You've made the right choice, I won't disappoint you - Eraye, Obudu LG Chairman assures

Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe, Chairman of Obudu Local Government

The newly sworn in Chairman of Obudu local government, Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe has assured his people that he will do everything within his powers not to disappoint them.

Eraye stated this in a statement he personally signed and made available to journalists in Calabar. The statement is his first official release since the election and subsequent swearing-in yesterday by the Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.

The Council Boss who appreciated the Governor and his teeming supporters for the overwhelming support he enjoyed during the election, assured the people that they made the right choice by electing him and others to pilot the affairs of the council in the next three years.

While urging everybody to join him in working for the development of the local government, he extended an olive branch to his opponents, urging them to accept the outcome of the election in good faith.

"Today is a new dawn in the politics of Obudu as I assume office as the Executive Chairman of the local government. It's an exciting yet very challenging moment. It's exciting because of the privilege and opportunity to serve my people and challenging because of the enormous task ahead. But let me reassure you all that you have made the right choice. I'll guide this opportunity jealousy by doing my best to ensure Obudu becomez better than she was yesterday.

I consider myself very privileged to have been elected from among a pool of other qualified Obudu sons and daughters. I didn't present myself for the election because I felt I was better than anybody but because I had the convictions that I was prepared to lead our great local government to chart a new course forward.

The dream of many years has become a reality. I want to from the depth of my heart, thank the first citizen of Obudu and Cross River State, His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade whose unalloyed support ensued my overwhelming victory at our great party's primaries and subsequently, the general elections. 

To my teeming supporters-youths, men and women of great consciences, I say thank you for the overwhelming support. The confidence you have reposed on me won't be abused. I assure you again, I won't disappoint you", the statement reads in part.

He added that "We have won the war, now it's time to face the battle. The challenge of leadership is cumbersome and the success of every administration is dependent on the support of his subjects. Thus, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all of you to keep the fire burning. I need your support now more than ever! The task to deliver the good aspirations we all have for our dear local government is a collective one; let's see it as OUR responsibility not THEIR business"!

To his opponents, he said that "I thank you all for putting up a good fight. I see all those who contested against me as rivals not enemies because for me, it was all because of their burning desire to see a drastic turnaround in our dear local government that they offered themselves just like me to serve.

Politics is like a game of football, you win some and loose some. Election has come and gone and it's now time for governance. I want to extend a hand of fellowship to everybody to come let's reason together to develop our dear local government. I'll run an open door administration where every quality idea geared towards the development of Obudu would be welcomed"..

Eraye maintained that "Like I said during the campaigns, the just concluded election was not just an opportunity to elect me and others as local government executives but also to re-engage all of us on the values we share as a people. Now that we've an elected local government executives, let's take  advantage of the opportunity to reinvigorate  the political  process in our local government for the next generation and in the process leave a legacy that will stand the test of time.

Let me paraphrase what I pledged during the campaigns, "Our focus will not be to reimagine a political process where we will pay attention to a few selected group of people but will develop a dynamic process where we can individually and collectively pursue the course of building Obudu that we will all be proud of. Your motivation at the end should be that you played a key role in building a progressive, developed and peaceful Obudu that the generation yet to come will be proud of". 

With God on our side, we'll not fail you. I want to remind us that this great local government belongs to all of us and we should at this critical time in our history come together regardless previous political experiences to move it and our people to greater heights".