C'River 2023: Supporter Donates vehicles to Prince Otu for free transportation of citizens

Fleets donated by Amb. Julius Kijuo

A believer and supporter of Prince Otu's "The People First" Manifesto have donated a set of various brands and categories of cars and buses to the Prince Otu gubernatorial campaign to assist the mobility of Cross Riverians.  

Presenting the vehicles recently in Calabar, Amb Julius Kijuo, SSA to Governor on Public Works, said having seen the sufferings Cross Riverians have been subjected to, it became imperative to support his party and its governorship candidate to ease the transportation stress of Cross Riverians in Calabar metropolis.

Amb. Julius Kijuo

He also added that the vehicles will be used for free local transportation within Calabar Metropolis to assist residents cut transportation costs while the current economic situation last. 

"I have realized that people are passing through a lot in terms of transport, I and my wife has decided to purchase vehicles to Donates for free transportation in support of Sweet Prince", Kijuo Stated.

Receiving the vehicles, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu expressed gratitude towards the philanthropic gesture of of the young supporter, whom he said has indeed broken another record as his support goes down to help the down throdden and commoners. 

See the video clip here:

Otu added that Kijuo had last week sponsored a tour in Yala local government area where he and his team carried out a community based house to house sensation and mobilisation campaign for him and today he has broken another record by donating vehicles to assist Cross Riverians go through the difficult times.

"Today you has broken another record in Supporting me with fleets of cars to support my ambition", this gestures will not be forgotten in a hurry. Cross Riverians will indeed be glad and their prayers will surely manifest in your life." Otu said. 

Other dignitaries present to witness the presentation also showered praises on Kijuo while calling for judicious use of the vehicle won't will better serve it purpose. 

Present at the event were the likes of Mrs Racheal Akpo, SSA to the Governor on new Media,  Evang. Raphael Odok, The Rider Coordinator and High Chief Benedict Owan amongst others. 

Photos: 

Obi's Endorsement of Senator Sandy Has No Effect On C'River Gov'ship Elections-- Higgins Peters

Chief Higgins Peter 

NSAN NDOMA-NEJI, Calabar

Chieftan of All Progressives Congress APC, High Chief Higgins Peters has condemned the purported endorsement of  People's Democratic Party PDP Governorship Candidate Senator Prof Sandy Ojang Onor, by Labour Party Presidential Candidate Mr Peter Obi, as the right candidate to be voted for by residents of the state in Saturday Governorship and House of Assembly elections as having no effect.

Peters made the remarks while answering questions in a viral video which is at moment trending on various social media, online and WhatsApp platforms in Calabar.

He said that the purported endorsement of the Candidate of the PDP is of no effect urging electorates in the state to take the endorsement for granted.

"It's straightforward that in Cross River State, we choose who to govern our state on the zoning formula. This was the reason  Wike launched that fight in the PDP. That the PDP was supposed to zone the presidential ticket to the south.

"It's the same reason why Peter Obi himself dumped the PDP to contest the presidential election under the Labour Party platform and agitated that the presidential ticket should have gone to the south because of the zoning principle".Chieftan of the APC maintained.

The Business tycoon cum politician stated that he is shocked to hear that Obi who hated injustice and the way and manner southerners had been denied the opportunity to lead the country, would endorse the candidate of  PDP for Saturday's poll in Cross River State even when he knew that same candidate vehemently refused to honour power rotation formula.

"Obi is a thorough breed and seasoned administrator to the core. I'm not sure if he knows the dynamics and sentiments of Cross River Politics.

"Whatever he said, must have been said on the strength of ignorance and innocent. Innocent on the fact that he meant no harm if he said so at all". Higgins stated.

He accused the Opposition Peoples Democratic Party PDP of lacking the mindset of winning the Gov'ship election, given their choice of Governorship candidate who was picked from the central even though it was the turn of the south to produce the next governor of the state.

"If the PDP were to be ready, they would have brought in a candidate from the south. That is when we would have known that the PDP were ready to win the Governorship election.

