Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State and his deputy, Peter Odey, will lead a prominent team of state officials to Abuja to hold direct talks with President Bola Tinubu on the issue of Cross River’s growing marginalisation in federal appointments and infrastructure development. This move followed a high-level meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC) caucus held in Calabar on Tuesday, April 15, 2025. The session was chaired by Senator Stephen Odey, the State Commissioner for Education, with the deputy governor and four others appointed to draft the communiqué that emerged from the gathering.
The communiqué highlighted the urgency of a face-to-face engagement with the President. While recognising and appreciating Tinubu’s approval of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway and the Special Agro-Processing Zone for Cross River, party stakeholders expressed dissatisfaction with the state’s limited representation in federal positions and insufficient inclusion in national infrastructure projects.
Acknowledging the ongoing efforts of Governor Otu in addressing security challenges within the state, the caucus also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders and renewed commitment to unity within the party. The forum did not stop at raising concerns; it also passed a strong vote of confidence in the leadership of President Tinubu, Governor Otu, and Deputy Governor Odey, fully endorsing the trio for re-election in 2027.
Governor Otu responded with appreciation for the solid backing from party members, assuring them that by the end of his tenure in 2031, Cross River would be transformed and significantly better off.
