Cross River: Sen. Otu Declares For Southern Senatorial Seat On APC Ticket

Sen. Bassey Otu

Calabar—Sen. Bassey Otu has declared his intention to go back for the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In his speech entitled “Our past, present, and hope in the Southern Senatorial district” at the State Cultural Centre, Otu reassured on legislative priorities including a brighter future for his constituency.

“My legislative priorities remain the same to strive for ecological balance in our environment and empowerment of human capacity in our district to meet with contemporary challenges.

“Building of an egalitarian society, where both the rich and the poor can live in harmony also remained my legislative priorities.

“If we fix all our challenges, adversities, defeats, frustrations and let-downs in a bottle and shake it very well and pour out all the contents, what will likely emerge is a psyche of a people denied their voice.

According to him his constituents were “bullied by political aggressors, mired in poverty, condemned by complacency and less informed about their rights to justice, liberty and prosperity’’.

“I trust your coming is to reaffirm that old sweet confidence we share that the sweet prince will be there for you in sweetness and sorrow.

“I see in your eyes the burning desire to attack all deceits and hold on to the truth that you are everything democracy and everything democracy is you.

“I have come to awaken you to your rights to determine your fate with your votes,’’ Otu said.

Similarly, Mr Bassey Akiba, the member representing Odukpani in the State House of Assembly, dumped the PDP to join Otu during the declaration.

Akiba said his defection to APC became inevitable so as to join the Senator to reposition the district.

He said he joined the APC to sustain and expand the dividends of democracy, which the local government and the state had so far benefited from the Federal Government.

Akiba recalled that the magnanimity of the President Muhammadu Buhari in spite of about 30, 000 votes he got during the 2015 election in Cross River.

He said that for Buhari to appoint many indigenes of the state into his government the president deserved encouragement and support for the 2019 polls.

He said that such appointees included the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita and the chairman of the NDDC Board, Sen. Victor Ndoma-Egba.

Others are the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani and Mr Okoi Obono-Obla, the SA to the President on Prosecution among others in the boards and parastatals.

The State legislator also cited other projects for the state by Buhari as dualisation of the Calabar-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road which traversed a large part of his constituency and Calabar-Lagos Railway line.

He described the projects as exquisite projects of the Federal Government which should not be toyed with by wallowing in opposition.

The ceremony had Dr Emmanuel Nsan, a former Minister of Works as well as Health to President Muhammadu Buhari as a military Head of State, as the chairman.

The National Coordinator of Buhari Youth Organization (BYO), Alhaji Yusuf Nalado, as well as the National Vice Chairman, South-South Zone, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, also graced the occasion.

Also in attendance were the gubernatorial aspirants of the party such as Professor Eyo Etim Nyong, Senator John Owan Enoh, and High Chief Edem Duke, who all spoke in solidarity with the re-entrance of Senator Otu to the race.

Others were a former Head of Service in the erstwhile Cross River, Chief Wilfred Inah; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani and a former NDDC Commissioner, Rep. Paul Adah.

Retired Maj. Akpang Obi-Odu and Mr Ernest Irek who represented the NDDC board chairman, Victor Ndoma-Egba, were also among other dignitaries.