"Bringing Senator Sandy Onor from the central to run Governorship election, he is technically disqualified even in Peoples's minds and morale. Whoever votes for the candidate of the PDP knows that he is voting for injustice.

" I do not think that people with a conscience would want to vote for the candidate of the PDP. It's the turn of the south. This accounts for the reason why you see the influx of people and their parties coming to say it's back to south, even among PDP members.

On the endorsement candidate of the Labour Party by the APC, peters stated that the collaboration would add no value to the party because, in the first instance, there is nothing like the labour Party in the state stressing that what played out during the presidential election was as a result of Obi's goodwill.

Higgins an MD/ CEO of Opal Group Inc stated, "People voted for Peter Obi because of the protest. They were protesting against the status quo. Not because of Labour Party. Obi happened to be a beneficiary of that protest.

"In every revolution using France as a case study, it must come from the inside,  to begin the revolution. Peter Obi came from the inside to start up the revolution. 

"The movement you saw is a warn-off thing. Probably because the APC presented a ticket that wasn't attractive to Christians. PDP on their part also presented a ticket which was also not attractive to southerners.

"After 8 years of President Mohammadu Buhari being in power, their thinking is that power ought to have rotated to south. Unfortunately, the PDP presented Atiku, while on APC part,  they presented  Bola Tinubu.

"All this caused some level of distrust in the minds of the Christian faith, including the artist in the south, who came together to say no, the power ought to have been shifted to south with Moslem/Christian ticket".The APC Chieftan stated.

Higgins stated that it was on that premise that the aggrieved individuals leverage Obi's platform to express their grievances and frustrations. "That was why you saw people voted for Obi. It was not about Labour Party". Higgins stated.

After 8 years the Central will come for her turn, if the south like let them sell their right now

As the date for the 2023 Governorship and Houses of Assembly elections draw closer, youth leaders from the Central and Northern Senatorial Districts of the Cross River have called on the Southern District not to allow their turn to produce the next governor of the state slip pass them for any reason, as the Central is waiting for their turn after 8 years.

Speaking in a youth sensitisation and engagement organized by the DG of State Electrification Agency, SEA, Arch. Dr Eric Akpo at Calabar Municipality, the Chairman,  National Youth Council of Nigeria, Cross River State Council, Comrade Daniel Obo Jr, informed that if the south does not grab what belongs to her now, when it is the turn of the central senatoril district, whether or not the south has an occupant as governor, they will come for their turn after 8 years. 

"Let it be known, that after 8 years, we from the central will show up for our turn. If the South likes, they can take their turn, if they like they should be deceived to give it to another district,  Obo threatened. 

On his part the DG of SEA, Architect Eric Akpo argued that it was only natural that the rotation of political power should start from where it started which is the southern senatorial district. 

Adding that "a cycle that started with governorship in the south, moved to the central and moved to the north, it's only natural that that cycle has gone 360 degrees, and must come back to where it started"

Our correspondent learned that the duo took their tour across the 18 local government areas of the state preaching the "Back to South" message to young Cross Riverians. 

Group Condemns Sandy Onor's comment on Ethnicity and Violence

Prince Bassey 

Barely few days to the 2023 gubernatorial elections, the Prince Otu/Odey Support Organization (POOSO) has in strong terms condemn the ethnic sentiment and smear campaign carried out by the candidates of political parties in Cross River sate.

Speaking at a press briefing held, today in Calabar, the group's secretary, Chief Edwin Usang said the recent political moves and utterances of the governorship candidate of the People's Democratic Party Sen. Sandy Onor which harps on ethnicity and thuggery will not develop the state but rather tear the state apart. 

He added that the leadership positions especially the Governorship seat has always been governed through senatorial districts, not ethnic divides, it was however surprising that a professor of history could go the wrong path of history to create a division where there is none in the state.

The statement also faulted Onor's statement on the South/Efiks producing more Vice Chancellors for the University of Calabar stating that such misinformation from a professor of history is capable of disintegrating the state.

