Cross River Academics Back President Tinubu, Governor Otu for Second Term
By Ebi COLLINS
The Coalition of Concerned Academics (COCA), comprising scholars from various tertiary institutions in Cross River State, has passed a vote of confidence and endorsed President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu for a second term in office.
The endorsement, according to a communiqué jointly signed by stakeholders of the body, followed a critical assessment of the performances of both administrations over the past twenty-nine months.
The academics, drawn from universities, colleges, and polytechnics across the state, emphasized that their decision was “neither partisan nor sentimental,” but based on “empirical evidence, intellectual evaluation, and a commitment to progressive governance.”
Addressing journalists at a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday, COCA Coordinator, Dr. John Imoke, commended Governor Otu for what he described as his embodiment of the “Max Weberian ideal of rational-legal authority,” noting that the governor’s People-First Agenda had “restored trust, strengthened institutions, and redefined leadership as service.”
Dr. Imoke highlighted notable strides in the education sector, including the comprehensive rehabilitation and modernization of public schools, improvement in teacher welfare, and the transformation of the College of Education, Akamkpa, into a University of Education and Entrepreneurship.
“Through these strides, Cross River is nurturing a generation empowered by knowledge and guided by excellence,” the communiqué stated.
At the federal level, the coalition applauded President Tinubu for reforms that have directly benefited Nigeria’s tertiary education system. Chief among these, they mentioned, was the Federal Executive Council’s decision in December 2023 to exempt federal tertiary institutions from the Integrated Personnel Payroll Information System (IPPIS), a move COCA described as a “triumph of reason over rigidity.”
“This historic decision untied the noose of bureaucratic bottlenecks that had long hampered academics with administrative delays,” the group said.
The coalition also hailed the establishment of the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND), describing it as a “beacon of hope” ensuring that “no Nigerian child is denied higher education due to lack of means.”
Beyond education, COCA lauded the “Otu–Tinubu partnership” for driving massive infrastructural renewal in Cross River State. Among the projects cited were the rehabilitation of the Adiabo–Ikoneto Road, the reconstruction of Parliamentary Extension and several other roads within Calabar metropolis, as well as numerous works across local government areas.
The communiqué further commended Governor Otu’s Aviation Revival Agenda, which it said had, within six months, yielded partnerships resulting in the acquisition of four aircraft for the state.
COCA also praised the recently introduced Cross River Social Investment Programme (CRSIP), describing it as “a bold leap toward inclusive welfare governance” and “compassion institutionalized, a policy with the people at its heart.”
Concluding the endorsement, the academics affirmed that the continuity of the current leadership at both the federal and state levels is indispensable for sustaining the gains of the past two years.
“The re-election of both leaders in 2027 is not merely a political necessity but a moral imperative for continuity, stability, and sustainable development,” the communiqué declared.
Adding their voices, fellow academics and key government stakeholders, Dr. Justin Beshel and Dr. (Mrs.) Virginia Ironbar, lent strong support to COCA’s position. They cited tangible evidence of the two leaders’ achievements at both the national and state levels, describing them as models of purposeful and results-driven governance. The duo maintained that COCA had acted in the finest tradition of intellectual responsibility and had “done what is expected of an enlightened entity deserving the respect of all right-thinking members of society.”
Every other dignitary who lent their voice spoke glowingly of the two leaders’ proactive and decisive leadership and policy directions, which they said are yielding visible results and eloquent testimonies from Nigerians.
