As the frenzy for general elections across Nigeria builds up, Nigerian electorates have assumed a new twist to garnering support for political parties and aspirants of their choise.
In Cross River one of the states in the country’s south southern geopolitical extraction, electorates have been confirmed to urge especially politicians to consider vying for designated public offices.
Reportedly, some of the electorates in the form of supporters, friends, allies have even gone ahead to purchase declaration of intent and nomination forms of the various political parties and presented to aspirant of their choise.
A former member of the National Assembly from Cross River South Senatorial District has been caught up in the web of these recent political developments.
Last week, women, youth and student were seen to rally support across the streets of Calabar the state capital metropolis, as well as pay courtesy visits to the residence of Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu urging him to vie for the high office of Governor of the state come 2023 general elections.
In one of the banners brandished by the women, it read ‘ofuri iban eyom Prince for governor. Ebak, eti eyen’. Another read thus, ‘truth be told, Prince Otu is the only man that can win governorship for APC’, etc.
These groups in various fora said they recall Otu’s days in the national assembly, his down-to-earthedness and his impact in the lives of sundry.
While addressing Otu the students said ‘looking at your track record, we are here because you are the one who can save our people. Having built school blocks across the senatorial district, ensure students bursary and scholarships are made possible, we believe that with you in government house, Cross Riverians are sure of sustainable development, come 2023.
‘We are very explicit, we are here to tell you to enter the race, join the governorship race for 2023 and contest for governor. We are behind you,’ Justine Edede said.
Reacting to the students’ call at his residence, Otu said ‘It’s taking me time because I had to do proper consultations and I have had a lot of ‘come and declare’ from too many groups, senatorial districts and Local Government Areas. Now, I have weighed it and I am fully persuaded beyond all reasonable doubts that yes it is time to run.’
Continuing he informed the group that he will formally declare for public on Friday, ‘I have listen to your call, that I should jump into the race, well, I needed to hear from my constituency before I take that decision, I think like you think and feel the pains you feel. So come Friday, I will be going straight to my ward, I will be going there to declare to run for governorship, for 2023.
‘I believe that I will be unavailing what I have. it is taking me time, because I needed proper consultations, I have had a lot of come to declare from too many support groups, from too many local governments, across the state, I have weighed it and with the eventual persuasion from these young people, indeed, I am fully persuaded that yes, it is time to run,’ Senator Otu said.
