Law Scholar Declares For Cross River Senate Contest

A business law scholar and Bekwara local government area-based farmer, Dr John Onyi-Agaba, has declared his intention to contest the Cross River North senatorial ticket on the platform of the All Progressives Congress in Cross River State.

The Senate hopeful who is also the CEO of Snowspring Group said he joined the senatorial race to correct the wrongs committed by other senators who had represented the zone.

In a media chat in Calabar yesterday, the aspirant cited poverty and underdevelopment in the district as the main reason for his decision to join the race.

He insisted that the district needs a new path to its development and said his background has shaped his resolve to serve.

“You will not understand poverty except you experience poverty and the motivational factor primarily is to give back to my people.

There’s a path I’ve travelled, and it wasn’t a palatable path at all.” He added, “As a people, are we doing better? Not at all.

” You see, when we hide behind the curtains of pretence, we won’t experience growth. But when we face facts, when we see things and discuss things holistically, we will produce positive results.”

Onyi-Agaba questioned the state of basic services in the district. “Do we have a functional primary health centre that we can successfully carry out a major surgery? No.

Are you telling me that it’s not achievable? It is. Why? It’s very possible,” he said. He explained that his personal experience drives his ambition.

“For a young man like me, who have gone through the hurdles of life, I want to see if I can help my people in my own little way. And by so doing, I want to go represent them,” he said.

He praised the district’s current and former representatives but argued that change is necessary for growth. “If anybody says Ayade has not done well, the person is lying.

If anybody says that Senator Jarigbe is not doing well, they are all lying. These are leaders that have done impeccably well,” he said.

However, he maintained that the district should create space for new leadership. “However for growth to take place, there must be a change.

“They have given, they have paid their dues. They have also given their own quota back to their people,” Onyi-Agaba said.

“They should create an avenue, a platform for a new person to contribute his own quota. With that, growth will be better,” he added.

He said accountability will be central to his campaign and public service. He described it as his “major selling point” and said he wants to be held to account by his constituents if elected.

On the issue of zoning, he dismissed the role of sentiment in power contests. He said power is not “based on sentiment, neither is it given but it is taken,” adding that he intends to take power “not through violence but through diplomacy.”

The Cross River North Senate seat is expected to be one of the most contested races in the state APC primaries.

Former governor Senator Ben Ayade is warming up to vie for the seat, which is currently occupied by Senator Jarigbe Agom.