2023: Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu formally Declares for Governor
Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu has officially declared to run for the office of governor in the 2023 elections under the platform of the ruling All Progressive Congress APC. This is coming amidst intense pressure and clarion calls from Stakeholders across the state and beyond.
Senator Otu made the declaration at his Ward, Adiabo Efut in Odukpani Local Government Area.
While making his declaration, Senator Otu said his administration will centre on the three E’s, Employment, Empowerment and Emancipation for the aged, youths and women of Cross River State. He noted that the issue of unemployment has driven living standards far below acceptable level.
He said if voted into office, he will sustain the human capital development and industrialization legacies of Gov. Ben Ayade, ensuring the optimum running and operations of the industries and building more industries in a view of decoupling the State from over dependence on the Federal allocation.
Senator Otu identified 13 areas his government will interface, they include Plantation Agriculture, Education, Gender, Health, Poverty reduction and Youth empowerment in guaranteeing growth and development
Senator Otu was emotional on the Bakassi case, he said the people of Bakassi have never received the deserved respite since the ceding of Bakassi and vowed to revisit the case. He also promised to revisit and reclaim the 86 oil wells which was ceded to Akwa Ibom. He said the State’s dwindling finances will greatly improve if the 86 oil wells are recovered back to Cross River State.
Senator Otu’s unprecedented popularity is hinged on his interconnectivity at the grassroot level where he is overwhelmingly accepted; at the national level where he has made significant impacts and the international level where he led series of delegations making inroads into numerous development institutions.
By his standard, Senator Otu is adjudged the leading candidate of the APC in the forthcoming gubernatorial elections.
Many of those who spoke at Adiabo said Senator Bassey Otu is the only gubernatorial aspirant who can win the 2023 governorship for the APC arguing that his acceptability cuts across party lines.
Speaking during the event, a former Chairman of Odukpani LGA and former member of the CRSHA, Rt. Hon. Bassey Akiba called on APC members in the State to rally their support for Senator Bassey Otu describing him as a detribalized leader dearly loved by his people.
Also speaking, a member of the Federal House of Reps, representing Obubra/Etung Federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba said people have been wondering if Prince will not come out. He said Senator Otu has good pedigree in community development, in governance and legislative advocacy. He noted that from Bakassi to Obanliku, it is only Prince who can win. With Prince, he said APC victory is sure.
Among the groups present in the declaration were fusion 196, Sweet Prince Group, APC Councillors Forum, Pan African Advocates, Youth Parliament, Okut Ama, APC Adiabo Efut and representatives of the Hausa and Yoruba Communities
