Tension as Governor Otu Allegedly Stops Commissioning of FG Projects in Calabar 

Tension as Governor Otu Allegedly Stops Commissioning of FG Projects in Calabar 

 

 

A political crisis is brewing in Cross River State following allegations that Governor Bassey Otu deliberately disrupted the commissioning of Federal Government projects in Calabar, raising concerns about tensions between state and federal authorities within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

 

The drama unfolded in Calabar, the state capital, where preparations had been completed for the inauguration of a newly constructed federal road project.

 

The event was scheduled to be presided over by the Minister of Regional Development, Mr. Abubakar Momoh, who was in town as President Bola Tinubu’s official representative.

 

Eyewitness accounts and local reports allege that the Chairman of Calabar South Local Government Area, Hon. Patrick Archibong, personally led a group of individuals—backed by security personnel and heavy machinery—to dismantle the setup at Idang Road, one of the project sites. Canopies were reportedly torn down, a stage destroyed, and banners bearing President Tinubu’s image removed or defaced. Sources claim Archibong cited direct orders from Governor Otu as justification for his actions.

 

“This act is not only a disrespect to the Presidency, but a direct affront to the developmental aspirations of the people of Cross River State,” said Minister Momoh. “These projects were meant to bring hope, relief, and progress to the people. It is tragic that political ego has taken precedence over public good.”

 

Political analysts have described the situation as a troubling signal of disunity within the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), warning that the incident could fuel further tensions between state and federal actors and stall progress on similar projects nationwide.

 

While the Federal Government has yet to issue an official response, sources close to the Presidency confirm that the matter is being taken “very seriously” and may trigger high-level interventions.

 

However, the Cross River State Government has denied all allegations of sabotage. In a phone interview with THISDAY, the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Nsa Gill, refuted claims of disruption, stating that the state was not properly consulted despite being a significant financier of the road project—claiming that 70 percent of the work was funded by the state, with only 30 percent covered by the NDDC.

 

According to Gill, the reported chaos was a result of poor coordination by the federal organisers. He added that the State Commissioner for Works, Hon. Pius Ankpo, met with the minister and NDDC officials, and all parties mutually agreed to postpone the commissioning ceremony. He further asserted that another road project at Idang in Calabar South was inaugurated “without any hitch” and was broadcast live by a private TV station.

 

The conflicting narratives have left citizens and observers divided, with many calling for transparency and cooperation between levels of government in the interest of development.

 

As the dust settles, all eyes remain on Abuja for a potential federal reaction to the unfolding controversy.

 

 

Cross River Government Claims Ownership of NDDC Projects

 

Niger Delta Development Advocates (NDDA) has accused the Cross River State government of claiming ownership of key infrastructure projects executed by the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

 

 

However, the Niger Delta Development Advocates (NDDA), has condemned what it described as a misleading narrative by the state authorities, urging the government to give due credit to the federal agency.

 

In a press statement released on Friday and signed by NDDA’s Media Consultant, Victory Oso, the group accused the Cross River State Government of attempting to rebrand projects funded and executed solely by the NDDC as state achievements.

 

Among the projects at the center of the dispute are the Idang Street and Nyaghasang Road projects in Calabar, which were officially commissioned on June 13.

 

The projects, which were officially unveiled on June 13, 2025, have become the center of a heated public debate, with state officials and federal agencies giving conflicting accounts of their origins and execution.

 

According to the NDDA, the Idang Street Road Project was entirely initiated, funded, and implemented by the NDDC, a federal agency tasked with infrastructure development in the Niger Delta region. The group claims that any attempt by the state government to assert ownership of the project amounts to misinformation and a disservice to the public.

 

“We have carefully reviewed the press release issued by the Cross River State Government through the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Nsa Gill,” the statement reads. “While the statement seeks to dismiss reports of disruption at the event and downplay the role of the Federal Government, it contains serious contradictions that must be addressed for the sake of public clarity.”

 

The NDDA cited conflicting remarks by key state officials, including the Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Hon. Pius Ankpo Edet, who stated that the Nyaghasang Road was “initiated and funded by the Cross River State Government” and that “the NDDC was never formally involved.” However, the Mayor of Calabar Municipality, Apostle James Anam, reportedly acknowledged that the NDDC did intervene in asphalting sections of the road before later organizing the official commissioning.

 

“This contradiction raises fundamental questions,” Oso said. “If NDDC was ‘never involved,’ how did it intervene with asphalt work on Nyaghasang Road? If the road was fully state-funded, why was a federal agency commissioning it in a live broadcast?”

 

The group called on the state government to stop politicizing development efforts and instead focus on coordination and transparency in delivering quality infrastructure to the people.

 

“Attempts to downplay or politically reframe federal government interventions do not serve the people of Cross River. The people of Nyaghasang and Idang Street, like every Nigerian, deserve transparency, not competing narratives and confusion,” the statement concluded.