Edith CHUKU
The re-election bid of the representative of Cross River North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has received strong backing from the Clan head of Ujia Bekwarra Local Government Area, Chief Mathias Idu.
It is not very certain if the traditional leader would campaign for his subjects to vote for Jarigbe in the forthcoming 2027 senate election, but his vote for Jarigbe is assured.
Idu described the senator as his choice candidate, explaining that his performance surpasses that of the former governor, Senator Ben Ayade.
He disclosed this in a telephone interview with our correspondent, where he revealed that the development efforts of Jarigbe in Bekwarra are far better than what was experienced during Ayade’s time in office, both as governor and senator.
Insisting that Ayade deceived Cross Riverians with promises he did not fulfill, the royal father noted that Jarigbe demonstrated a more practical approach to governance in the area of infrastructural development and empowerment initiative.
Idu also cited the ongoing road construction project in Bekwarra communities as evidence of visible progress made by Jarigbe.
Comparing Ayade and Jarigbe’s development impact in the area, the royal father said, “the development during Ayade and now. Infact, now is far better than Ayade, yes, now is far better than Ayade. Jarigbe is doing better than Ayade.
“Ayade was somebody who propagate things and he doesn’t do it but Jarigbe is now trying. Like now, he is working roads in our area and other things like that. Even empowerment and so on. Right now, he is even working road in our community here.
“Infact, as I tell you, Ayade deceived people, he deceived people but Jarigbe is not like that, Jarigbe is trying. Ayade will come and promise you, tell you this and that. For instance, at times he will gather people and say he will give employment, promises like that. Atimes in a gathering he will say all the people there are automatically employed, while nothing, infact, he put hardship in the state as a whole, the way I look at it, so, it is even hard to amend, gradually I think, if you compare with Jarigbe, Jarigbe is better.”
On his choice of candidate in the forthcoming election between Ayade and Jarigbe, he said, “if you ask me my opinion, I may say I don’t know whether my opinion has anything to do or whether it adds anyway. For me, I will prefer Jarigbe. The reason is that, infact, when Ayade was a senator upto governor, I said he deceived people, so I prefer Jarigbe.
“Both of them are my subjects but sincerely I tell you that I prefer Jarigbe.”
