… Governor defends state’s federal standing, says it’s not being sidelined

By Joseph Erunke, Abuja

Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, and a former National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ntufam Hilliard Eta, have disagreed over claims that the state is losing political influence at the federal level following its omission from the latest list of ambassadorial nominees.

Both men expressed opposing views while speaking separately at the Cross River State Journalists (CROSSJOF) Day in Abuja, where the Forum also launched its news magazine, The Panorama, with the theme: “Building the Next Generation of Entrepreneurs in Cross River State.” Governor Otu was the Special Guest of Honour.

Governor Otu dismissed suggestions that Cross River is losing relevance at the federal tier, insisting that appointments—especially ambassadorial nominations—remain the prerogative of the President and are determined by statutory procedures rather than political lobbying.

Speaking through his Special Adviser on Media (Abuja), Emmanuel Ogbeche, the governor said claims of marginalisation or federal invisibility were misleading. He described as “uncharitable insinuations” the suggestion that the absence of Cross River indigenes from the list of 32 ambassadorial nominees reflected weak political engagement.

He noted that many of the nominees were career diplomats, including several drawn from the Nigerian Intelligence Agency (NIA), a process that naturally limits political input.

“So, let nobody tell you it is for lack of effort,” Otu said, stressing that numerous federal boards and agencies across the country are still without substantive leadership, making it clear the appointment cycle remains ongoing.

The governor also expressed concern about what he described as internal sabotage by some Cross River elites based in Abuja, whom he accused of working against the state’s collective interests.

“A house divided against itself cannot stand. Some individuals are actively undermining the state and even instigating crises back home,” he warned.

Highlighting developments under his administration, Otu pointed to the rehabilitation of key public infrastructure, including the state library and the Parade Ground Hall, the restoration of major sponsorships for Carnival Calabar, and ongoing upgrades of general hospitals and primary healthcare centres. He added that efforts to revive TINAPA were underway as part of a broader economic repositioning strategy.

The governor also announced that Cross River had recorded a 106% increase in internally generated revenue (IGR), attributing the growth to financial reforms and improved service delivery.

He reaffirmed his commitment to transparency, saying: “Hold us to account; we are not afraid of scrutiny.”

Earlier, former APC National Vice Chairman and Chairman of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Governing Board, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, offered a sharp critique of the state’s political and economic direction. He argued that Cross River “has never been as weak as it is today,” insisting that current development outcomes do not reflect the revenues earned in the last two years.

Eta expressed concern over the state’s absence from recent ambassadorial nominations and from key federal agency leadership positions. He also lamented that his appointment as chairman of a federal parastatal had yet to be inaugurated nearly a year later.

He warned that the state’s challenges were being worsened by what he called a culture of silence and docility, urging citizens to demand accountability and push back against political exclusion. He further called for a shift away from overdependence on the civil service toward more robust entrepreneurial development.

But Governor Otu maintained that Cross River is on a steady path of progress, emphasising unity, patience, and sustained reforms as the foundation for long-term transformation.