The Cross River State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Henry Egbe Ayuk, has charged ward chairmen of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Etung Local Government Area to intensify grassroots mobilisation for the second-term bids of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Governor Bassey Edet Otu as well as the victory of other APC candidates in the 2027 general elections.
Ayuk gave the charge on Friday while playing host to the APC ward chairmen from all 10 wards of Etung at his residence in Ikom, urging them to take up the ownership of the mobilisation process in their respective wards and work collectively to secure victory for the party at all levels.
The Commissioner said the ward chairmen had a critical role to play in communicating the achievements of the Otu administration to the people, particularly its interventions in agriculture, education, healthcare, civil service recruitment and the settlement of outstanding cocoa landlords obligations. He cited reforms in cocoa allocation as one area where, according to him, more genuine beneficiaries were now benefiting from government intervention.
Ayuk also highlighted ongoing investments in primary healthcare facilities across the state, including the rehabilitation, upgrading and equipment of facilities including the construction of staff quarters and recruitment of additional community health workers. He said at no time has government recruited the number of Etung indigenes into State Civil service as it has done presently by Governor Otu. He urged the party leaders to take the message of these interventions to the grassroots.
He said the administration of Governor Otu will never be cajoled by antics of political opponents and an encumbered social media insisting that administration’s “Season of Sweetness” agenda was being translated into tangible benefits in Etung communities, while efforts to expand opportunities in the state civil service and address outstanding pension and other obligations demonstrated its commitment to the welfare of citizens of the entire Cross River State
The Commissioner challenged the ward chairmen to document and communicate the administration’s interventions to the public rather than allow political opponents to define the narrative. He also urged them to ensure that no political ward was left behind in the party’s campaign and mobilisation structure.
“This is a crucial year of elections coming, and I can only thank you. You must go out there and work, support and mobilise your people for the second-term bids of our Governor, His Excellency, Governor Bassey Edet Otu, and our President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as well as all other candidates of the All Progressives Congress. We will deliver every ward. We will not allow any political ward to remain in the minority, and all of you must be in the forefront of this mobilisation,” Ayuk said.
Ayuk assured the ward chairmen of his continued commitment to working with them and other party stakeholders to strengthen the party at the grassroots. He urged them to remain united, disciplined and focused on delivering victory for the APC across Etung in the 2027 general elections.
Responding, the Chairman of the APC Ward Chairmen in Etung, Comrade Atu Alfred, thanked Ayuk for deeming it necessary to host the ward leaders for what he described as a crucial meeting. He said the issues discussed would provide the grassroots leaders with renewed morale and impetus to engage the people effectively ahead of the general elections.
Atu appealed to the party leadership and relevant stakeholders to adequately engage and carry the ward chairmen along in the political campaign process, stressing that they remained the party’s foot soldiers during elections. He pledged the commitment of the ward chairmen to the re-election of President Tinubu, Governor Otu and all other APC candidates in the forthcoming elections.
By Kingsley Agim
