As the race for the Cross River North senatorial seat intensifies, the chairman of the Cross River State Basic Education Board (CR SUBEB), Dr. Stephen Odey, has said he would make the welfare of his people paramount, if elected as senator.
Odey, who is battling four others for the PDP ticket in the October bye-election, also denied being sponsored for senate to do Governor Ben Ayade’s bidding, saying that although there was nothing wrong in having Ayade as a political father, he would take instructions from his constituents, not the governor.
In a telephone chat with our reporter, Friday, he said: “I shall strive to guarantee good leadership and create a society where the welfare of the masses is paramount. I shall concentrate on education, human empowerment, mentoring of our youths for a better future and embark on special projects based on identifiable needs and the availability of funds.
“I will bring a paradigm shift in the narrative of the Northern Cross River state from socio-political experience of poverty, marginalisation and underdevelopment to proper democratic dividends. The sad commentary of poverty, marginalisation and under-development would be addressed.
“A situation where our national representatives have been unable to courageously stand on the floor of the National Assembly to debate, lobby and proffer solutions to our stagnation is unacceptable. That scenario must be changed.”
Debunking insinuations of being a stooge to the governor, Odey said: “As far as this game is concerned, Ayade is my father, but then, I am not saying that if I win, I am going to be taking instructions from Governor Ayade. It is not going to be so.
“Governor Ayade has not said that I should run for election to the Senate and begin to take instructions from him. Rather, I will take instruction from my constituents. For now, I think it is my turn.”
