Inyali Peter Commend APC State Chairman, Call on Gov. Bassey Otu and National Assembly Members to Pressure Completion of Calabar-Itu Federal Road

Iloke, Egbe 

The UNICROSS Alumni Association President, Dr. Inyali Peter has bare his mind on some development in the State and commended some of our leaders while urging them to do more to reduce the pains and challenges on road infrastructure and political marginalization. 

In his words Mr. Peter said I commend Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, the State chairman of our party, the APC, for his courage in drawing attention to the marginalization of Cross River State by President Tinubu’s administration during the APC South-South leaders conference held over the weekend. 

It is disheartening that, among nearly 500 Federal Agencies, Cross River remains possibly the only State without a single appointment to the position of MD, DG, or Executive Secretary, despite its longstanding commitment to the APC as the only APC-controlled State in the geopolitical sone until recently.

Despite criticism in some quarters regarding the State chairman’s decision to reference former Governor Ben Ayade to make his point, we must be honest; there couldn’t have been any better person to use as a reference. Beyond Ayade being his benefactor, Cross River would not be an APC State today without Ayade’s pivotal role. 

So, as much as we believe so many other party leaders deserve appointments, we cannot in all sincerity undermine what Ayade did for the party. We cannot rewrite history. 

Rather than focusing in criticizing the State Chairman, methinks, as I proposed over a year ago, the State should send a high powered delegation to the Presidential Villa to meet President Tinubu. The President may genuinely not be on the know of this injustice. The delegation should present data, facts, and figures to show the extent of the state’s marginalization.

We can have this corrected but we need more of what the State Chairman has done and follow up with boardroom lobbying. 

Away from appointments, I urge Governor Bassey Otu, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, and National Assembly members from Akwa Ibom and Cross River States to press relevant Government Agencies for the swift completion of the Calabar-Itu road, a critical artery for economic growth and regional connectivity. I commend Governor Otu for his commendable efforts on the Adiabo-Odukpani road, which demonstrate his commitment to improving infrastructure in Cross River State. 

Also, I call on Cross River’s political leaders to remind President Tinubu of his pledge to dredge the Calabar port, a project vital to unlocking the state’s economic potential and enhancing trade in the South-South region.