The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Cross River State for the 2027 general election, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, has launched another scathing attack on the administration of Governor Bassey Otu, accusing the government of failing to deliver tangible development across the state.
Archibong made the remarks in a strongly worded video message to Cross Riverians while assessing the performance of the Otu administration and questioning what he described as the absence of visible results after almost four years in office.
“There is darkness in Cross River and no single commissioned project in Obanliku,” Archibong declared, as he questioned the development record of the administration.
The PDP candidate said communities across the state, particularly in rural areas, continue to struggle with basic infrastructure, including electricity, roads, potable water and other essential amenities.
He expressed particular concern about Obanliku, saying the people of the local government area had waited long enough for government intervention and should not have to continue listening to promises when they needed visible projects.
Archibong argued that the success of any government should ultimately be measured by what citizens can see and feel in their communities rather than by speeches, announcements and political explanations.
His criticism came in response to the administration's repeated emphasis on its development agenda and its description of itself as a government that is not about “Too Much Talk.”
Archibong challenged that position, asking Cross Riverians to examine the actual projects delivered by the government and determine whether they match the expectations of the people.
“What then is ‘Too Much Talk’ if not this?” he asked, questioning whether the state had seen enough roads, electricity projects, hospitals, schools and other infrastructure to justify the government's claims of performance.
He also took aim at the administration's argument that Rome was not built in a day, saying Cross Riverians had already waited for thousands of days since the government assumed office.
“Rome was not built in a day. That is fact. But can we also refer to 1,293 days as one day in our calendar?” he asked.
According to Archibong, 1,293 days represents more than three years, and such a period cannot simply be dismissed as too short for a government to deliver meaningful results.
He said the situation was even more painful for communities that have endured prolonged electricity challenges, describing the period as “ten years of darkness” in Obanliku's calendar.
Archibong also mentioned Akamkpa, Yakurr and Obubra, arguing that communities across the state have experienced what he described as abandonment, stagnation and underdevelopment.
He said Cross Riverians should not be asked to rely on witty political philosophies to explain away the difficulties they face.
“The way forward is not a speech,” Archibong said, insisting that what the state needs are functional hospitals, working schools, roads that connect communities, electricity across the three senatorial districts, jobs and support for businesses.
He said the era of speeches and proverbs should give way to practical development, declaring that “Cross River needs transformation, not chorchorchor.”
Archibong's comments add to his growing criticism of the Otu administration ahead of the 2027 governorship election, with the PDP candidate positioning himself as an alternative to the current government and promising a development-focused approach centred on infrastructure, employment and economic opportunities.
He urged Cross Riverians to scrutinise the records of political leaders ahead of the election and judge them by what they have delivered rather than what they promise during campaign seasons.
Archibong concluded by calling on Cross Riverians to reclaim what he described as their dignity and future, insisting that the people of the state have endured enough and should demand better leadership.
“Affliction, my people, affliction, my people shall not rise a second time,” he declared.
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