Cross Riverians Hail Otu, Odey Over S'Court Verdict, Task Administration On Good Governance

By Ebi Collins

The Supreme Court's January 12 affirmation of Senator Bassey Otu and Rt Hon Peter Odey as governor and deputy governor of Cross River State, respectively, saturated the media space with an outpour of congratulations, goodwill messages, and commendations to the duo, as well as called for good governance from the leadership popularly referred to as the 'Peoples First' administration.

In the avalanche of messages ranging from the political (across party lines), social, religious classes, etc, summed up the Supreme Court verdict as "consistent with the anticipation of the vast majority of Cross Riverians," while others said it was "purely an act of God."

Greater calls were made for the sheathing of partisan and political swords, with the view to focus on governance and the development of the state.

The Beagle News chronicled some of the messages as seen below:

Dr. Henry Ayuk, Commissioner for Health, Cross River State, wrote: "Their Excellencies, let me, on behalf of all of us at the Ministry of Health and the health sector of Cross River state at large, congratulate you on this very important victory. Our hearts are gladdened knowing that the great job you have begun in the health sector of the State would now be certainly taken to a logical end.

"Even while distracted by litigations in the past seven months, you gave Cross Riverians glimmers of hope. Now that the battle is over, we believe firmly that the journey for a greater Cross River has begun in earnest. We wish you the strength and grace to steer the State to the heights we all dream about."

Obol Okoi Obono-Obla, an Abuja-based APC chieftain quipped: "Congratulations Senator Bassey Edet Otu. You won with a landslide in the governorship election. Your victory was massive. You won in the tribunal. You won in the Court of Appeal. Finally, you won in the Supreme Court."

A bigwig of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Bobby Ekpenyong, penned: "On behalf of my family, i congratulate His Excellency, Prince Bassey Otu, Executive Governor of Cross River State, Her Excellency, Rev. (Mrs.) Eyoawan Otu, the First Lady, and His Excellency, the Deputy Governor of the State, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, on the affirmation of their electoral victory by the Supreme Court of Nigeria.

"This affirmative action has concluded all issues of litigations and opened the space for governance. It is now time for Cross Riverians from all political parties and ethnic subgroups to rise up and support our Governor in order to return Cross River State to its lost glory and enviable heights."

Cross River State Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, Apostle (Dr.) Trinity Ogar also wrote: "Governor Bassey Otu and Deputy Governor, Peter Odey's candidacies are "acts of God. The legal battles could not have gone against God's divine plan.

"We must all join forces with 'God's anointed,' Governor Otu in building the Cross River state that everyone desires. After the Supreme Court verdict, the governor is no longer that of a political party; he is now the governor of Cross River State. He should open his arms as the father of the State and receive and treat everybody as a Cross Riverian. And we trust that with him, Cross River would get to greater glory.

"We will keep on praying for him and our dear State to take its pride of place in the comity of Nigerian states as the best. With the man of honour and integrity at the helm of affairs, you can see that positive things are beginning to happen in the state that are a pointer to a better tomorrow. So, let no one do anything that would truncate the good vision of His Excellency."

The Commissioner representing Cross River at the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, Rt. Hon. Orok Duke, posited: "The Supreme Court victory reflects the unwavering trust and confidence the people of Cross River place on Governor Bassey Otu. The Supreme Court verdict reflects the decision and mandate of the people of Cross River State, which therefore stands as a testament to the strength of our democratic principles."