"Prof. Sandy Onor was quoted as saying somewhere for instance, that the Southern

Senatorial District has produced all the Vice Chancellors in the University of Calabar.

But he forgets that two of those VCs are/were of Ejagham extractions; that is Late Prof.

Charles Effiong and Late Prof. Bassey Asuquo, just as Prof. Kelvin Etta from the Central Senatorial District also of Ejagham.

Seeds of discord and hatred which Sen. Onor's style of politics portrays have never led any society to sustainable peace and development but to backwardness, underdevelopment, and the attendant disintegration"

We also condemn Sen. Onor's penchant for thuggery which is already rearing its head with the recent attack for instance, on Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, one of Sen. Prince Bassey Otu's Media Aides among others, during a certain event in Calabar. This is as we stoutly come against his (Sen. Onor's) purported endorsement by some mercantilist tendencies under the guise of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. Thankfully, real and clean members of the Fellowship including the National Leadership of the body have dissociated from and denied their involvement in that procured endorsement thus making jest of the entire procurement

The statement reads in full:

Saturday, March 18, 2023, will see the people of the state line up to vote for the Governor and House of Assembly members of their choice. In the run-up to the elections, the All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship Candidate, Ntufam, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu has canvassed for the support of the people by telling them what and how he intends to govern if given the mandate.

Through his People-first Manifesto, Sen. Otu has highlighted his priority areas including the economy, job creation, industrialization, infrastructure, human capital development, health, education, tourism, and general good governance.

But unfortunately, for the PDP Governorship Candidate, Sen. Sandy Onor, his focus has been to initiate and project desperate measures to the campaigns. He was the first in the court to see how to bring Sen. Prince Otu down over spurious claims.

Having failed in that attempt, he now resorts to playing the ethnic card and recently the violence option, as the last straw to cling on to his existence in the Governorship race. Thankfully, while this lasted, the popularity index of Sen. Prince Bassey Otu surged.

Prof. Sandy Onor was quoted as saying somewhere for instance, that the Southern

Senatorial District has produced all the Vice Chancellors in the University of Calabar.

But he forgets that two of those VCs are/were of Ejagham extractions; that is Late Prof.

Charles Effiong and Late Prof. Bassey Asuquo, just as Prof. Kelvin Etta from the Central Senatorial District also of Ejagham.

Seeds of discord and hatred which Sen. Onor's style of politics portrays have never led any society to sustainable peace and development but to backwardness, underdevelopment, and the attendant disintegration.

Historically speaking, until Sen. Onor's emergence as PDP Governorship Candidate and his campaign activities in the state, the Ejagham and the Efik people have had no conscious consideration of the tribal or ethnic divide between them. They live together as brothers and sisters and have a close affinity with one another. They agree socially and culturally through marriages, traditions, etc.

What Sen. Onor's campaign has attempted to achieve is to distort this long sense or history of unity, brotherliness, and affinity between brothers through a jaundice political consideration. Truly, Prof. Sandy Onor only attempts to foist on Cross Riverians an awareness of a failed and unacceptable academic thesis or presentation. This too has crashed!

Democratic Politics is beyond such agenda and distortions of history. It is about harmonious relationships and peaceful coexistence amongst people of different backgrounds and not the divisive tendencies which the PDP campaigns portray.

Unfortunately, this recent development of Sen. Onor shows he has lost touch with democratic realities.

Again, unfortunately, for the PDP candidate, the APC'S Sen. Prince Bassey Otu continues to gain amazingly huge popularity amongst the people of the state coming from his (Sen. Otu's) rich democratic credentials and good rapport with the people.

Cutting across ethnic and religious biases, Sen. Otu has been massively endorsed and accepted as the man who has the pedigree and character necessary to lead Cross River State and put in place a renewed aura of peace and prosperity in the land.

Recall has been made severally of his unprecedented people-oriented programmes including his empowerment initiatives while serving in both the Green and Red Chambers of the National Assembly. Perhaps, these facts about Sen. Otu have been the reason for the evil plots by the PDP Candidate to attempt a depletion of his popularity.

