A political coalition, under the aegis of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Support Group, has said the Cross Rivers State needs rescuing from what it described as the “incompetent and anti-people” governance of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
The group stated this while calling on Senator Sandy Onoh and other notable PDP chieftains in the state to close ranks and lead the charge to sack the APC-led administration.
They spoke at a press briefing in Abuja over the weekend. The coalition, which comprised grassroots mobilisation arms of the PDP, including the Presidential Support Group, Community Development Clusters, and Youth Fronts.
Spokesperson of the group, Mike Ekanem, stressed the need for a united and coordinated front by PDP leaders to rescue the state from further socio-economic and developmental decay under the current administration.
He said the group is disheartened at Governor Bassey Otu’s performance in the state just as he condemned an alleged disruption of a scheduled Federal Government-backed Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) project commissioning in Calabar.
He alleged that such tendencies expose the APC government in the state as lacking in strategic vision, maturity in governance, and commitment to progress.
“Cross River has become a shadow of itself under APC misrule, the people are groaning, infrastructure is decaying, federal interventions are being resisted for political reasons, and legislative representation is nothing short of a disaster,” he said.
The group’s spokesman said Cross Rivers State’s ranking of 34 out of the 36 states in Value Added Tax (VAT) remittances for Q1 2025, underscores the Otu’s administration’s economic shortcomings.
The group said Cross River generated a paltry N2.86 billion in VAT, compared to much smaller states like Ekiti, Ondo and 20 others, attributing it to failure to stimulate economic activity, attract investments, or create a conducive environment for businesses.
It decried failure of the state under governor to capitalise on its tourism and agricultural potential like previous administrations that leveraged on assets like the Obudu Cattle Ranch and utilisation of the Calabar Carnival to stimulate the economy of the state.
He said the coalition is also displeased with the governor’s lack of performance across critical sectors, including infrastructure, education, healthcare, and job creation, claiming that no tangible democratic gains have reached the people of the state since the incumbent took over office.
He added that the group’s resolve is to ensure the total removal of APC influence in Cross River’s political landscape, targeting every seat the party currently holds in the Senate and House of Representatives.
“Our mission is clear – to restore competence, responsibility, and people-centered leadership at all levels. We are not just targeting the governorship; every APC lawmaker from Cross River is on notice,” the spokesperson added.
The group however called on Senator Sandy Onoh to assume a central role in the liberation movement.
“We believe Senator Sandy Onoh has what it takes to galvanize stakeholders and lead the battle to reclaim Cross River for the people. This is not a personal ambition; it is a generational duty,” he said.
The spokesman further urged other prominent party stakeholders, including former governors, national assembly members, and youth leaders, to close ranks and prioritise the collective goal of ending APC misgovernance in the state.
“This is a rescue mission. The time to act is now. Cross River deserves better,” he said.
