Several stakeholders of the Cross River State All Progressive
Congress (APC) have kicked against the recent suspension of the Minister
of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor 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-judged 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”.