One of the three political godfathers of Cross River State politics and Chairman of the state’s water board, Gershom Bassey, has spoken on his speculated ambition to succeed his friend and political ally, Senator Liyel Imoke, as governor of the state in 2015.
Bassey spoke amidst speculations and concerns that as someone from the southern part of the state, he was not qualified to contest for the office since the ruling Peoples Democratic Party in the state has already zoned the seat to the northern senatorial district.
Two other members of what has been known in the state as the three musketeers – Donald Duke, from the southern senatorial district; and Liyel Imoke, from the central senatorial district, have occupied the office.
The suspicion since 1998 when the trio set the tone for the governance of the state has always been that no other person will rule the state when they have not all served.
In addressing the media on the issue, Bassey did not however say whether or not he was going to run.
But he urged all those who are speculating about his ambition to wait and see.
He said: “I think the key has been that we play the politics of collective and not politics of self.
“We think this is the best thing for the collective.
“We are not playing games.
“We are actually saying the truth.
“To me, I personally think that we have said it and the proof of the pudding would be in the eating.
“So there is nothing we can do than to wait and see.”
Although his posters are already flooding the state, Bassey would not deny or confirm if he was ready to contest.
He said: “The proof of the pudding will be in the eating.
“The issues (of succession and where the successor will come from) has been said, the issues has been addressed, the governor has addressed them, the PDP caucus in Cross River has addressed those issues and there is nothing else we can say except to wait and see.”
When he was asked to specifically say if he was going to contest in the event that the party caucus asked him to do so, Bassey replied: “I have always said that I will do anything that the collective says I should do, provided it is in the best interest of the collective.”
To him, the collective “is the family, all of us. What is in the best interest of all of us is what I will do.
“I know that I have discussed with his Excellency, the governor, I have discussed with the former governor (Duke), but it’s been a few months now since the three of us sat together to discuss the future of Cross River State.
“But from our social interactions, we don’t have to talk too much because I think all of us are on the same page. Our aspiration for our state is very clear, we need to take our state to the next level because since 1999, successive governments, and when I say successive governments, I mean Donald Duke in his first and second term, Imoke in his first and second term – successive governments have done better than previous governments and what we all want is for us to continue doing well.”
Bassey admitted that the people had approached him and urged him to contest so that he could succeed Imoke and carry on with the collective vision for the state.
Hear him: “I agree that there are a number of people who have come to urge me to come out and contest one position or the other, whether governorship or Senate, but I have not declared. I am a complete team player.
“No one knows what is going to happen in 2015. We don’t know. So what I can say is that definitely, I stand by the decision of the PDP caucus.”
Bassey was also asked if it was possible for someone from his senatorial district to succeed Imoke.
His response: “Yes, it is possible. You never know how things happen. Anything is possible. Even somebody from the Central can be governor in 2015.”
He said his personal dream for the state was to see the state become the most prosperous state in Nigeria.
He added: “And I know that by the grace of God, we are going to get there.”