By Magnus Effiong
The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, has urged Cross River electorates not to vote for the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) under which administration the State lost the oil rich Bakassi peninsula and 76 oil wells.
Senator Otu, who said this in Obanliku, northern Cross River, during APC campaign rally, Monday, posited that the ceding of Bakassi and the lost of the State’s 76 oil wells under the PDP government had taken Cross River backward economically.
His words: “Cross River was among the 12 States created years ago but we cannot rank with any of those 12 States, not even the third generation States because of what the other party, which was in power, did.
“It was during their time that we lost Bakassi peninsular, we lost our 76 oil wells, we lost all our assets, our plantations and indeed everything. Do not throw your votes away by voting for anyone from that party.
“Gov Ayade came into office to meet absolutely nothing but from the nothing he met, he has been able to do something which all eyes could see.
“Never in the history of the State had any governor put on ground the type of economic assets that Gov Ayade has done. That is why Cross River North must send him back to the Senate to continue his good works.”
On his plans for the State when he eventually takes over, Prince Otu said ‘The policy thrust of the new administration coming is people oriented. First, we shall support all factors of production.
“We shall do everything within our powers to add value to the life and dignity of an average Cross Riverian. We have come up with a work plan which we shall use to build on all the gains of past administrations.
“We shall complete all ongoing projects anywhere in Cross River and ensure all our industries work at full capacity, building on the agro-industrialization foundation which Gov Ayade has laid. And, let me assure you, Cross River is moving to the next level.”
On the agitation for power to rotate back to the southern senatorial district where he hails from, the governorship hopeful said “any sub-national that does not enjoy peace cannot grow.
“In Cross River State, our fathers were able to fashion out a rotation of power policy which allows all of us to have that sense of belonging thereby planting peace and unity in our subconscious minds. We all agree that it stated from the south, moved to the central and then to the north.
“A society where there is no justice and fairness cannot grow. That is why nobody can truncate the zoning system which has brought us peace and togetherness. Any interest that is not communal is greed. Power is returning to the South for the peace and growth of our State,” he submitted as a matter of finality.
