I had advised my very good friend, Barrister Alphonsus Eba JP, to accept his removal as State Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the State Executive Committee (SEC) about three weeks ago, when Chapter Chairmen and Secretaries of the APC moved against him in good faith. I encouraged him to focus instead on his position as Chairman of the Governing Board of the Nigerian Rubber Research Institute, Benin City, Edo State.
I am disappointed that he is demonstrating so much bitterness and recrimination, which could undermine the cohesion of the Party at a time when unity is most needed. He has benefited immensely in his social, political, and reputational standing as a result of his appointment as State Chairman of the APC in 2022—barely less than a year after he subscribed to membership of the Party. I know people who have been staunch members of the APC since 2013 and beyond, yet have not enjoyed any reward or appointment, whether in government or within the Party.
Barrister Eba is not the only member of the APC who contributed to the victory of the Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu. On the contrary, every Cross Riverian who voted in the APC governorship election of March 2023 contributed to that success. This is the same point I made when someone else complained that he had not benefited from the Party, even though he had worked hard to strengthen it.
It will be recollected that in October 2024, when I observed the way the Party was being run—especially the systematic marginalisation and sidelining of some blocs or tendencies within the APC—I issued a statement calling for the resignation of Barrister Eba. That statement was met with heaps of insults and name-calling by Emmanuel Inyang, the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, while some members of the SEC grumbled and expressed unhappiness with me.
I am also aware that Barrister Eba was initially not disposed to the candidacy of Governor Bassey Edet Otu because he made spirited efforts to impose his preferred candidate—buying a nomination ticket for him and announcing that only one form was available in Cross River State. It took the determined effort of some patriotic APC members in Cross River State to resist this attempt. Seventeen aspirants, each armed with ₦100 million, went to Abuja to purchase APC governorship forms and seek nomination. This collective action led to the invitation of these 17 aspirants, together with the favored candidate, to a meeting aimed at resolving the simmering impasse. Prior to this, they had already convened at Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, in response to Barrister Eba’s attempt to impose his candidate.
The 18 people present at the meeting included Senator Bassey Otu, Rt Hon Orok Duke, Etubom Bassey Ndem, Prof Eyo Etim Nyong, Barr Edem Ekong, Chief Ogban Ebock, Barr Chris Agara, Senator Owan-Enoh, Hon George O’Ben Etchi, Engr. Ben Akak, Chief Ekpenyong, Prince Edward( from Abi LGA ) Hon Richard Adams, among others.
Those pushing for the favored candidate whom Barrister Eba fiercely supported were promised ₦8 billion from a bank owned by a Cross Riverian and other sources to help prosecute the general elections. They rejected the offer. This was what compelled the Governor and Barrister Eba to succumb to the majority decision, though they insisted that it must be through consensus and not an open election.
It is instructive that Rt. Honourable Otu Orok Otu came second behind Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu in the mini election that took place there. He was later appointed Campaign Coordinator for Calabar South Local Government Area during the general elections, after declining the offer to contest for the APC ticket for the Senate or House of Representatives.
Conclusion
At this critical juncture, Barrister Eba should rise above personal grievances and embrace reconciliation. His continued bitterness risks weakening the Party’s unity, which is far more important than individual ambition. Unity over self must remain the guiding principle for the APC in Cross River State.
@ Okoi Obono-Obla