This in itself speaks of Sandy Onors descent into the abyss of irrelevance in the current political calculus.

We would therefore wish that rather than embark on a such wasteful venture, Prof. Onor should throw in the towel and allow the popular mandate of the people of Cross River State which is already within the threshold of the APC's Sen. Prince Bassey Otu to take Centre stage.

Our governorship election cannot be reduced to just ethnic consideration as against competence, capacity, general acceptability, and pedigree. God Forbid!

We also condemn Sen. Onor's penchant for thuggery which is already rearing its head with the recent attack for instance, on Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, one of Sen. Prince Bassey Otu's Media Aides among others, during a certain event in Calabar. This is as we stoutly come against his (Sen. Onor's) purported endorsement by some mercantilist tendencies under the guise of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria. Thankfully, real and clean members of the Fellowship including the National Leadership of the body have dissociated from and denied their involvement in that procured endorsement thus making jest of the entire procurement.

Also to be highlighted here is the purported endorsement of Sandy Onor by Mr Peter Obi, the Labour Party Presidential Candidate. We can say categorically that the purported endorsement does not add up to the current political calculus and peculiarities in Cross River State, especially with the personality of our Candidate, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu.

Mr Obi, we are sure, has no inkling what disposition to violence and backwardness, the PDP Candidate is made of and therefore would not want to dent or mix his mantra of goodwill and of advancement which informed his foray into the Presidential race with the story of violence, retrogression and of divisiveness that is characteristic of Sen. Sandy Onor's campaigns in the state.

However, if he does, it would only be unfortunate that the said endorsement would only lead to nowhere.

While we condemn these dastardly acts, we enjoin Cross Riverians to also rise and do the same regarding this very ugly development that has been introduced into our body politics by Sen. Sandy Onor.

There is everything wrong with a man who presents himself for the office of governor basically on an ethnic platform rather than on democracy dividends to the people and of course on the fortunes of the state.

We at the Prince Otu/Odey Support Organization (POOSO) join hands with others to urge the electorate in Cross River to reject Senator Sandy Onor in the March 18, 2023 elections because he does not have anything tangible to offer Cross Riverians except divisiveness, backwardness, and disintegration.

The electorate should vote for the APC that has zoned the governorship position to the Southern Senatorial District in line with the existing zoning arrangement in the state, for the sake of equity, fairness, and justice.

No one should be allowed to truncate the orderly and peaceful manner in which we in

Cross River State transit power from one Senatorial District to another. We should and

would not transit power based on ethnic considerations and violent dispositions but on peace, unity, and acceptable democratic culture.

On this note, we call on Security Agencies in the State to investigate cases of violent threats and plots by the PDP and their Army of brigands/thugs to unleash violence during the elections especially in the APC stronghold across the state ostensibly to disrupt the process and stop the victory of our party.

Security Agencies are also urged to bring perpetrators of such evil plots to book no matter how highly placed.

We thank you and congratulate you ahead of our victory in the coming elections.

Ex-Senate President’s Corpse Abandoned In London Over Funds

The remains of late Senator Joseph Wayas who was President of Nigeria's Senate in the Second Republic (1979-1983) have reportedly been abandoned in a London hospital.

Wayas died in December 2021 at a London hospital, following a lingering illness, which some family members attributed to poverty.

Family sources told Daily Trust that financial help was no longer coming and they on their own could barely cope with maintaining the body.

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River, where the deceased hailed from, inaugurated an expanded funeral committee in December 2021.

This was after the state government had mandated the then commissioner for health, Dr Betta Edu to oversee his health management in London.

The state government was said to have released some funds to the funeral committee headed by two-time Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Kanu Agabi.

But 14 months after his death, findings show that the body of Nigeria's former number three citizen had been neglected over funds controversy.

Findings also revealed that there the controversy surrounding the funeral funds led to the resignation of key members of the committee.

One of the key members of the funeral committee, former executive secretary of the National Planning Commission and one-time governorship hopeful, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, confirmed that he had since left the Committee but did not give reasons.

