As a mother and a stakeholder deeply invested in the peace and progress of Cross River State, Sen. Princess Florence Ita-Giwa OON stated that she believe in addressing issues with justice, fairness, and a commitment to truth. It is in this spirit that I feel compelled to correct certain narratives that have been presented to the public.
We sincerely appreciate the efforts of Mr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba in his role as Party Chairman during the last campaigns. As Chairman, working for the victory of the party’s candidates is not just an expectation but a fundamental obligation of the office. For this, he has our gratitude. At a very expanded party meeting convened shortly after Gov. Otu became Governor of Cross River, when I was given the floor to speak, I commended the State Party Chairman’s role in ensuring the party’s success in that last election.
However, my concern, and it is a profound one, is not with his actions, but with a specific and persistent misrepresentation of facts. This misrepresentation is not good for our state, nor is it good for the unity we have all worked so hard to build.
The claim that on the eve of the primary election, Governor Bassey Otu was disqualified and that Mr. Eba single-handedly cleared or reinstated him is factually incorrect. For the record:
How can a man that was qualified to run election for House of Representatives, qualified to run election for Senate twice, not be qualified to run for governorship of the state. At no time did the APC announce the disqualification of Senator Bassey Otu from the gubernatorial primary.
After Governor Otu clearly won the APC Governorship primaries in Cross River State in a landslide victory, there was a slight delay at the national level for the final release of list of candidates who had won the primary election in their respective states. Suspecting foul play, a broad delegation of Cross River leaders, including myself, former Governor Ben Ayade (who was already in Abuja), and others like Pius Tawo, Edem Duke, and other party leaders immediately traveled to Abuja to protect Gov. Otu’s primary election victory.
At the party secretariat, we met with national officials, including the National Chairman and the Secretary. They were surprised by our alarm and assured us unequivocally that Prince Bassey Otu was eminently qualified, his name was on the list, and there was no cause for panic. It was after this assurance that we all, including Mr. Eba (who was there at the party secretariat) retired to my suite at the hilton and prayed for a smooth process.
Therefore, to claim sole credit for an event that did not occur (a disqualification) is a disservice to the truth and to the collective effort of all Cross River stakeholders who stood firmly for justice, fairness, and the principle of zoning that returned power to the Southern Senatorial District.
We all worked hard for that victory because the people of Cross River State loved and believed in the candidate. That love remains intact. If the Party Chairman is about to complete his tenure and there are issues around him with his executive, that should be a separate, internal party matter. It should not involve dragging the name of the Governor who is working for the peace and development of our state to social media and television with inaccurate claims. At this stage I don’t think we should be making derogatory statement about the sitting Governor of our state.
In Cross River State, we have a cherished tradition of settling our matters amicably at home. It is therefore deeply unfair and insulting to our collective intelligence to publicly propagate a narrative that diminishes the shared struggle of many to elevate the role of one, especially using false premises.
I advise the chairman to come back to his people. Going to court is an exercise in futility and will not serve the interests of the state, so he should come back home, reconcile with his people, and rejoin the family. It is not possible to hold a position forever. He is a stakeholder and should come back home so we can work together for the unity of the state.
Let us honor the seamless transition and unity we have achieved. Let us move forward with truth, respect for one another, and a continued commitment to building our state together. I pray our unity remains steadfast.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Long Live Cross River State
Long live our Sweetest Prince
Sen. Princess Florence Ita-Giwa OON
