I have done my bit. - Ag. Governor, Cross River (26/8/08)

“When I assumed office, I had three major tasks before me. One was to maintain peace and order in the state. Second, to attend to emergencies as they unfold, one of such was the hand over of Bakassi to Cameroon which I presided over and, finally was to provide enabling ground for an election to be conducted leading to peaceful hand over of government to a duly elected governor”

Those were the exact words of the Acting Governor of Cross River State, Hon. Francis Adah while fielding questions from news men shortly after he cast his vote along side his wife, Mrs. Iwi Adah in the just concluded governorship rerun election at Bukemanya in Obalinku Local Government Area.

Adah contended that having successfully executed these great tasks, he now heave a sigh of relief, adding that he did not contest election as a Governor but to represent his people in the House.

He affirmed that all the necessary logistics needed by the Independent National electoral Commission (INEC) as well as the security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the exercise was readily provided across the state.

Answering question on why other political parties were not allowed to carryout their campaign, Hon. Adah stated that Government did not restrict any group with a police permit, and readiness to conduct itself in a peaceful manner, from campaigning.

On the court ruling, the Acting Governor said that as law abiding citizens, they did not contest the pronouncement but swung into action immediately after that to reaffirm the mandate they earlier gave to Imoke in April 2007 and expressed his gratitude to voters for turning on massively especially the people of Obanliku, for the election, which he described as fair and free.

Government House Press