He also confirmed that the governor made funds available to prosecute the funeral but said the first son of the deceased, Mr Joseph Wayas jr, should be in a better position to explain why the body of his late father had not been interred.

"He cannot say he does not have an explanation to give about why the funeral is delayed. He is the first son. He should be in charge …", Ugbo reacted when told that the son referred our reporter to the committee.

Wayas jr told Daily Trust that the funeral committee was saddled with the task of handling the funeral and that he had little to do.

He commended Ayade for the support he gave to the committee but said 14 months after, they were unable to bury his father.

"The funeral is not exactly in our hands but that of the funeral committee. I heard there are issues surrounding the funeral funds. And some members are said to have resigned. I cannot go back to the state governor or federal government now due to election issues. The governor has done well already."

In an earlier interview, Wayas jr regretted the delay in carrying out the burial of his father but appealed that the body has given its last respect soon.

Wayas Jr thanked President Muhamudu Buhari, who had facilitated his father's trip to London when he first took ill.

He said his father had access to the best medical care, but the resources he gave got exhausted within three months.

According to him, before the senior Wayas died, it was his sister in London who bore the cost of his treatment and had been maintaining the corpse since 2021.

Commenting, the permanent secretary of the state Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara, said, "As it is well known, the state governor empanelled a committee. As a person, I haven't heard anything further. I cannot be able to give reasons why the burial is delayed."

Chief media adviser to the governor, Barrister Christian Ita, said, "I don't want to get involved in the matter. Perhaps the first son is the problem. But speak to members of the funeral committee. The governor released money for the burial months ago."

Commissioner for information, Eric Anderson, neither responded to text messages nor picked up calls.

Alcohol Treatment African Crashes

Affiliate program commission

C'River 2023: Group Writes C'Riverians, appeal for support on Back-To-South

Ukorebi Esien |  7th March 2023 

A pro-Southern Group known as Cross River State Southern Senatorial District Assembly,  whose vision is for the betterment and improvement of Southern Cross River has called on members and residents of the state to embrace the Back-to-South agenda, stating that electing a southerner in the forthcoming gubernatorial election as governor of the state will make the issue of zoning permanent in the state. 

This was contained in an open letter signed by the chief of party of the group, Mr John Offiong, who recalled that the Back to South agenda was launched and accepted by Cross Riverians across party lines sometime last year at the Calabar Aport Club during the Calabar Declaration meeting where many Cross Riverians including some persons who are opposing the agenda today. 

 

He, therefore, called and Cross Riverians and residents to embrace the agenda and vote for Sen. Prince Bassey Otu come Saturday 11th March 2023. 

The letter reads in full: 

AN OPEN LETTER TO CROSS RIVERIANS AS WE APPROACH OUR DATE WITH DESTINY

Dear Cross Riverians, 

As we draw closer to the 2023 gubernatorial elections, I want to solicit your support concerning the vision and dreams for a better and prosperous Cross River State where our dreams will become a reality for the good of us all. 

It is based on the aforementioned that I want to state that Cross River State belongs to all of us, both indigenes and residents alike and we deserve a peaceful coexistence amongst ourselves across tribes and ethnic groupings. In achieving the aforesaid, we need to ensure that political offices, especially elected offices are shared evenly amongst us. 

I want to believe that the issue of back-to-south and rotational politics/zoning in Cross River State has been settled issue. For those Cross Riverians whose political parties for whatever reason had given out their party's gubernatorial ticket to a non-southerner, which is against the wish and aspirations of true democracy in the state, we solicit that you follow the trend and vote individual and not party.

Only recently, and I remember vividly just like yesterday when the entire Cross River State represented by note-worthy personalities assembled at the Calabar Sports Club for what would later be the greatest gathering of the century by Cross Riverians across Party lines and professions. It was at this gathering code-named, " THE CALABAR DECLARATION" the decision to support the south to produce a governor come 2023 was taken with several persons appending their signatures to the document.

