By Our Correspondent
The Cross River State Consultative Forum (CRSCF) has alleged that the presidential ambition of former Cross River governorship candidate, Prof. Sandy Onor, is being orchestrated by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, describing the move as a “proxy political project” ahead of the 2027 general election.
In a statement issued in Calabar on Monday and jointly signed by its Chairman, Barr. Eyo Nsa Ekpo, and Secretary, Dr. Julius Ochim Okputu, the group claimed that Onor’s aspiration lacked independent political strength and was instead part of a broader political calculation by Wike.
The forum alleged that Wike was positioning Onor as a bargaining tool to retain political influence within the Peoples Democratic Party while strengthening his relevance in President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
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According to the group, the former senator’s emergence among aspirants aligned with the Wike faction of the PDP should not be mistaken for genuine national ambition.
The forum also questioned Onor’s electoral credentials, recalling his defeat in the 2023 Cross River governorship election.
It noted that the former PDP governorship candidate polled 179,636 votes against Governor Bassey Otu’s 258,619 votes, adding that he also lost in his ward and Etung Local Government Area.
The statement argued that anyone unable to secure victory in his political base lacked the nationwide political structure required for a presidential contest.
The group further described the project as “elite manipulation” and urged Nigerians to reject what it termed “godfather-sponsored presidential ambitions.”
It maintained that the country’s leadership should emerge through independent political strength rather than the influence of powerful political patrons.
