Appointment of Akin Ricketts as NPA Chairman further divides APC in Cross River State

Crisis in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State still lingers, as the party remains divided over the emergence of Chief Akin Ricketts as Chairman of the Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA).

A communiqué released by the state chapter of the coalition of APC support groups in Nigeria at its emergency meeting of March 16, 2020, accused the Minister of Transportation, Rotimi Ameachi and others of imposition and should “stop killing Cross River APC through high handedness and imposition.”

But a chieftain of APC in the state, Goddie Akpama, said, “It is with a sense of dismay that I read a communiqué by a group that described themselves as the Coalition of APC Support Groups in Cross River and say we must stop the pull- him down syndrome”

He explained that for several years, APC in the state has been divided along the lines of John Ochalla as state chairman and Etim John as another despite several court rulings for and against them.

The group in a petition signed by its Chairman, Iso Bassey Edim and nine others, said, “After due consideration and evaluation of the unhealthy development in Cross River State APC ranging from factionalisation, anti-party activities, ignoring critical stakeholders and external fueling of crises, we the executive and members of the coalition, have resolved to put a stop to the unhealthy developments in our party.”

The group said Ameachi’s influenced the appointment of Akin Ricketts as Chairman of NPA Board after making to defect to the APC without any impact in the state.

A strategic position as Chairman of NPA Board is meant for party leaders and loyalists, who have contributed immensely to its growth and not those whom we are not sure of their stand in the party.

But Akpama stated that he was dismayed because, in spite of experiences in the past, the people of Cross River State still do not seem to have risen above the pull-him-down syndrome, which he said was largely responsible for the position of the state in terms of development and progress.

“The attacks on Amaechi and Ricketts leave a sour taste in the mouth. The minister has done well for Cross River, but we are our own problem. For the avoidance of doubt, Ricketts is a member of APC and has been a member since its foundation and has contributed intellectually and financially to the development of the party,” he added.