At the meeting, the question as to whether the south has someone credible enough and qualified to lead the state was thrown up and the answer was "Yes, we will find one".The good news today is that we have found one in the person of Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu. He is not only credible but experienced, loved and accepted by all across the state and party lines.

It is worth noting that rotating the seat between the three senatorial districts breeds harmony and eschews rancour from amongst us as it helped us to be fair, just and equitable, especially with the weak within us. 

With this in mind, it is expected that the forthcoming elections will see Cross Riverians voting individuals and not party and if we achieve "Back to South" in 2023, be rest assured that Cross River will always follow that path, signalling that rotation has come to stay. 

In as much as politics is local, these issues are not worth our consideration reasons being that the Governor of a state isn't a governor for his immediate constituencies such as his LGA or Ward rather he will be governor for the entire state. We may be concerned as to his senatorial district because of our senatorial rotational politics in Cross River State but Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu will not be an ethnic bigot, that is for sure.

Naturally, the Federal House of Representatives seats needed to be domiciled in Odukpani as Calabar Municipality has held onto the seat for 12 years going and returning it back to them would mean denying Odukpani another 4-8 years without a federal representative. So, it was natural that it goes to Odukpani. It will now, therefore, be evil and unpatriotic for anyone to say because Odukpani got what is due them, then the Back to South mantra is dead on arrival. 

Again Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu has always made it clear that he is a politician who represents the interest of the entire state and Cross Riverians and residents of the state, unlike other candidates who have continuously tried to divide the state by publicly flaunting the Ejagham card on Cross Riverians. 

We, therefore, call on Cross Riverians and residents alike to come out en masse to vote and rebuild Cross River State. Let us vote for Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu as the next governor of Cross River State. This is the only way we can secure our state for our children. 

Thank you and God bless. 

Yours sincerely, 

John Offiong

Chief of Party

Cross River State Southern Senatorial District Assembly

Arrest Of Mr. Stanley Nsemo – APC HoA Candidate For C'Municipality: Setting The Records Straight

The Stanley Nsemo Campaign Solidarity Front aims to set the records straight regarding the arrest of their Principal, Mr. Stanley Nsemo.

The group reiterates the innocence of Mr. Stanley Nsemo questioning how the confiscation of the total sum less than N450,000 (adding both the naira notes and the dollar equivalent confiscated) could be stretched to infer vote buying.

The group calls on the candidate's teeming supporters and well wishers of the candidate to keep the faith and massively vote Mr. Nsemo for effective representation and to birth the Cross River State of their dream.

The Stanley Nsemo Campaign Solidarity Front wishes to react to the widely circulated and sensational arrest of our principal and APC House of Assembly Candidate for Calabar Municipality State Constituency – Mr. Stanley Nsemo.

THE FACTS

Some time at about 11am on Saturday 25th February 2023 during the Presidential Elections, our principal was at his family home at No. 5 Johnson Ishie Street, Ishie Town, Calabar with uncles, aunties and other family members when suddenly officers of the EFCC entered into the house and immediately began searching the house turning over every furniture in the residence.

By the time the search was over the total sum of N156,800 (One Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Naira and a total sum of $495 (Four Hundred and Ninety Five) dollars each was found in the house and confiscated. If the Dollar currency is converted to its naira equivalent, the total sum found and confiscated is below the total sum of N450, 000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only.

The EFCC officers insisted that our principal and his relative, Ms. Eno Kenneth Amponsah must accompany them to the State Housing Police Station to make statements – a directive our principal as a law abiding citizen willingly complied with. At the station the officers insisted on taking pictures of our principal and his relative – only to immediately post same on their platform which pictures immediately went viral.

OUR QUERY

The Stanley Nsemo Campaign Solidarity Front would like to state as follows that:

It is not a crime under Nigerian laws to have money in the house. Indeed we are not speaking of large sums of stored cash but a sum less then N450,000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) in total, made up of N156,800 (One Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Naira and a total sum of $495 (Four Hundred and Ninety Five) US dollars.

