Asuquo Cletus
The immediate past Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Alphonsus Eba, has accused Governor Bassey Otu of backing what he described as his illegal removal from office, alleging that the action violated the party’s constitution.
Eba made the allegation yesterday while speaking as a guest on News Central Television, where he broke his silence on the leadership crisis rocking the APC in the state.
According to him, the process that led to his removal did not follow the laid-down provisions of the APC constitution, stressing that the removal of a state party chairman was “cumbersome” and could not be carried out through executive fiat or intimidation.
“I was neither properly removed nor impeached in line with the constitution of our party, yet I am being asked to resign. You cannot say on one breath that I have been impeached and on another breath ask me to resign. It is illogical,” Eba said.
He alleged that Governor Otu was being misled by some party actors to endorse the action, despite interventions by the party’s national leadership. Eba disclosed that the National Chairman of the APC had earlier advised that the matter be resolved amicably and that he be granted access to the governor, but said he was repeatedly denied such access.
The former chairman also claimed that allegations levelled against him arose after he ordered an investigation into complaints by ward and chapter officials over the alleged non-remittance of party funds by a chapter chairman.
“I carried out investigations and found that the complaints were true. Instead of addressing the issue, they turned around and accused me, and that accusation was used as the basis to tarnish my image,” he said.
Eba insisted that he was not desperate to remain in office, noting that he was willing to step aside if due process was followed and the allegations against him withdrawn.
“I don’t want compensation, I don’t want money, I don’t want any appointment. All I asked for was that the wrong done be corrected and my name cleared. After that, I was ready to resign honourably,” he added.
Eba maintained that he remained loyal to Governor Otu, describing himself as the first state party chairman to endorse the governor and his deputy.
“I have given my blessing to the governor and I cannot walk against him. Even if he tells me today that he doesn’t want me again, I will say thank you, Your Excellency,” he said.
