YOU THINK YOU KNOW ME? Part 3
MY COALITION WITH SENATOR VICTOR NDOMA EGBA IN 2019 SENATE RACE; The true story.
Frankly speaking, one of the moments I believe I took a political decision that didn’t go down well with some of my friends and political followers was the 2019 election. I won’t forget in a hurry the lessons I learnt in that political episode. I realized that there are decisions that may be politically expedient but leaves a moral burden that lingers.
My decision to endorse Senator Victor Ndoma Egba for Senate in 2019 appears to be a double edged sword; in a way, it brought my political stride to the front burner and on the other hand, it blurred the light of my budding political career.
I’ve known Senator Victor Ndoma Egba for many years as a family friend but I came very close to him in 2014 when as then President of Post Graduate Students in University of Calabar, I gave him award as an Outstanding Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Then he was equally seeking for a fourth term that was truncated by the brutal arsenal unleashed on him by Sen Liyel Imoke. I actually endorsed his reelection then because of what I considered his sterling legislative performance and some verifiable projects influenced by him. Let me state here that I admire Senator Victor Ndoma Egba a lot and I hold the view that he’s one of the best national figure from our state.
In 2019, shortly after we both became candidates of different parties in the race to represent Cross River Central Senatorial District, some of his key political backers approached me with the issue of endorsing the former Senate Leader for the plumb job. I declined bluntly because it was actually not in my contemplation at all. I went out with everything in me to push my stakes for the office. Truly, I had stupendous support from a section of the electorates, largely youths. I feel terribly bad that some of them felt betrayed. But it was definitely not for a plate of morsel like some people have thought and are still thinking.
As the youngest most visible candidate in the state for a Senate seat, I saw a lot in the course of my engagements with people. The demand for running election in Nigeria is too much and its deliberately skewed to scheme out the best from the race. It is worse when you don’t have financial support from anywhere. In my case, despite having a lot of supporters, I was doing the spending alone. I had financial support from only one person who is not even a Cross Riverian. By the end of December, 2018, I was financially exhausted and my business was almost grounded.
In January, 2019, just a month to the election, I held a meeting to appraise our chances in the election and to ventilate the last winning strategy. In the light of the unavailability of the required financial war chest to prosecute the final but all important stage of the election, the inner caucus members of my campaign organization persuaded me to oblige the offer to endorse the Senate leader in a coalition that will lead to a power sharing deal in order not to lose out completely. After a careful thought I reluctantly accepted to meet with Senator Victor for the first time in January ahead of February election.
Now, let me state here without fear of contradiction that globally there’s nothing wrong with forming a coalition between two of more parties or candidates with the sole reason of winning election. It is an accepted practice in democracy. For instance, the Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde probably wouldn’t have won his election without the backing and support of ADC, ADP, SDP and others. In advance democracies, coalition is needed to meet requirements for forming a new government when there is no clear cut winner in an election.
However, I am equally aware of the gross abuse of political coalition in our clime where big political parties allegedly swallow up smaller parties in what looks more like acquisition than merger or coalition. I’m also aware that most of the smaller parties are literally bought over by big parties and consequently become appendages to the bigger parties. In my case, I didn’t do any such thing. That’s why I still engage both the APC and PDP any day, any time because I wasn’t acquired by anybody.
A few persons have approached me with the allegation that I endorsed Senator Victor Ndoma Egba because he gave me money in exchange for my support. Some have consistently deployed it to represent an Achilles heel or a black spot on my political garment due largely to my political stands. I’m putting this write up to publicly debunk that allegation. I’m fully aware that some of the supporters of the former Senate leader are my friends and followers on Facebook, I make bold to say that I didn’t collect any money from him to support him. NEVER! I didn’t ask for refunds of my campaign expenses because I never contemplated running elections to be compensated as a candidate. I don’t use public support to curry favour. Our discussion was primarily centred on how to sustain my political structure in the event that he wins the senate seat. We also looked at the possibility of future political support for me to win election. I didn’t collect a dime from Senator Victor to support him. I personally sponsored even the press conference I held for that purpose. I wanted to retain my independence which I did.
Despite making this public clarification of what transpired between me and Senator Victor Ndoma Egba in the last Senate election, may I use this opportunity to offer an unreserved public apology to my friends and supporters who felt indifferent about my decision to endorse another person in the last election. I truly share in your deep concern and I take full responsibility for my indiscretion.
As for 2023 election, I don’t have plans to run for any office. I’m more committed to repositioning my party to win majority of available political positions in Cross River State.
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