By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The Cross River State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has accepted a challenge by the state Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Pastor Ekpenyong Cobham, to participate in a public debate on governance issues.
Archibong, however, said he would only participate if Governor Bassey Otu was personally present, insisting that the debate should be between the two leading contenders and not their representatives.
Speaking with journalists in Calabar, the PDP candidate said he was ready to appear at any venue and time chosen by the governor.
“I am willing to honour the challenge to a debate, on one condition: that Governor Bassey Otu will be there in person.
“The people deserve to hear directly from those seeking to lead them, not from proxies,” he said.
Archibong said he would not engage in a war of words with the Information Commissioner, describing Cobham as his brother but noting that he was not the candidate on the ballot.
“Pastor Cobham is my brother. But he is not on the ballot, so I will not join issues with him,” he stated.
The PDP candidate also defended Arthur Jarvis University (AJU), the first private university in Cross River State, located in Akpabuyo Local Government Area, following recent criticisms of the institution.
He said the university was established to contribute to the development of Cross River and would not be distracted by what he described as false allegations.
“All sorts of things have been said about AJU. Funnily enough, the last I heard of bed bugs was in my childhood when we slept on straw beds,” he said.
Archibong challenged his critics to point to their own contributions to the state’s economy, particularly businesses providing employment to Cross Riverians.
“Before pointing fingers at AJU, they should first point to one business they own where they have employed at least 15 people from this state,” he said.
He redirected attention to what he described as the poor environmental condition of Watt Market in Calabar, saying government should focus on issues directly affecting residents.
“Instead of chasing imaginary bedbugs in Akpabuyo, they should come and see the real crisis in Watt Market. Go there today and see the filth, the stench, the blocked drainages, and traders selling beside refuse.
“That is the environmental emergency staring us in the face. Our firefighters have no diesel. Our fire trucks have no water. And when infernos like the one at SPAR Mall happen, we are left helpless.
“That is where government attention should be, not in spreading lies about a university that is trying to add value,” he said.
On scholarships, Archibong said supporting education had been a personal commitment to him and should not be reduced to a political campaign tool.
“Scholarships are a personal act of service. I will not bring charity to the marketplace just to score cheap political points,” he stated.
He urged the Information Commissioner to conduct proper research before making claims about his scholarship interventions, particularly in Akpabuyo, Bakassi and other communities.
“Barefaced lying is alien to the calling of a pastor. If he is truly a pastor and not self-acclaimed, then he should be wary of the God who sees and knows all things.
“And if serving in government now means he must abandon the truth and integrity of the pulpit, then he must decide where he truly belongs, on the pulpit or in politics,” Archibong said.
On the 2027 governorship election, he said the contest would be determined by the people and not by what he described as lies, intimidation, thuggery or money politics.
“This election will not be won by attacking institutions that should be supported by government. Arthur Jarvis University is a thriving institution that employs our people and trains our children.
“Instead of support, it is being subjected to unprovoked attacks simply because of politics. That is not how you build a state,” he said.
Archibong also criticised the Otu administration over what he described as the governor’s frequent absence during crises, citing landslides and the recent fire at SPAR Shopping Mall in Calabar.
“When landslides claimed lives and destroyed properties, and when fire swept through our businesses like the recent SPAR Mall crisis, the presence of our governor is nowhere to be found,” he alleged.
Reacting to the explanation that the governor’s travels were aimed at attracting investors to the state, Archibong questioned the tangible results of the government’s memoranda of understanding (MoUs).
“But let us ask, what have all these travels produced? Government keeps going out for MoUs, but Cross Riverians are yet to see the dividends.
“After so many MoUs, show me how many have translated to successful projects that are addressing the pitiful situation of this state.
“Where are the factories? Where are the jobs? Where is the relief for the ordinary man? You cannot be absent at home in the name of chasing investors abroad, while the house is on fire and there is no water to put it out,” he said.
The PDP candidate expressed sympathy for traders, workers and business owners affected by the early Saturday fire at SPAR Shopping Mall, saying he understood the impact of losing years of investment to disaster.
“My heart bleeds for every trader, every young worker, and every family whose livelihood went up in flames that morning. As a businessman myself, I know the pain of watching years of sweat and sacrifice turn to ashes overnight,” he said.
Archibong promised that his administration, if elected, would strengthen emergency response and equip the state fire service with water, diesel and the necessary equipment to respond promptly to emergencies.
He said leadership was about presence, service and accountability, promising to offer Cross Riverians a government that would be accessible and responsive.
“Cross River deserves a governor who will not govern from a distance or by proxy.
“Our people deserve leadership that shows up, listens, and delivers. That is the covenant I offer the people of Cross River in 2027.
“Let this contest be about ideas, about track records, and about who is ready to serve and nothing less,” he added.