The paltry sum N450, 000 (Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand Naira) only when the naira and Dollar amounts (its naira equivalent) are added together cannot be reasonably inferred to be kept in the house for purposes of vote buying. No matter how much we stretch our imagination. Recall that the total confiscated amount are N156,800 (One Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Naira and a total sum of $495 (Four Hundred and Ninety Five) US dollars.

A WELL SCRIPTED CAMPAIGN OF CALUMNY

Our detractors have since gone to town creating sensational reportage regarding the unfortunate event and waging a campaign of calumny against the overwhelming success of our principal in the forth coming State Assembly Elections. The aim of this well orchestrated campaign is to cause disenchantment among our supporters and indeed the good people of Calabar Municipality State Constituency; to damage the hard earned integrity/reputation of our principal and further more to diminish the ever growing popularity and acceptability of our principal in the forthcoming elections.

However, we have bad news for them – they have failed.

Any reasonable person can see that there isn't much to the EFCC case and that our principal is innocent of the accusations. For one, there are enough eye witnesses to the fact that the search and confiscation of cash in our principal's family home took place at Ikot Ishie and not at any polling unit whatsoever. Likewise the total sum less than N450,000 (made up of N156,800 (One Hundred and Fifty-Six Thousand Eight Hundred Naira and a total sum of $495 (Four Hundred and Ninety Five) US dollars) confiscated from our principal's family home cannot by any stretch of imagination be inferred to have been procured for vote buying.

A good name is earned by sheer grit of hard work and integrity. These twin characters which our principal has long be known for cannot vanish in a day.

OUR MANDATE

We call on all our well wishers and affiliated campaign support groups who have inundated us with calls and goodwill messages to keep the faith and burn the flames of our campaign ever so brighter. Success in sure.

Our principal remains undaunted; ours have been a campaign underlined by integrity, the vast experience of our principal and his enviable success in private and public positions as well as debating sublime issues affecting the good people of Calabar Municipality State Constituency – we shall not tilt nor loose fucus.

Our mandate is to deliver effective representation for the people of Calabar Municipality State Constituency, especially the common man on our streets, nothing short of that is acceptable.

We call on the good people of Calabar Municipality State Constituency to come out en masse to overwhelmingly vote Mr. Stanley Nsemo for the Calabar Municipality State constituency. It is our firm belief that united as a people – we can build the Cross River State of our dreams.

Stanley Nsemo Campaign Solidarity Front

The Game has changed, Why Odukpani Needs a Man like Etim Umo

Hon. Etim Umo 

The 2023 General elections are filled with surprises as several candidates who were not given the chance are staging serval offsets across the nation. 

Etim Umo is the candidate for the Cross River State House of Assembly where he seeks to represent the Odukpani State constituency, under the platform of the Labour Party. He is a young kind-hearted personality with a rich legislative background who has over the years prepared himself for the job before him.  

Etim Asuquo Umo hails from Odukpani Qua Town, Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State. He is an old boy of St. Patrick's College Calabar and an Alumnus of the University of Calabar where he read History and international studies. 

In 2013 Umo was elected as the Councillor of Odukpani Central ward in the Odukpani legislative council where he served as deputy Majority Leader and he performed excellently outstanding. 

As a counsellor, Umo represented his people graciously with several projects such as the construction of culverts, Educational assistance to some indigents in his ward, road maintenance and human capital developmental projects such as training empowerment for young people. 

The Legislative business is for bold courageous and experienced persons who will not only present people-oriented bills, motions and other legislations that will lead to development, but persons who have compassion and passion for the people they represent as this will enable them to carry out their representation and oversight function without compromise. 

The aforementioned is a true representation of Hon. Umo. A devoted Christian,  a knight of Saint John, member of the Roman Catholic Church, married and bless with three children. Etim Umo is the best bet for Odukpani. 

2023: Obubra Traditional Rulers Reject Sandy Onor, PDP. Commend Ayade, Prince Otu For Insisting On Zoning

Council of Traditional rulers and chiefs in Obubra local government area, led by the paramount ruler, HRM, Ovarr Clement Ewona, today openly rejected in strong terms the gubernatorial aspiration of Sen. Sandy Onor of the People's Democratic Party, PDP. 

