The Archbishop of Calabar and President of the Cross River State Christian Leaders Forum, Archbishop Josef has described the election of Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State in the 2023 general election as well-deserved and a prayer answered.
The Archbishop added that Gov. Otu’s victory was a true reflection of the wishes of the people of the state, in appreciation of “the landmark achievements you made during your tenure in the Senate which we witnessed”.
Archbishop Bassey expressed delight that God answered the prayer of his people on Gov. Otu, saying: “We are happy that God has heard our prayers; God has made it happen; it has finally ended in praise”.
Speaking during a thanksgiving service entitled “Banquet of Gratitude unto God for the election of Senator Bassey Otu as governor of Cross River State in 2023, held in his church in Calabar Monday, the clergyman said the state prayed for a dynamic and pragmatic leader who will come and change the narrative of the state, and God answered that prayer by the election of Governor Bassey Otu and his wife, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu.
He revealed that God has designed an agenda for Cross River State and that agenda is being fulfilled by Governor Otu, which is why he is succeeding in providing the people with the dividends of democracy
“We are doing this not because we are partisan, but because we need peace and good governance to continue in Cross River State
“The church believes in good governance and that was why we stood by you on the journey”, but “if you are doing things wrongly we will not stand by you”.
The cleric told Gov. Otu that “your governance in this state is very fruitful and we want to ensure that it continues” and prayed that the governor’s second term would be better than the first.
“God has been bringing you back to consolidate on what you have achieved in your first tenure”, he said.
Responding, Gov. Otu who narrated how his administration, at its inception, started with prayers and entrusted the affairs of Cross River State to the hands of God, recalled how the Archbishop and other men of God prayed fervently for the success of the government.
The governor, represented by his deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, therefore, attributed the successes recorded so far by his administration to the prayers from men of God.
He enumerated several key achievements of his administration ranging from the defrayment of the backlog of pensions owed retired workers, road construction and rehabilitation, Tinapa recovery and the impending restoration of the littoral status of the state, among other landmark projects.
The event featured testimonies by some notable Cross Riverians on the achievements so far recorded by the Governor Otu – led administration and prayed God’s grace upon the governor to enable him to do more for the state.
