…Says Calabar now wears a fresh look
A chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River state, and a leading legal practitioner, Chief Utum Eteng, Esq, has said contrary to speculations, he has not been sidelined by the Prince Bassey Ot u’s led administration.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with our Correspondent yesterday in Calabar, Utum said if indeed he had been sidelined, he wouldn’t have the opportunity to defend the governor at the election tribunal.
He described the rumour as a figment of the imagination of blackmailers and bad belle people, adding that he has no regret whatsoever supporting the emergence of the governor.
Utum, who said whatever occurs both at the state and federal levels where programmed to happen, also urged a former governor of the state, Sen. Ben Ayade not to castigate those calling for the probe of his administration, noting that it was an opportunity for him to clear himself.
While fielding questions, he said: “People speculate a lot. Stories are sometimes told of situations that does not exist. No doubt, it is true that I played a vital, active and conspicuous roles in the formation of the Prince Bassey Ot u’s led government.
However, I did that principally because as one of the founding members of the party in the state, I saw a very bright prospect of the APC and Prince Ot u’s victory at the polls which eventually came to fruition, and I am glad about it.
I have been confronted on daily basis on the issue of being sidelined, and every attempt has not given me any positive answer by those who claimed that I have been sidelined. I say it emphatically that; Utum Eteng has not been sidelined. Whatever that happens either at the state or federal levels, are programmed to happen in turn. So, I am waiting for my own turn. Prince Bassey Ot u has not sidelined me. It is the figment of the imagination of the blackmailers and bad belle people. If I was sidelined, I wouldn’t have been given the opportunity to appear in the Court of Appeal both at the Calabar and Lagos divisions, in defense of a government headed by Prince Ot u.”
Reacting to calls for the probe of Senator Ben Ayade’s led administration, Utum, a one-time member of the presidential committee on review of the constitution and electoral acts in Nigeria; headed by a former senate president; Ken Nnamani, said the agitation was not out of place.
According to him, the idea to probe any leader in whatever capacity be it at the state or federal levels is to ensure accountability in governance.
“I read some of the stories, especially that of Senator Agom Jarigbe of the northern senatorial district. To be candid, there is nothing wrong with such a call. We were told that if you see something; say something. Jarigbe, just like every other concerned Cross Riverian or Nigerian has the constitutional right to do that so long as it is within the ambit of the law. Nobody should castigate him for doing that because the onus lies on him to prove or substantiate his allegation. Remember, what sets a nation free is the truth.
The idea to probe any leader in whatever capacity be it at the state or federal levels is to ensure accountability in governance, therefore, the call was not out of place. So, in summary, I don’t think Senator Jarigbe has faulted in anyway. For me, calling Senator Ayade’s administration out, is a way or opportunity to clear himself by giving an account of his stewardship while at the helm of affairs in the state”, Utum stated.
On his assessment of the Prince Bassey Otu’s led administration, he said the current administration in Cross River state started on a good footing, calling on all and sundry to support the governor.
Utum, who was also part of the APC’s legal committee for the 2022 National Convention, said governor Ot u should rather be commended for his ability to manage the near unmanageable state of affairs in Cross River, lately.
He said within eight months in office Prince Bassey Otu had been able to define the direction of his administration, even with the rapid improvement on the hitherto lost aesthetic value of the state.
“I am hundred percent (100%) in support of the idea that the government started on a good footing. Our dear governor started well. Be that as it may, the attribute of perfection belongs to only God. The governor is doing very well to manage the near unmanageable state of affairs in the state, lately.
The most important thing is for Cross Riverians to support the government of Senator Bassey Ot u because he is a thorough bred grass root politician, who truly knows the problems confronting the state. For instance, the city of Calabar is now wearing a fresh look; something we had missed for the past eight years or so. Salaries and pensions are been paid regularly. So, its too early to pass any judgement. Let nobody run out of patience and resort to the blackmail game”, Utum further said.
