The South-South coordinator of the All Progressives Congress, Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State, has revealed that President Bola Tinubu has tasked him with the mission of reclaiming Edo State from the opposition Peoples Democratic Party.
This disclosure came during the APC South-South conference held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State.
Governor Otu, currently the sole APC governor in the South-South region, expressed his optimism that by September 2024, Edo State will join the ranks of APC-governed states. He said, “As a person, this meeting means a lot to me. The Almighty God himself detests loneliness. I read the lips of our president, Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the leader of our great party.
“He said it is not good that Governor Otu of Cross River is alone; let’s add more states to him so that the zone will be politically warm within the APC temperature.
“We are here to translate Mr President’s wish into reality and justify his demand. Mr President can be assured that Edo State cannot escape the onslaught with the winner strategy represented in Renewed Hope and People’s First. If we did it in Imo State, we can replicate the same in Edo State,” he said.
Reflecting on the political history of Cross River State, Otu ridiculed the PDP by recalling a time when a “kwashiorkor” party was dominant in the state, suggesting it was frail and ineffective. He noted the skepticism many had about the APC’s ability to defeat the then-ruling party.
“But today, the rest is history. People are breathing freedom in every nook and cranny of Cross River State. Times are tough but they are only tough to be good and we believe that we are truly moving to the next level.”
Governor Otu also emphasized the importance of unity among APC members in the South-South region. He advocated for significant national appointments for the party’s local stalwarts, underscoring the need to reward those who have worked hard for the party’s success.
“We want as many appointments for our people from now henceforth. People who work tirelessly should be rewarded and those states that don’t have governors must be specially considered to strengthen them,” he said.