By Magnus Effiong
Few days after being endorsed and adopted by a group, Students Leadership Forum, another group of student union leaders, under the aegis of Forum of Past & Present Student Union Leaders in Cross River state, have pitched their tents with the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator Bassey Otu.
They said their choice of Senator Otu was because of his track record which, they said, shows capacity and ability to reposition the State and improve significantly on the education and other critical sectors of the State economy.
Addressing Journalists in Calabar, leaders of the group, Comrade (Barr) John F. Inaku and Comrade Dr. Jerome Egbe, described Senator Otu as accessible and humble.
“The students’ Union movement in Cross River state have often shied away from engaging itself actively in supporting a candidate in an election. We had rather chosen to watch from the sidelines and try to mount pressure when there’s a lapse in proper representation. This disposition has always left us in the loop and at the receiving end of unfavorable policies.
“But hence, we have agreed to engage actively and support a credible candidate who we can repose our confidence in and who will not fail our expectations. After much consultation, we have resolved that the only candidate who has the character, the competence and track record to deliver is Senator Prince Bassey Otu.
“It is therefore our stand to support Senator Otu to serve the people of Cross River state. This decision is reached in the overall interest of our members, students and youth. We call on all students and youths in Cross River state to join hands with us as we are confident that only Prince Otu can deliver on the benefits of democracy,” they stated.
The Forum kicked against the emergence of another professor as Governor of the State, saying the two Professors governing the State have performed poorly as far as the education sector is concerned.
The student leaders alleged that Senator Prof Ben Ayade as governor and his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, have not accorded the education sector its pride of place.
Decrying what they saw as lakasaidical attitude of the two Professors governing the State, the Forum lamented that the once bubbling State Library Complex had been abandoned and turned into an eyesore right at the heart of Calabar, the State capital.
According to them, it was on that basis that they called on youths across the State to support Senator Bassey Otu, and not Senator Sandy Onor of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, who is also a Professor.
In her remarks, the convener of the Student Union Leaders Forum and a university don, Prof Franca Bassey, said she was satisfied with Senator Otu’s disposition and would rather have him as Governor to move the State forward since Otu has a track record of support to the education sector.
