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Asuquo Cletus Felix
The All Progressive Candidate (APC) and Governor Elect of Cross River State Prince Bassey Edet Otu, has reacted to his election for a first term of four years, while thanking God and Cross Riverians for the victory.
In an acceptance speech posted on his official Facebook page, shortly after the returning officer of Cross River State Prof Teddy Charles Adias, declared him winner of the March 18 gubernatorial election in the state.
Otu polled 258,619 votes to defeat Sandy Ojang Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who scored 179,636 votes.
The Governor elect also stated that his administration will not only settle down to mend broken fences and ensure that the bitterness that erupted during the campaigns are washed away by collective tears of victory, but his tenure will be an equitable, firm and compassionate government that will work for Cross River State.
The statement reads below:
“Fellow Cross Riverians, this is the day we have waited for, prayed for and hoped for. It is the day that demonstrates, in a most profound way, the strength of our democracy and our people’s collective resolve to continue our peaceful march into a new era of growth and economic prosperity.
“Brothers and sisters, | dedicate this victory to God Almighty, who in His Infinite wisdom has given us this day. This victory has once again proven God’s immense presence in the affairs of Cross River State. There is not a shadow of doubt about that! The glory belongs to Him.
“This mandate is the people’s mandate. It is a reaffirmation that as a people, we have a keen sense of justice. And when the chips are down, we sacrifice our differences to reaffirm our sense of justice. | am touched by this act of greatness and | will not let you down. | will work night and day to justify the confidence you have reposed in me.
“My Team and I will settle down quickly to build bridges and mend broken fences to ensure that the bitterness that erupted during the campaigns are washed away by our collective tears of victory. We shall roll-up our shirt sleeves to ensure that everyone is given a sense of belonging in the coming dispensation and that together we shall force down the rainfail of greatness on our beloved state.
“My government will have no place for ethnic champions who interpret life from the narrow prism of their tribal worldviews. We shall run an equitable, firm and compassionate government that will work for Cross River State.
“My brothers and sisters, this is a great time to be a Cross Riverian. Our hard-working governor has fastidiously implemented a wonderful blueprint for our economic greatness. In doing so, he has made our work easy for us. We shall breathe a new life into all the industries he has built and harness their potentials to create more jobs and economic prosperity for our dear state.
| pledge to run a compassionate administration, a listening government, in which all blades of ideas shall be given a fair hearing and chance at success. We shall be fair to all but we shall insist on the minimum standards of decency in our interface with the people.
“Our policies and programmes shall touch the people where it matters the most. I reckon that it is the only way to justify your faith in me. “
Born on 18th October 1959 Prince Otu is a former Nigerian lawmaker, who represented the Calabar Municipal/Odukpani constituency of Cross River State, Nigeria in the Federal House of Representatives from 2003 – 2011.
He was elected Senator for Cross River South in the April 2011 elections, running on the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) platform. He later defected in 2016 to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and emerged the Cross River South Senatorial flag bearer of the party in the 2019 election.