represent the people of the old Obubra Province is borne out of the desire and agitations for equitable representation by all segments of the Senatorial District, emphasizing that since the advent of democracy, Yakurr and Obubra are the two Local Government Areas that have not had a shot at the Senatorial seat while Abi, Ikom, Etung and Boki which are the other Local Government Areas that make up the Senatorial District have all had their turns in the past.

The Senatorial hopeful, who is a former Commissioner for Information in the State, urged his supporters and party loyalists to remain calm, insisting that he is in the race for victory.