There was pandemonium and confusion over the weekend in Cross River State as several stakeholders of the State’s
All Progressive Congress (APC) kicked against the recent suspension of the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Usani Uguru Usani.
They declared the purported suspension as a nullity. The reaction of the stakeholders followed reported suspension of the minister over allegations of insubordination, illegal assembly and imposition of a state chairman of the Party on them.
However, in a statement released on Sunday and signed by Ekpe Owan Ayang (the state organizing secretary) , Lazarus Undie (legal adviser), Ekum Ekok Ojogu (State Financial Secretary), Statulus Ikenga (State Welfare Secretary) and twenty one others, they described the suspension as a nullity and called for disciplinary action to be taken against Prince Hilliard Etagbo Eta (the National Vice Chairman South-South) and John Ochala (Deputy State Chairman).
They said “The purported suspension of all state officers of the Party predicated on the processes pursuant to the appointment of Acting State Chairman are all null and avoid as none of the said suspensions were presented to the State Executive Committee of the Party for ratification.
“Prince Hilliard Etagbor having fully participated in the proceedings in the state executive committee meeting and attacked the Hon. Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, wherein, he described the meeting of the Elders committee as illegal and the decision in the said meeting appointing Acting state Chairman as nullity, is disqualified from participating in the Consideration of the Issues arising there from either at the Zone or at the National Executive of this Party as he has pre-judge issues yet to be submitted before his office.
“That the conduct of the Deputy state Chairman, John Ochala and National Vice Chairman South-South, Prince Hilliard Etagbor Eta is antithetical to the Provision of the Oath of office which they subscribed to protect the party constitution, nay, the future prospect of the Party in the state, thus, Prince Hilliard Eta and John Ochala are accordingly suspended from the party forthwith.
“That National Vice Chairman South –South in 2015 Presidential election had only 2 (two) votes at AME Zion Primary School, Diamond Hill polling Unit in Ward 5, Calabar Municipal Council Area, and the rumour of his plot and his surrogates to work for Atiku Abubakar in the 2019 Presidential Election is a fatal risk allowing him unleash damage before expelling him from the Party”.
