I’m Prepared To Govern Cross River —Hilliard Etta

A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Cross River State, Ntufam Hilliard Etta, said he is prepared for the task of governing the state after he indicated interest to vie for the office in 2023. 

Etta, who had been National Vice Chairman, South-South, of the party, said he had consulted widely and would soon make a formal declaration.

He told journalists in Calabar that, “Having studied the polity of Cross River State, it is important that I throw my hat in the ring and contest for the governorship seat of Cross River State. I do this in humility. I do this because I know I am prepared. I do this because it is important that we regenerate and create Cross River State of our dreams.

“In this time and age Cross River needs men of courage and that is the reason for my aspiration. This aspiration is divine. If it is predicated on connection with people, I won’t venture out. I am battle-ready. I have always been because I know the place of development, the place of prosperity, the place of dynamism cannot be a place of consensus.”

According to him, “I do know that I have the answers to the questions that are raging in  Cross River State and by the special grace of God He will give me an opportunity of dealing with those questions.”

He said the state is endowed with human and abundant natural resources that could be harnessed to bring about transformation.

He also spoke on the issue of zoning, saying, “My position on zoning is very clear. All of us are proponents of zoning. That is why it is impossible for you to have a presidential ticket with a northerner as a presidential candidate and a northerner as a vice presidential candidate.

“I am very sure that most Nigerians will not find it acceptable, just as you cannot have a governorship candidate come from the same Senatorial District as the deputy governorship candidate. To that extent, all of us are given to the fact that we have a lot of fault lines and one of the areas that we must use for nation building is to spread political offices around.”

He expressed optimism that the Southern Senatorial District will produce the governor in 2023. 

“I know the right thing will be done in Cross River State and the Southern Senatorial District will have the opportunity of going into the government house so that the unity and strength of Cross River State will not be undermined by the struggle that could ensue,” he said.