Sen Sandy Onor Appeals For Cease Fire Over Call For Removal of PDP Chairman

Ndifereke BASSEY

The Cross River State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in the last last general elections, Prof Sen. Sandy Onor, has called on stakeholders to sheathe their swords over the call for the removal of state chairman, Bar. Venatius Ikem, from office.

Onor in a letter said this is not he auspicious time to face another crisis, saying rather this is the time for all party members to come together to build formidable party.

The letter read in part: "In the last two weeks, I have observed on the Cross River State PDP platform, a resurgence of calls for the resignation of the State Chairman, Barr. Venatius Ikem.

"I have had the opportunity in the past of meeting with the protagonists of these calls and I have maintained the position that it would be totally injurious to our party at this critical time in our political history, to remove our State Chairman.

"My position on this matter has not changed and is not likely to change at all.

I appeal for constructive compromise between the Chairman and those who seek his ouster.

As stakeholders of a political party, we must disagree from time to time but we have no liberty for disagreeableness.

"It is wanton disagreement more than anything else, that destroyed our party in the last elections from the National to the State levels and we cannot afford to accommodate the same vicious virus, moving forward.

"Let the falcon hear the falconer. Let all the stakeholders sheath their swords and resolve their differences, or at worse, tolerate themselves since we only have one year left of the tenure of the present state executive committee. Let us all prepare to engineer the changes we want to see in the next state congress which is not far from now.

"I would continue to pray for God's favour, wisdom, humility and grace upon all of us."