I read with surprise and disappointment a malicious and misleading report concerning a meeting I attended in Abuja this week alongside some members of the Cross River State House of Assembly.
The report sought to portray the meeting as a gathering of aggrieved lawmakers who had resolved not to work for His Excellency, Governor Bassey Edet Otu, and other candidates of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in their respective constituencies. Nothing could be further from the truth.
For the avoidance of doubt, I wish to set the records straight and categorically dissociate myself from any suggestion that I am aggrieved with the Governor or have made any commitment to work against him or any candidate of our great party.
At the meeting, which was described as the second engagement with the leadership of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, my Deputy, Rt. Hon. Dr Davies Etta, and I corrected any misleading impression that might have arisen from the previous meeting involving some of our colleagues.
We made it clear that we are not aggrieved. We understand that political leadership involves making decisions on party tickets and other considerations at different political dispensations. Such decisions are within the purview of the party’s leadership, and our participation in the meeting was not an expression of opposition to the Governor or the APC.
Personally, I have no reason to describe myself as aggrieved. I am a second-term member of the Cross River State House of Assembly, and a third term has never been an entitlement or a personal demand. I understand that the opportunity to serve beyond two terms depends on several political considerations and the decisions of the party’s leadership.
By the grace of God, I was entrusted with the responsibility of leading the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly through the magnanimity and support of His Excellency, Governor Bassey Edet Otu. I do not take that privilege for granted.
More importantly, a day before the meeting with Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria, we had an extensive and productive engagement with the Governor. It is therefore difficult to understand how I could leave such a meeting and suddenly be portrayed as an opponent of the same leader with whom I had just held constructive discussions.
The Governor and I hail from the same local government area, and our communities are neighbours. He has supported my political journey with graciousness, and I have no reason to turn around and work against him.
It is also important to note that the Governor’s wife is my aunt. Beyond our family relationship, I recognise and appreciate the confidence the Governor reposed in me by entrusting me with the leadership of the House. These relationships and experiences make the suggestion that I am plotting against him particularly unfortunate.
Let me state unequivocally that I am not part of any meeting, plan or arrangement to work against His Excellency, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, or any candidate of the APC in Cross River State.
My loyalty to the party remains intact. I will mobilise support for the APC across my polling unit, ward and local government area, and I am committed to delivering a 5/5 victory for our party across the relevant electoral contests.
Our meeting with Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria was not a conspiracy against the Governor. It was an engagement through which we sought to explore opportunities to participate in the national structure of the movement and contribute to its activities.
It is therefore regrettable that a meeting of this nature has been presented to the public as evidence of disloyalty and political hostility. Political engagement should not automatically be interpreted as rebellion, just as a discussion about participation in a support group should not be twisted into a declaration of opposition to the party’s leadership.
I urge the media and the general public to exercise restraint, verify information and allow the facts to speak for themselves rather than create unnecessary divisions within our party.
Moreso, through the People First Governor, i have been able to put up the following projects in my constituency, with such level of love and support how can I then think of not supporting his second term ambition?
1. A brand new town Hall at Atan Okoyong
2. Rehabilitation of Primary school Akani Obio Okoyong
3. Primary school at Ikot Ebiti
4. Revamped 15yr massive borehole and upgraded to solar working conditions, with reticulation to various parts of the community
5. Solar powered borehole at Atan Okoyong and reticulated within
6. Solar power borehole at Coffee Adiabo Ikot Otu ( Tinapa)
7. Solar power borehole at Ediong amongst other low hanging projects which are in consonance with the People First mantra of his excellency the governor.
So after being made a record breaking House of Assembly member, I wonder how I will now be termed Aggrieved?
For the avoidance of doubt, my position is clear: I support Governor Bassey Edet Otu, the leadership of the APC in Cross River State and all APC candidates. I have neither pledged to work against the Governor nor participated in any arrangement to undermine the party’s electoral fortunes.
I remain committed to the unity, progress and electoral success of the APC in Cross River State.
Signed,
Rt. Hon. Francis Asuquo Ekpenyong
Leader, 10th Cross River State House of Assembly
