Former Senator representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, Sandy Onor, has accused the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State of removing its former State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba, because of his unwavering loyalty to former Governor Ben Ayade.
Onor made the allegation while speaking to journalists and supporters at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar, shortly after arriving in the state for political engagements.
The former senator claimed that Eba became a victim of political persecution within the APC because he refused to abandon Ayade despite mounting pressure from influential figures within the ruling party.
According to him, Eba's ordeal was a classic example of how politicians are often discarded after helping others attain power.
Onor argued that many of those who currently occupy strategic positions in the APC and government in Cross River State owe their political rise to Ayade's efforts and support, yet have chosen to turn against individuals associated with the former governor.
He described Eba's removal as both unfortunate and unfair, insisting that loyalty should not be treated as a political offence.
"His offence was simply that he remained loyal to the person who made many of them what they are today," Onor said.
The PDP chieftain maintained that Ayade played a pivotal role in building the APC structure in Cross River State and worked tirelessly to secure electoral victories for the party during his tenure as governor.
He expressed disappointment that those who benefited from Ayade's political influence were now allegedly sidelining his loyalists and attempting to erase his contributions to the party's success in the state.
Onor further alleged that Eba's troubles within the APC escalated because he refused to participate in what he described as efforts to politically isolate the former governor.
According to him, Eba chose to stand by Ayade despite the consequences, a decision that ultimately led to his removal from office and eventual departure from the ruling party.
The former senator condemned what he termed the politics of bitterness and vendetta, warning political actors against using power to intimidate opponents or settle personal scores.
He reminded politicians that power is temporary and that no office holder remains in authority forever.
"Political power is transient. Nobody remains in office permanently. Those who are in power today should remember that tomorrow belongs to God," he stated.
Onor also dismissed any suggestion that Eba's political career was over, insisting that no individual possesses the authority to determine another person's destiny.
He said attempts by certain political actors to portray Eba as politically irrelevant would ultimately fail because political relevance is not determined by office holders but by the people and divine providence.
According to him, those celebrating Eba's removal should understand that political fortunes can change at any moment.
He stressed that no politician has the power to banish another person from Cross River State or permanently shut the door against anyone's political future.
The former senator urged political leaders across party lines to embrace tolerance, reconciliation and mutual respect instead of promoting division and hostility.
He warned that the increasing bitterness in the state's political environment could undermine unity and distract leaders from addressing the challenges facing the people.
Onor called on politicians to place the interests of Cross River State above personal ambitions and political rivalries, emphasizing that leadership should be guided by service rather than revenge.
His remarks come amid continuing political tension surrounding the leadership crisis that rocked the APC in Cross River State and culminated in the exit of Alphonsus Ogar Eba from the party.
Eba, who served as APC State Chairman, had been at the centre of a prolonged internal dispute involving some party stakeholders who accused him of financial impropriety and demanded his resignation.
The former chairman repeatedly denied the allegations, insisting that the accusations were politically motivated and aimed at forcing him out of office.
The crisis eventually deepened divisions within the party and attracted the attention of the APC national leadership, which intervened in an attempt to restore order.
Following months of internal wrangling, Eba eventually left the APC and joined the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), a move that further intensified political debates across the state.
His defection was widely interpreted by observers as one of the most significant political developments in Cross River State in recent times, given his former position as the APC's highest-ranking party official in the state.
With political alignments already taking shape ahead of future elections, Onor's comments are expected to fuel fresh discussions about the state of the APC, the legacy of former Governor Ben Ayade, and the growing rivalry between the ruling party and the opposition PDP in Cross River State.
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