Taking a swipe at the APC’s political messaging, she accused the party of dwelling on opposition politics rather than presenting an account of its performance in government.
By TheInvestigator
The governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) in Cross River State, Ambassador Nkoyo Toyo, has challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) to account for its performance in office, questioning what Governor Bassey Otu has achieved after 16 years in public service.
Ambassador Toyo spoke on Tuesday during the inauguration of the ADC Campaign Organisation, where she criticised what she described as the failure of political leaders to focus on accountability, governance and measurable achievements.
Taking a swipe at the APC’s political messaging, she accused the party of dwelling on opposition politics rather than presenting an account of its performance in government.
She questioned the record of Governor Otu, noting that he had spent eight years in the House of Representatives, four years in the Senate and nearly four years as governor.
“In 16 years, can we evaluate what he has done?” she asked.
Ambassador Toyo also outlined her priority areas for Cross River State, identifying agriculture, economic development, electricity, environmental protection, mineral resources, productivity and industrialisation as critical sectors requiring urgent attention.
She advocated the decentralisation of power, arguing that states and other subnational governments should have greater responsibility and capacity to drive development.
On industrialisation, the ADC candidate questioned the sustainability of the industrial projects initiated under the previous administration of former Governor Ben Ayade, insisting that industrialisation must translate into functional enterprises and tangible economic benefits for residents.
She also expressed support for the restoration of fuel subsidies, referencing the position of former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Relatively, the Director-General of the ADC Campaign Organisation, Prince Henry Eyong, called on journalists to play an active role in informing citizens about governance and the political choices before them.
Eyong said the media had a critical responsibility to help citizens understand the implications of political decisions, protect their votes and reject money-driven politics.
He expressed concern over the amount of public resources being deployed to fund political campaigns, rallies and elections, arguing that such funds should instead be channelled towards improving citizens’ welfare.
“The mandate is in our hands, most especially the journalists. They are part and parcel of our collective effort to make sure we secure our mandates,” he said.
He added that sustained public enlightenment would help voters understand why they must protect their votes and resist financial inducements during elections.
The inauguration marks a step in the ADC’s preparations for the 2027 governorship election in Cross River State.
