By Inemesit Friday
The governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has criticized Governor Bassey Otu over an alleged threat to “crush” opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Archibong described the governor’s reported remarks as reckless and disappointing, saying they portray intolerance for opposing views and an attempt to intimidate political rivals.
The PDP candidate expressed surprise that such comments were attributed to Governor Otu, whom he noted is widely known for his Christian faith. He accused the governor of abandoning the values of tolerance and fair political competition.
Citing Proverbs 22:22-23, Archibong cautioned against oppression and urged leaders to uphold justice and accountability in governance.
He maintained that opposition parties in the state would not be intimidated, stressing their commitment to peaceful and issue based campaigns.
“As opposition, we will not be cowed by threats. We remain committed to a wholesome, issue based campaign in the best interest of the people of Cross River State,” he said.
Archibong argued that a government confident in its performance should have nothing to fear from scrutiny, adding that the administration’s record would continue to be examined in the build up to the next election.
According to him, the government should focus on delivering investments, purposeful governance and sustainable development rather than targeting political opponents.
He also urged the administration to address concerns raised by recent reports on the state’s development challenges instead of engaging in political battles with the opposition.
Reaffirming his commitment to peaceful politics, Archibong said no amount of intimidation would stop the opposition from holding the government accountable.
He added that the people of Cross River State deserve sustainable wealth creation, economic opportunities and tangible development rather than what he described as “textbook MOUs.”