The Executive Chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Hon. Chief (Mrs) Ada Charles Egwu, led mammoth crowd in a march tagged; “one million-women march” in support of the presidential candidacy of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, and Cross River State Gubernatorial Candidate, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, his running mate, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey and other candidates of the APC, ahead of this year’s 2023 general elections.
The colourful rally, which draws thousands of women from all the eleven wards in the Local Government Area was sponsored by the indefatigable Chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Hon. (Chief) Ada Charles Egwu, kicked off from Akpet Central and terminated at the Council Secretariat, Ibogo on Friday.
Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, his deputy, Prof. Ivara Esu, gubernatorial candidate, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu joined the women at the rally.
Governor Ayade, Prof. Ivara Esu, Sen. Bassey Otu, were accompanied to the rally by the first lady of the state and wife of the Governor, Dr Mrs Linda Ayade, wife of APC gubernatorial candidate, Rev. Princess Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Affairs, Chief Peter Ojie, DG of the State Campaign Council, Amb. Sunny Abang and Chief Higgins Peters as well as Head of Personal Staff to the Deputy Governor, Mr Ejemot Inyang Esu.
Others at the rally include: Cross River Southern Senatorial District Candidate, Mr. Asuquo Ekpenyong, House of Representatives Candidate for Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency, Onun Dr Emil Inyang, his dear wife, House of Assembly, Engr Francis Ogban, Commissioner for Sport and Cinematography, Onun Dr Offu Aya, his dear wife, Mrs Glory Offu Aya, Coordinator, Biase APC Campaign Council, Asso. Prof. Uti Egbai, Chapter Chairman, Dcn Mizam Arikpo, Vice Chairman of Council, Hon. Oyono Ekpe, Leader of Biase Legislative Council, Hon. Charles Eko and Secretary of Council, Mr Daniel Enang.
The wife of Cross River South Senatorial Candidate, Mrs Nela Asuquo Ekpenyong, wife of House of Representatives Candidate, Mrs Nkechi Emil Inyang and Biase State Constituency Candidate, Mrs Glory Francis Ogban were visibly present at the historic event.
Addressing the rally, Executive Chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Hon. Chief (Mrs) Ada Charles Egwu hailed Governor Ben Ayade’s first-of-a-kind gender inclusion in political appointments and programmes which has lifted as many women as possible out of poverty line and many people-centered policies which has foster prosperity across the state.
She said the massive turnout of women indicated the appreciation of the Biase people to the Ayade administration and for changing the story of Biase people.
According to Hon. Ada Egwu, “the decision to hold this solidarity rally for Tinubu, his running mate, Sen. Kashim Shettima, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, his running mate, Rt Hon. Peter Odey, and other APC candidates is to reciprocate the Governor’s good gestures which is unprecedented in the history of Local Government as well as the Local Government, citing the World-class Teachers Continuous Training College, social investment programmes, gender-friendly appointments and attention to basic amenities that ease things for women, and also, to expressed the readiness of the women to mobilize support to ensure victory for the party’s candidates”.
In their goodwill messages, the wives of the candidates for Senate (Cross River South), House of Representatives (Akamkpa/Biase) and House of Assembly (Biase State Constituency) expressed their heartfelt appreciation to the Governor and his dear wife for supporting, empowering and including women in the decision-making process. They admonished Biase women to replicate the Governor’s special recognition and attention on the women by turning out en-mass and vote for APC candidates in all the elections.
The First Lady of Cross River State, Dr Mrs Linda Ayade commended the indefatigable Chairman of Biase Local Government Council, Mrs Ada Egwu for embarking on people-oriented programmes with a special attention on women, and for mobilizing the electrifying crowd to show support and readiness to ensure victory for all APC candidates at the general polls.
In his remark at the rally, Cross River State Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu urged the women of Biase to replicate the support they have always accorded Governor Ayade to Bola Tinubu, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu and all APC candidates in the February and March elections.
The deputy governor further charged the women to take the political evangelism to their respective communities and polling units to ensure the victory of the party in the forthcoming polls.
“It is incumbent on us to continue to do what is expected of us by voting and galvanize support for the APC from top to bottom in appreciation of the great things Governor Ayade has been doing for our women in Biase and Cross River State. This is the first time in the history of Biase Local Government that a female is elected as chairmen and women are given special recognition ” Prof. Esu says.
Governor Ayade while addressing the women at the rally, commended the Executive Chairman of Biase Local Government Area and the women of Biase for their resilience, commitment and patriotism in turning out en mass to show solidarity for the party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governorship Candidate, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu and all candidates of the party.
According to Ayade, “APC candidates are the best hands for the jobs: I urge you to offer our incoming President, Governor and others the same support you have always accorded me and our party, the APC, and even more”
