Governor Bassey Otu has moved to calm rising political tensions in Akamkpa Local Government Area, calling on stakeholders of the ruling APC to embrace peace, unity and reconciliation ahead of future political activities in the area.
Speaking during an enlarged stakeholders’ engagement attended by party leaders, elders and political actors from across the local government, Governor Otu lamented the deepening divisions within the Akamkpa political family, warning that no meaningful development could thrive in an atmosphere of hostility and internal conflict. He urged all factions to sheath their swords and prioritize the collective interest of the local government above personal ambitions.
Several stakeholders who spoke at the meeting, including former federal lawmaker Daniel Asuquo, commended the governor for his inclusive leadership style and unprecedented goodwill toward Akamkpa. The speakers recalled the area’s long history of organized political leadership and appealed for the preservation of existing structures to avoid a repeat of past political crises that once destabilized the local government.
In what emerged as a major highlight of the engagement, Governor Otu openly endorsed the continuation of the existing political arrangement in the area and adopted Linus Bassey and Okon Owuna for a second term in the Cross River State House of Assembly. The governor appealed to younger political actors and other aspirants to remain patient and allow the current leadership structure to continue in the interest of peace, stability and equitable power rotation within Akamkpa.
Governor Otu further warned against divisive narratives centered on indigene and non-indigene sentiments, stressing that such tendencies could destroy the unity and coexistence the people had built over decades. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to correcting what he described as years of political and developmental imbalance against Akamkpa, the governor assured stakeholders that greater opportunities and empowerment initiatives were still underway for the area.
