The Chief of Staff to the Governor of Cross River State, Emmanuel Ironbar, has said that the “Prince Is Coming” movement was founded on grassroots mobilisation and a shared political vision aimed at promoting equity and inclusive governance in the state NEGROIDHAVEN has garnered.
Ironbar stated this on Saturday during the 1.5 million-man endorsement march held at the Ikom Township Stadium in Ikom in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
Addressing supporters and members of the All Progressives Congress, Ironbar said the slogan “Prince Is Coming” was conceived in 2020 as a strategic political movement rather than a mere campaign phrase.
According to him, the movement emerged from the collective aspiration of supporters who believed that the political interests of the governor, then a senator, had been undermined by prevailing political structures in the state.
“The slogan ‘Prince Is Coming’ was conceived and launched in 2020. It was never intended to be a mere political catchphrase. Rather, it emerged as a conscious and strategic movement rooted in the collective aspiration to address perceived political interests against our admired leader,” he said.
Ironbar recalled that the governor had earlier faced political setbacks in his bid to return to the Senate despite what he described as strong grassroots support across the state.
He noted that during his first tenure in the Senate beginning in 2011, Otu introduced what he described as a new culture of grassroots engagement and empowerment across the southern senatorial district of the state.
Ironbar said the empowerment initiatives included the distribution of vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, sewing machines, salon equipment, palm oil processing machines and start-up capital to constituents.
He explained that the programmes enhanced the then senator’s political visibility and strengthened his relationship with the grassroots, although they also attracted opposition from some quarters.
According to him, despite the setbacks in 2015 and 2019, the movement regrouped and strengthened its grassroots structures across communities in the state.
“The Prince Is Coming movement refused to be discouraged. Instead, it returned to the drawing board, strengthening its grassroots structure and intensifying engagement with like-minded stakeholders committed to equity, justice and inclusive governance,” Ironbar said.
He added that by the 2023 election cycle, the movement had expanded significantly through sustained mobilisation and engagement with communities.
Ironbar noted that the success of the mobilisation contributed to the eventual emergence of Otu as governor in the 2023 governorship election.
He also urged supporters who were yet to benefit from political appointments or empowerment programmes under the current administration to remain patient and supportive of the government.
According to him, the administration remains committed to inclusive governance and will continue to recognise loyal supporters of the movement.
The event attracted party stakeholders, political leaders and supporters from across the state who gathered to endorse Tinubu and Otu ahead of future political contests.
