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Ukorebi Esien | July 4, 2025
CALABAR - A storm of political discontent is brewing in Cross River Central Senatorial District as an aide to Governor Bassey Edet Otu has openly criticized the incumbent Senator Eteng Jonah Williams over what he described as a decline in quality representation, ineffective leadership, and underwhelming constituency impact.
In a fiery interaction with pressmen, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Youth Mobilization, Comrade Daniel Obo while reflecting on the youth inclusion drive under the Otu-led administration, took a hard stance on the senator's performance, declaring that "the standard has dropped" in the senatorial district and promising that the youth would no longer support ineffective representation in 2027.
"In the history of Cross River, Central has always produced senators of class. This is the first time our senator is being asked to sit down in the Senate chambers. They never did that to John Owan, not to Ndoma-Egba, not to Sandy Onor. This standard of representation is beneath us," he stated.
Dan Obo who is currently serving as the South-South Vice president, National Youth Council of Nigeria decried the lack of legacy projects in Central Senatorial District. He pointed to several abandoned projects including the National Youth Centres in Ikom and Akparabong, and dilapidated health infrastructure, citing that "outside of streetlights and exercise books," there is little to show in terms of strategic development under the current senator.
Obo noted that while the Otu-led administration has created deliberate space for youth inclusion and empowerment across sectors, Senator Eteng has failed to maintain engagement with the very youth who rallied behind his 2023 senatorial bid.
"Less than two years into office, he called a youth meeting, all six key youth leaders boycotted it. These are the same people who worked for him, and they have nothing to show for it," he said.
He emphasized that the governor's youth mobilization architecture is not just tokenism but an intentional effort to prepare young people for leadership and policy impact.
"You can see it in the make-up of the House of Assembly, the State Executive Council, and key appointments. The governor is building a system that the youth can inherit, not by default, but by merit," he added.
Senator's Alleged Failures and Call for Merit-Based Ticket
Berating what he called a "sense of entitlement" to a second term, the aide argued that Senator Eteng has not earned a return ticket and insisted that the 2027 ticket should be based on performance, not political maneuvering.
"After two years in the Senate, the people should be agitating for your return, not you lobbying for an automatic ticket. Anyone lobbying for an automatic ticket after failing in performance is a disgrace," he said.
He pointed to other leaders across the state, including those from the South, whom he claimed have supported even aides of Senator Eteng in getting federal jobs, arguing that such gestures have elevated the standard of representation in those areas and should be emulated.
Central Youths Ready to Chart a New Course
The aide expressed support for the Commissioner for Special Duties, Oden Ewa, who he described as providing "visible leadership" in the senatorial district. Though Ewa has not publicly declared interest in the Senate race, Obo said youths from across the 66 wards of Central are already rallying around his leadership credentials.
"The Commissioner hasn't said he wants to run, but they're already jittery. We believe he has the vision to restore dignity to the Central seat. We want a senator who will bring industry, exploit our natural resources, and domesticate leadership, not just share pencils and textbooks,"
he asserted.
Responding to insinuations that he may be sponsored by any political heavyweight, the youth Leader declared:
"I don't have a principal outside of the governor. No one can point to me as their project. I'm loyal only to the vision of His Excellency, and that vision is clear performance over politics."
He concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to the current administration's agenda and reiterated that the youth in Central would not tolerate another round of ineffective leadership cloaked in party loyalty.
"In 2027, the mandate is for the people. And God willing, we will have our own."
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