Cross River: Opposition members joining APC due to Otu’s excellent performance – Barrister Akiba
The Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State on General Duties, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, has linked the recent gale of defection of opposition members, serving lawmakers and their supporters to the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the monumental achievements of the governor since he took on the mantle of leadership in the state.
Speaking in an interview, Akiba, a young outspoken lawyer and politician, playing a significantly prominent role in the pursuit of the actualization of Otu’s People-First agenda, said the governor has since assumption of office on May 29, 2023, left no stone unturned to fulfil his campaign promises to Cross Riverians.
According to the Special Adviser on General Duties, “The defection didn’t just begin now, but since he (Otu) came on board as the governor of Cross River State last year. The governor is a man of character and a charismatic leader. He is very magnetic and attractive. Opposition members have been moving into APC since Otu took charge of governmental affairs in Cross River. Many opposition party chairmen across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the state had defected to APC. They feel they have to show solidarity to His Excellency, Prince Otu, because he has demonstrated that he is indeed a true leader that keeps to his promises. They are overwhelmed by his outstanding performance, excellent record of achievements and massive interventions aimed at bringing succour to the people.
“Look at the Labour Party and PDP members of Cross River State House of Assembly that just defected to the APC. They stated very clearly that the decision for their defection was informed by the pragmatic and purposeful leadership of the governor. They could not imagine that even as opposition lawmakers, Governor Otu listens to them and yields to their request for certain interventions for their constituents. They therefore felt it was important for them to join the governor’s party APC to pave the way for further dividends of democracy for their people.
“For instance, the PDP lawmaker representing IKom 1 State Constituency. Hon. Neji Abang, said if the governor could listen to his demand to build General Hospital and internal road network in Ikom as an opposition parliamentarian, then he is sure to get more from the governor for his people as a member of the ruling APC in the state. As for the PDP legislator representing Bekwarra in the state assembly, Hon. Omang Charles Omang, he said there has been no electricity in his constituency for over 10 years, but now the governor has brought electricity to Bekwarra. He said his decision to join the APC is to enable Bekwarra local government to benefit from the dividends of democracy that the Sweet Prince is delivering to the people of Cross State. He said it is not enough to stand on the floor of the assembly and blow big grammar, but that you must bring the dividends of democracy to your people. He said he is joining APC to complement the good work of the governor. He said the PDP has been kidnapped and so he has decided to join the winning team. Those were his words.”
Continuing, Akiba added: “The Labour Party (LP) member for Yala 1, Hon Odey Brian, said he has always been a fan of Prince Otu right from when he sought re-election to the Senate on the platform of LP in 2015. He said nothing gives him joy like returning to his master (Otu). He said the governor has commenced the construction of long abandoned roads in Yala LGA. The PDP man representing Yala 2, Hon. Martins Achadu said he was formerly in APC but moved to PDP to realize his aspiration, and having seen purposeful leadership with visible developments, and with the level of cooperation and attention the governor and House of Assembly leadership is giving to opposition by way of equal welfare, he decided to return to the APC.
“So, all of them have linked their decision to decamp to APC to the remarkable feats and developmental strides of our transformational leader, His Excellency, Senator Bassey Otu. Representation is about results. Therefore, they saw the need to align with the governor that is giving the results. They believe that by aligning with the governor they will have a lot to show their constituents.”