The Special Adviser to the Cross River State Governor on Asset Management and Recovery, Barr. Gilbert Agbor, has rallied the Defendable Force, a youth-led socio-political group, to support Governor Bassey Edet Otu, President Bola Tinubu and all All Progressives Congress (APC) candidates ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Agbor made the call on recently while receiving an Award of Excellence for Youth Development and Impactful Political Leadership from the group at his country home in Etomi community, Etung Local Government Area.
The award recognised Agbor’s contributions to youth development, mentorship and empowerment, particularly his efforts in creating opportunities for young people to participate meaningfully in governance and public service across Etung and Cross River State.
Reaffirming his commitment to the APC leadership and candidates, Agbor urged members of the Defendable Force to support Governor Otu and President Tinubu, as well as Oden Ewa for Senate, Blessing Egbara for the House of Representatives and Dr. Erim Agbor for the House of Assembly.
“We reaffirm our support for Senator Bassey Edet Otu, and of course, Mr. President Bola Tinubu, Oden Ewa for Senate, Blessing Egbara for House of Representatives, and Dr. Erim Agbor for House of Assembly,” he said, assuring the group that he would stand by his word.
Agbor thanked the Defendable Force for the recognition and promised to deepen his relationship with the organisation, saying he would regard it as one of the special groups with which he would work closely.
“I’m going to put this group among the very special groups we will be working with,” Agbor said, adding that he would discuss the group with the Chief of Staff to the Governor and brief Governor Otu about its activities upon his return to Calabar.
He further assured the group that its views would receive greater consideration in future engagements, declaring: “Moving forward, we’ll not do anything without inputs from this group.”
Agbor, in his concluding remarks, urged the group and the people of Etung to continue to maintain peace and unity, expressing optimism that better days lay ahead. “Let’s just keep maintaining the peace, above all being together; better days are ahead,” he said.
Presenting the award, Chairman of the Defendable Force, Comrade John Tangbe, described Agbor as “the golden fish” of Etung, saying his remarkable contributions to youth development, empowerment and purposeful leadership had made him a standout figure whose impact could hardly go unnoticed.
Tangbe said Agbor’s impact was evident in the opportunities he had created for young people in Etomi and other parts of Etung to participate meaningfully in governance and public service, citing his role in facilitating their appointments into government positions. He stressed that Agbor’s influence extended beyond political appointments to mentorship, empowerment and deliberate investment in people.
He averred that the Defendable Force, while committed to holding leaders accountable and drawing government’s attention to issues affecting the people, had chosen to support leaders whose actions aligned with the aspirations of the people, pledging the group’s support for Agbor’s political direction and APC candidates ahead of 2027.
By Kingsley Agim
