The Deputy Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State and former Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, Alphonsus Oga Eba, has launched a blistering attack on Governor Bassey Otu, accusing him of disrespecting the people of Northern Cross River and treating them “like clowns.”
Speaking in an exclusive interview with NEWSNGR, Eba said his political disagreement with Governor Otu was never about securing a second term as APC chairman but about resisting what he described as the systematic marginalisation and humiliation of the Northern Senatorial District.
According to him, the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC found no wrongdoing against him during the crisis that led to his exit from the party.
“The NWC said we have found nothing incriminating about you. We have told your governor that you should allow you. My governor was out to achieve what?”
Eba said the events that culminated in his departure from the APC reflected a broader pattern of disregard for the North rather than a personal political battle.
“That is why I pity when people talk about leaders from Northern Cross River. They rather have my sympathy. It was not about me. It wasn’t about me looking for second term. It was about a people not respected.”
The former APC chairman argued that Northern Cross River has consistently delivered the largest bloc of votes during elections but has not received the respect it deserves from the current administration.
“We bring the highest organic vote, and we have a governor that has denigrated us and has no regard for us.
“He looked at all of us as poor in reasoning, poor in wealth, because we gather every day to gyrate.
“We are like clowns before him. If we all are blind, somebody should stand and say, ‘No, we are not.’ It takes only one man to stand and say no.”
Eba traced the history of party leadership in Cross River State, insisting that previous state chairmanship positions had rotated among the senatorial districts and questioning why the North was denied the opportunity to retain the office through another candidate after his tenure.
“Don’t forget, Reverend Ikobi, under PDP, was state chairman of party four years. Ambassador Sunny Abang had for four years. It means the central had it for eight years.
“Ekpo Okon had it for four years. Ntufam John Okon had it for four years. That’s eight years too.
“Edim Inok had it for five years, that’s 13 years in his house.
“The first time a son of the North was having it under a ruling party, I had it for four years. You don’t need me again, why not give me another son of the North? But because they don’t have regards for us.”
He said the issue transcends politics and touches on the dignity of the people of the Northern Senatorial District.
“These are major issues. A man who has no regards for you, why do you want to have regard for him? Because of hunger?”
Rejecting suggestions that political loyalty could be influenced by financial inducements, Eba declared that the people of Northern Cross River would defend their political rights.
“We are never a hungry people at all, and we must stand and tell the governor that we are not hungry people. Our people must stand up, because I will lead from the front. We are not hungry people, and let him not deceive anybody.”
On the zoning arrangement ahead of the 2031 governorship election, Eba said, “Let the governor not deceive anybody, and think we want to come and do eight years. Sir Arthur Jarvis will complete his tenure, and we will beat the drum every day power is going to the centre in 2031.”
He also dismissed arguments against the zoning arrangement, challenging the administration to defend its record in office instead.
“So all that one that he is saying that we cannot truncate zoning; tell us your performance. Everything you want to do today, we already know that you are ready now to open the vault to work, we welcome it.
“But that shows that we have already defeated you ahead of election, because now politics has started, that’s taking a ground seat, and all those people are saying they are doing reconciliation things, and that is medicine after death.”
Eba suggested that he possessed further information about Governor Otu’s private remarks regarding political stakeholders in the state, which he said would be disclosed at the appropriate time.
“I know what he said about all of you at the appropriate time,” he added.