The traditional rulers expressed their disgust and rejection of the PDP candidate today when the governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC state campaign team, led by the state governor, Prof. Ben Ayade in company of the  governorship candidate,  Sen. Bassey Edet Otu and party leadership  visited him at his palace. 

Taking a swipe at the PDP candidate, Sandy Onor, HRM  Ovarr Ewona  said.

"We try to advise our people that the government of today is  good and on ground. One of our brothers came here, trying to seek our support. For today, the PDP should stay away and wait for their time. As far as the APC government is concern,  all arrangements they have made from the beginning, South, Central and North is good. We should all go back again and start from the beginning. Nobody should come from the Central and say I want to be governor by force.

Coming from a  traditional ruler from the central senatorial district of the state, the position of HRM, Ovarr Ewona has further fragmented the lean opportunities of the PDP, creating a major setback for the governorship ambition of Sen. Sandy Onor who also hails from the central district of the state. 

The royal father, in company of his council of Chiefs thereafter, offered blessings and pledged support for the APC gubernatorial candidate and other  candidates.

Speaking at the rally,  gubernatorial candidate of the All Progressive Congress APC, Sen Prince Bassey Otu assured he will scale up the agricultural value chain, making Obubra a leading Agricultural hub in the State.

"I'm pleased and amazed at this overwhelming crowd, I have known that Obubra is APC, we thank you for coming out in your numbers to support us.

"The people of Obubra are known for Agriculture, you have one of the best soil, if you elect me, I will support and scale up your  agricultural value chain.  We will make sure Obubra becomes a leading Agricultural hub in the State.

"The incoming administration will provide road infrastructures, linking  various communities in this local government to the national grid. The boundary disputes will be a thing of the past, I will  ensure that Obubra is secured so that you can do your businesses without fear"

Commending governor Ben Ayade for laying a solid foundation for the liberation of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Otu said.

"Before 2015, we had no economy in the State, the impediment we had in the State was lack of proper foundation, Ayade came and laid the structures for the enfranchisement of Cross River, He made the job easy, I am going to build radically on the existing foundation..

Senator Otu promises his administration will centre on three E's which includes, Employment, Empowerment and Emancipation for the aged, youths and women of Cross River State.

Also speaking, governor Ben Ayade decried the political oppression of the Obubra people and said it is time for Obubra to rise. 

"Since the death of John Okpa, Obubra has been politically oppressed because of your intelligence, when I became governor, I  appointed two commissioners from here. It's time for Obubra to rise"

He used the occasion to call on the people to vote and support all APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.

©Prince Otu Media

APC lobby group congratulates Asuquo Ekpenyong

The All Progressives Congress lobby group has congratulated Asuquo Ekpenyong Junior for emerging victorious at the Saturday's Senatorial polls.

In a congratulatory message signed by the state Chairman,  Oden Ewa, the group said Ekpenyong's victory was a clear manifestation of the people's believe in him. 

Congratulations Asuquo Ekpenyong (Jnr.) Senator-Elect Cross River South

The message reads in full: 

All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them, Walt Disney once said.

Indeed, nothing can break the collective resolve of a determined people.

Your victory at the polls was a clear manifestation of the people's faith in you, particularly the young generation who saw a greater prospect in your candidature and capacity to offer quality representation.

Today, you personify the bow needed to realize the wishes and aspirations of the people of Cross River South at the Senate.

We have no iota of doubt, that Cross River South is in safe and able hands.

We are proud to be associated with you and other APC candidates who emerged victorious i last Saturday's election. 

And to the electorates, you are the real heroes and heroines.

Let your spirits remain unbroken; your collective resolve in pursuit of equity (Back to South) unmitigated as we march towards the gubernatorial and Assembly elections with greater expectations. Let's finish the work. We will win again!

Once again, congratulations Asuquo Ekpenyong (Jnr.) Senator-Elect Cross River South.

Signed:

Oden Ewa

Chairman, APC Lobby Group, Cross River State.

28-02-2023.