By Musa Kutama, Calabar
A prominent stakeholder in Bakassi Local Government Area, Hon. Elder Saviour O. Nyong, JP, has called on indigenes of the area to rally behind the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, in the collective quest for peace, stability and development.
In a recent statement personally signed by Hon. Nyong, he described unity and unalloyed support for the governor as “crucial ingredient for sustained growth and the final resolution of the long-standing Bakassi question,” he emphasized, adding that no community can thrive amid division, adding that “only a united Bakassi can attract the kind of attention, compassion and intervention our people truly deserve.”
He urged all well-meaning sons and daughters of Bakassi to give His Excellency total support — physically, morally and spiritually — especially in matters relating to the infamous ceding of parts of Bakassi by the International Court of Justice (ICJ).
According to him, “this is not the time for strife or internal discord. It is the time to strengthen our bond and align with the people-first vision of Governor Otu, whose heart clearly beats for the restoration of Bakassi’s dignity.”
He noted, however, that genuine progress can only be achieved in an atmosphere of harmony and shared commitment to the common good.
Nyong further explained that although the Green Tree Agreement, which underpinned the ICJ ruling, has yet to be ratified by the National Assembly as mandated by Section 12 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the Otu-led administration has demonstrated “sincere commitment and practical steps toward addressing the plight of the Bakassi people through diplomacy, dialogue and developmental engagement.” He commended the Governor’s resolve to seek sustainable solutions rather than resort to divisive rhetoric or confrontation.
He cautioned against actions capable of undermining these efforts, particularly recent litigations instituted against the State and Local Governments, which he described as “a potential setback capable of derailing the commendable progress already recorded.”
Such legal distractions, he warned, could impede the governor’s ongoing initiatives aimed at restoring dignity and prosperity to the Bakassi people. “Litigation will not heal our wounds,” he stressed. “Dialogue, partnership and faith in the current administration will.
“I strongly advocate for the immediate withdrawal and discontinuation of these litigations in the larger interest of our people,” Nyong stated, emphasizing that peace and collaboration remain the most viable pathways to development and justice.
“Let us not allow internal disagreements to become tools in the hands of those who never truly understood our pain,” he appealed. “Governor Otu has shown sincerity of purpose. It is only fair that we reciprocate his goodwill with collective cooperation.”
In a firm tone of solidarity, the Bakassi elder dissociated himself from the said litigations, affirming his “unalloyed and unflinching support for His Excellency, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu, and his administration’s noble efforts in resolving or ameliorating the plight of our people.”
He lauded Governor Otu for his leadership style which, according to him, reflects “empathy, inclusion and a genuine concern for the welfare of the displaced and affected communities of Bakassi.”
Nyong concluded by reaffirming his faith in the collective destiny of Bakassi under a united Cross River State, urging all stakeholders to place the people’s interest above personal or political considerations.
“Our strength lies in unity,” he declared. “Only through cooperation with the present administration can we reclaim our dignity, rebuild our communities, and achieve lasting progress.”
