Otu's Aide, Arikpo, Urges Calm as Etung Youth Alliance Appeals to Otu for Development

 By Judex OKORO

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Political Matters, Central Senatorial District, Obol Nnana Arikpo, has called on members of the Concerned Etung Youth Alliance to remain calm and patient, assuring them that their concerns about development in Etung Local Government Area would be conveyed to Governor Bassey Edet Otu for consideration and appropriate action.

Arikpo acknowledged the concerns raised by the group, noting that the present administration was doing its utmost to advance the development of Cross River State amid competing priorities and the demands of governance. He assured the youths that their appeal would receive the necessary attention, urging them to remain hopeful while the government continued to address the needs of communities across the state.

As the 2027 general elections draw closer, Arikpo also enjoined the youths to pitch their tent with Governor Otu, expressing confidence in the governor’s capacity to address the development challenges facing Etung and other parts of the state. He maintained that, under Otu’s leadership, the state could overcome the constraints of underdevelopment and deliver meaningful progress to its people.

The intervention followed an appeal by the Concerned Etung Youth Alliance, dated October 12, 2026, and signed by its leader, Comrade Ogar Mbeku Ntui, calling on Governor Otu to give Etung greater attention in his administration’s development agenda, particularly in infrastructure, agriculture, tourism and youth empowerment.

In the appeal, Ntui explained that the group’s concerns were not motivated by hostility towards the governor or an attempt to undermine his administration, but by a genuine desire to see the benefits of governance reflected in the lives of Etung residents. “Our concern is not borne out of hostility towards the governor, nor is it an attempt to undermine the government we helped to bring into office,” he stated.

The Alliance noted that residents of Etung had continued to demonstrate political commitment to the ruling party but were increasingly concerned about the need for tangible development projects to address their pressing needs. According to Ntui, “Etung deserves more than political recognition; it deserves purposeful development.”

The group identified road infrastructure, access to public services, agricultural development, youth empowerment and support for local businesses as priority areas requiring government intervention. It maintained that strategic investments in these sectors would improve living conditions, create employment and stimulate economic activities across the local government area.

Highlighting Etung’s agricultural potential, the Alliance described cocoa production as a major economic asset that could generate employment, attract investment and improve rural livelihoods if supported by appropriate government policies, processing facilities and other value-chain interventions. “Our agricultural resources, particularly cocoa, offer opportunities for investment, employment and rural prosperity,” the appeal stated.

The group also drew attention to the internationally recognised Agbokim Waterfalls, noting that the tourism attraction could contribute significantly to Cross River State’s tourism economy if supported by adequate infrastructure and deliberate government investment. It said developing the site would create business opportunities for residents while strengthening the state’s tourism profile.

The Alliance further argued that Etung’s development should not depend solely on the political influence of individuals, insisting that every community deserved fair consideration in the distribution of public infrastructure and development projects.

“Every community deserves fair consideration because its people are citizens of Cross River State, entitled to the benefits of responsive and inclusive governance,” Ntui stated, urging the governor to ensure that Etung received appropriate attention within the state’s development priorities.

To address the concerns raised, the group called on Governor Otu to engage community leaders and relevant stakeholders to identify pressing needs, establish clear priorities and make transparent commitments backed by realistic timelines and measurable outcomes. It specifically recommended investments in critical roads, agricultural value-chain development, tourism infrastructure and youth employment.

The Alliance expressed concern that prolonged delays in addressing the community’s developmental needs could weaken political confidence and make it increasingly difficult for party loyalists to defend the administration before their people. “Those of us who remain committed to our party should not continually find ourselves explaining the absence of development where we ought to be celebrating progress,” the appeal stated.

Reaffirming its support for the ruling party, the group said its intervention was intended to encourage the government to deliver results that would strengthen public confidence and demonstrate its commitment to all parts of Cross River State. “Our message is simple: we want our beloved party to succeed, but its success must also be felt in Etung,” Ntui declared.

The Concerned Etung Youth Alliance urged the governor to translate the expectations of Etung residents into concrete action, stressing that political loyalty, inclusive governance and tangible development should go hand in hand. “Hope must be supported by action, loyalty must be met by inclusion, and governance must be measured not merely by promises made but by improvements delivered,” the group stated, adding that Etung deserved to be counted in the progress of Cross River State.

 THE BEAGLE NEWS