PRESS STATEMENT OFFICIAL CLARIFICATION ON REPORT OF DEPUTY GOVERNOR'S ALLEGED AUTO CRASH
The Office of the Deputy Governor, Cross River State, wishes to set the record straight regarding a viral report alleging that His Excellency, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey (PhD), Deputy Governor of Cross River State, was involved in an automobile accident.
The report is not accurate.
On Sunday, 9th August, the Deputy Governor was returning from Northern Cross River, where he represented the Governor at the stakeholder engagement in respect of the concession of the Obudu Ranch Resort. While the convoy was passing through Yakurr Local Government, the driver of the Government House Press bus lost control and ran into the barricades at an Army checkpoint. The vehicle is a Toyota Hiace purchased brand new in 2024, and therefore not an old vehicle.
No other vehicle was involved in the incident, no life was lost, and only minor injuries were recorded among some of the occupants of that particular vehicle. All affected persons were immediately evacuated from the scene and received prompt medical attention. In fact, all staff who were in the vehicle are in stable condition and have since resumed work.
The Deputy Governor himself was not involved in the incident and continued his journey safely to Calabar.
The Office of the Deputy Governor urges the public to disregard the viral report laced with exaggerations, but to rely only on official communications from the Cross River State Government for accurate information.
We appreciate the concerns of well-meaning citizens and the media, and we remain committed to transparency and timely dissemination of factual information.
Fred Abua, Esq.,
Press Secretary to the Deputy Governor,
Governor’s Office, Calabar,
11th August, 2026
