Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State marked his sixty-fourth birthday on Wednesday, October 11, in Calabar with a grand dinner event organised by his appointees and friends.
The governor, who spoke of his gratitude for the show of love to him and his family, also used the opportunity to speak of his inner strength and resolve to discharge his assignment in office as governor.
He said: “I’m 64 of age and I’m strong as a sportsman. I’m stronger and can do what many in their forties can’t do. I give God the Glory. I am at peace with God and men.”
Accompanied by his wife, Rev. Mrs. Eyoawan Otu to the dinner which had the state deputy governor, the state Chief Judge, the Speaker of the state legislature, and all the State Executive Council members including the Chief of Staff Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar who coordinated the dinner, the Governor said, “I want to thank all my friends and family. Even my foes, I thank them.”
In a jovial manner, the governor explained that he also thanks his foes because “they don’t come out direct to say they are enemies; even where there is enmity; I love them, and because I love them and the Bible is very strict; that when a man lives according to the dictates of God, your enemies don’t have an option but to be in peace with you. That is why I enjoy the peace I enjoy today.”
Governor Otu charged his appointees to be humble and to show concern for others, “we must not sleep if all of us are not happy, nobody came to the world to see off the other, we were all created by God and born of a woman. We must bury whatever clannish tendencies that we have, we are all Cross Riverians; nobody chooses where to be born, since we have found ourselves here, we must make it great. It is the challenge that has fallen on us and we have to make the state great.”
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Emmanuel Ironbar, spoke of travails Governor Otu had gone through politically in the state right from when he attempted to return to the Senate in 2015 and 2019 but God designed it so that he got elected in 2023 as governor.
He rejoiced in the success of the governor because it has given hope and opportunities to many who would have been nowhere.
