Ahead 2027: Utum Eteng Tells Otu To Collapse PDP in C'River, Says We Need Sandy, Jarigbe, Others in APC
By Ekanem Asuquo
A frontline legal luminary and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, Chief Utum Eteng, has charged Governor Bassey Otu to work assiduously towards courting the bigwigs in the opposition People Democratic Party (PDP) to cross over to the APC in order to fortify and attract extra value to the ruling party in the state.
Barrister Eteng, who made the call during an exclusive interview with THE BEAGLE NEWS opined that such overture has become imperative in order to "galvanize the rich human potential of the state for optimum economic development given the inherent huge benefits of such synergy to our people"
According to him, "let's cast our mind back to Donald Duke's first term as governor when the ratio of political offices won by the two major party, PDP and APP then was 60 to 40 as reflected in local government, state and national assembly elections"
"We are living witnesses to the recurring tensions and acrimony that dominated our political arena under such atmosphere. But Donald Duke deployed his deft tactics and political sagacity to get everyone that matters in the opposition on board the PDP for the overwhelming benefits of the state"
He continued" The emergence of a united formidable family orchestrated by Duke ushered in peace,guaranteed seamless implementation of government policies and programmes"
The APC stalwart stressed that" our state would do better if we pull our human and political resources towards addressing the peculiar needs of our people rather than dissipating energies fighting to outwit each other politically. We are better off as a big united family pursuing a common goal for the overall good of our people"
"I am calling on Governor Otu to replicate that feat by ensuring that Senator Sandy Onor,Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Efiok, Vena,former lawmakers and other gladiators in the opposition join us in the APC. Senator Otu needs to collapse the PDP for our common good and enduring legacies"
On the perennial electoral defeats trailing the ruling APC in Cross River North, Eteng attributed the misfortune to disunity among the party hierarchy especially in Yala ,transferred of aggression from the electorate over the indices of Ayade''s tenure as governor, and the endearing posture of Senator Jarigbe given his intervention projects"
"The recurring electoral woes of the APC is a direct fallout from the lack of cohesion arising from internal wrangling and the political vendetta against Senator Ben Ayade This is what I have unearthed from my elaborate findings"
"The onus on now on Governor Otu who is the leader of the party to wade in and resolve the bone of contention, unite the warring groups to ensure teamwork"
