PHOTOS: Third-Term House of Reps Member, Mike Etaba, Empowers Constituents With Palm Oil, Garri in Cross River

A three-term member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Mike Etaba, representing Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River State, has once again spark conversations after distributing kegs of palm oil and bags of garri as part of his latest empowerment programme.

Residents of the constituency confirmed that the lawmaker shared the food items to selected beneficiaries during a community outreach exercise. Photos and videos from the event, which circulated on social media, showed groups of constituents receiving the palm oil and garri.

Etaba, who has been repeatedly criticised by constituents over what they describe as “underwhelming performance” and “poor representation,” faced fresh backlash following the distribution. Some community members argued that after three terms in the National Assembly, their representative should be delivering more impactful projects rather than basic food relief.

“This is not the empowerment we expected from someone who has been in office this long,” a resident said. “We need roads, schools, and real development, not garri and oil.”

However, supporters of the lawmaker defended the gesture, saying the food items came at a time economic hardship is biting harder across communities. They noted that palliatives, no matter how small, can still provide temporary relief.

As reactions continue to trail the empowerment exercise, political observers say the lawmaker may need to do more to rebuild trust among constituents ahead of future political contests.