The wife of the Cross River Governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, has urged women in the state to embrace unity and sustain grassroots mobilisation for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2027.
Otu gave the charge during a women stakeholders’ meeting organised by former humanitarian affairs and poverty reduction minister Betta Edu in Calabar on Sunday.
She called on the women to put aside personal grievances and forgive one another so as to collectively work towards the party’s electoral success in 2027.
She also urged the women to remain committed to their responsibilities, stressing that political disagreements and personal differences should not be allowed to undermine their common goal.
“Whatever it is that has been bothering us, whatever we think has been our pain, let’s bury the hatchet and move on,” she said.
Noting that people might sometimes be misunderstood or their efforts poorly appreciated, she urged the women to remain committed to doing what was right as genuine service would eventually attract its reward.
“Whether they like it or not, whether they love you or not, whether they like your face or not, just keep doing what you’re doing. Do the right thing,” she added.
Otu also highlighted her humanitarian interventions, particularly in the health sector, as part of efforts to complement the governor’s efforts and address the needs of vulnerable residents.
She disclosed that her medical outreach programme had recorded 12 editions within three years, with more than 2,000 surgeries conducted.
According to her, the interventions are design to bridge gaps in healthcare delivery, while Gov. Bassey Otu concentrate on governance, infrastructure and other structural development priorities.
“Health is wealth. Since the governor cannot be everywhere, while he is trying to upgrade structural development, there must be somebody to bridge the gap,” she said.
She maintained that her interventions were driven by passion and a desire to improve the welfare of residents rather than the expectation of public commendation.
Otu further urged the women to take the APC’s message to their communities, wards, polling units, churches and places of business, insisting that the party must sustain its political structure rather than start afresh with unfamiliar faces.
She expressed confidence in the leadership of the party at the national and state level, saying that the existing political structure provide an opportunity for continuity and further development.
Also speaking, Edu charged the APC women to translate their support for the party into measurable electoral results through grassroots mobilisation.
She urged them to return to their respective wards and polling units to mobilise voters through door-to-door campaigns, Church gatherings, prayer meetings and market outreaches.
She stressed that political loyalty should be demonstrated through votes secured at polling units rather than mere declarations of support.
“Go back to your polling units and gather your people, beginning with your women. Let them begin to canvass, door to door, Church to Church, prayer meeting to prayer meeting, market to market,” she said.
The former minister also called for forgiveness and reconciliation among party members, urging them to set aside disagreements and work towards a common electoral objective.
She assured the women of their leader’s support and guidance but emphasised that their performance in the field would determine the outcome of their political engagement.
