BEVERLY HILLS, February 03, (THEWILL) – In appreciation of what they described as the significant impact the Senator Liyel Imoke-led administration has made on the socio-economic lives of the people of Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State, traditional fathers in the area, led by its Paramount Ruler, His Royal Highness, Chief Fredaline Akando, has warned that it would amount to ingratitude if his subjects queued behind any other political party than the Peoples Democracy Party (PDP) in the forthcoming general elections.
According to him, “It will be disastrous and amounting to ingratitude if we should vote for any other party in the state in the February elections except PDP because it has drastically transformed this area under the leadership of Governor Liyel Imoke.”
The traditional rulers issued the warning yesterday during an interactive section with the PDP campaign train after its campaign rally in Okundi.
According to Chief Akando, “Imoke is the best thing that has happened to Cross River and particularly Boki in recent past. The infrastructure that dots the area is as a result of a kind-hearted administrator in the person of Senator Liyel Imoke who decided to focus on rural transformation since his assumption of office which today has placed the area in an advantageous position in terms of development.
“As far as the Boki nation is concerned, nobody, except a mad man will leave the PDP and go to another party because in my entire life, I have never seen a man who is as accommodating and humane as Senator Liyel Imoke. He is a man of his words. He does not tell you one thing and do another, whatever he promises, he does and that is why today the area is wearing a new look.”
The monarch further revealed how much life has changed for the people of the area.
“We used to trek for four hours before getting our wares to and from market and even come out to town, but right now, it takes just 20 minutes drive to transport ourselves, thanks to the newly constructed roads in the area which Imoke passionately initiated.
“Imoke is a governor of no comparison and we will always stand by him. He has brought prestige to the traditional rulers in the state. Today, we stand tall among our contemporaries in the comity of states which has in turn given us the impetus to discharge our duties effectively and efficiently in the state.”
Responding, Governor Imoke said the team was in Boki because “we don’t want to take our people for granted as we believe very strongly that each time we need your people’s votes or support, we must come and appeal to them.”
He said: “In 2007, I made a promise to give you an asphalted road, today I stand fulfilled that I can drive from Okundi to Isobendege, this is one of the numerous projects we have embarked upon in Boki.
“My intention was to transform the hitherto rural Boki community to an urban town with the necessary infrastructure.”
The PDP governorship candidate, Prof. Ben Ayade, promised to work with traditional rulers and other stakeholders, including youths in the area to actualise their request for the establishment of an institution of higher learning in the area, stressing that the proposed school will not be like the conventional degree awarding institution but entrepreneurial in orientation so as to train young ones in their desired area of specialisation to enable graduates gain employment after graduation.
Ayade pointed out that he was willing to continue the transformational initiative started by Governor Imoke, adding, “I’m making plans to make Boki an urban area by ensuring that all ongoing projects are completed and new ones initiated, especially those that will impact on the lives of the less privilege.”
