Governor Bassey Otu demonstrates a significant alignment with grassroots communities, reflecting a leadership approach that is both innovative and motivational. His early involvement in peer engagements during his primary education serves as a precursor to the authentic relationships he nurtures in the present.
Known by various titles that resonate within different cultural contexts in Cross River, in the Efik-speaking regions, he is affectionately referred to as ๐ผ๐
๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐, translating to “a father to the poor,” and as ๐จ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐
, which emphasizes his communal bonds and humanitarian disposition. In the central regions, notably Yakurr, he carries the name ๐ฌ๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐ or ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ (The saviour of the common man or downtrodden). The Agwagune community of Biase honours him as ๐ช๐ฏ๐ข-๐ธ๐ฐ๐ณ๐ฐ, meaning “our father,” while in Yala, he is celebrated as ๐ผ๐๐๐ค๐๐๐ฎ, which translates to “the nurturing father.” The Ogoja community recognizes him as ๐๐ฉ๐๐ฃ๐ค๐๐๐ช๐ฌ๐, underscoring his role as a timely divine intervention for the region. In Obudu, he is identified as ๐๐๐ช๐ฃ๐๐ข, signifying “God’s gift.” Among the non-indigenous Yoruba population, he is called ๐จ๐๐๐๐, meaning “the source of joy,” and the Igbo community addresses him as ๐ฐ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐. Additionally, the Hausa/Fulani community recognizes him as ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, a designation highlighting his compassionate governance approach towards the underprivileged.
Governor Bassey Otu has gained notable acclaim as the “Sweet Prince,” an epithet that reflects the depth of his influence. His governance model has significantly redefined leadership paradigms, giving rise to “Otuism” โ a political philosophy anchored in people-centric governance. This shift not only alters the prevailing narratives around leadership but also establishes a framework for future leaders, advocating for prioritization of communal needs in their governance strategies.
Gnarly Eyo,
National Coordinator,
Cross Riverians 4 Bassey Otu.
