By Kelvin Obambon
The Personal Assistant to the Member representing Calabar Municipality/Odukpani Federal Constituency, Ita Ayi Asuquo, has clarified that the recent distribution of high-yielding, hybrid cassava stems to constituents was a strategic intervention based on a thorough needs assessment of local farmers.
Speaking in defense of the lawmaker, Right Honorable Bassey Akiba, against what he described as “selfish blackmail” and “misleading social media narratives,” Asuquo emphasized that the agricultural intervention was designed to empower specific value chains within the constituency.
Asuquo who spoke during a chat with some journalists in Calabar on Wednesday, noted that the criticism from certain quarters ignored the professional and economic logic behind the distribution. He explained that the lawmaker’s agricultural program focuses on four key value chains: Cassava, Oil Palm, Fishery, and Poultry.
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“Those who applied for support in cassava farming were given high-yielding, disease-resistant hybrid stems,” Asuquo stated. “These are not ordinary stems; they are hybrid varieties designed to significantly increase harvest yields and provide better economic returns for our local farmers. The farmers who received them understand their worth and accepted them with joy because they know the impact this will have on their livelihood.”
He further revealed that those in the poultry value chain were not left out, as they received bags of ‘starter’ and ‘finisher’ feeds to support their businesses amidst the rising cost of poultry inputs.
Beyond agriculture, the aide highlighted a massive investment in the future of the constituency through education. He disclosed that after a N50 million educational support program in 2024, Hon. Akiba doubled the commitment in 2025.
“In 2025, the lawmaker launched a N100 million educational support program. This isn’t just talk; school fees are being paid in full, and students are receiving books and school bags. We have families across the constituency who are direct beneficiaries of this gesture, specifically targeted at the less privileged,” he said.
He also pointed to physical infrastructure, citing a newly constructed six-classroom block in Nkita, Okoyon community, which was built “from scratch” rather than being a mere renovation.
On health, Asuquo mentioned a robust Health Insurance Scheme where constituents hold cards that grant them access to free medical treatment that covers expenses ranging from N20,000 to N400,000. He noted that the lawmaker has also facilitated the construction of primary healthcare facilities and sponsored surgical procedures, including fibroid operations, at no cost to the patients.
On security and infrastructure, the aide invited the public to witness the transformation in the Ammanso community and the stretch from CUDA Junction to the University gates.
“Ammanso was as dark as a graveyard, and crime was high. Today, it is properly lighted. Any street light pole you see painted in green and white was facilitated by Right Honorable Bassey Akiba. This has significantly reduced robbery and improved the safety of students and residents in the university area,” Asuquo added.
Responding to questions about financial reach, the aide explained the lawmaker’s cooperative model. He stated that N25 million is periodically released to reach 5,000 members across various polling units through the Bank of Agriculture.
“The logic is simple: instead of buying a few cars that benefit only ten people, he uses wisdom to ensure the dividends of democracy trickle down to thousands of people at the grassroots level. You can go to the Bank of Agriculture and verify these records yourself,” he challenged.
Asuquo urged the public and media practitioners to focus on developmental strides rather than following “selfish narratives” intended to distract the lawmaker from his mandate.
