The presidential candidate of the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) in the 2023 general election and former Governor of Kano State, Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has expressed interest in investing in Cross River State’s vast agricultural sector as a means of fostering national development and inspiring the younger generation.

Kwankwaso, who made this statement during a courtesy visit to Governor Bassey Otu at Government House, Calabar, said Cross River’s fertile land and favourable climate make it a natural hub for agribusiness.

He explained that his personal decision to embrace farming after public service was a deliberate step to remain productive while creating sustainable opportunities for future generations.

“I chose to be a farmer because, whether you are in office or not, you must have something doing. Farming keeps you productive, ensures food security, and creates wealth. I am here with my children so they can also see what it means to invest in agriculture,” Kwankwaso stated.

Governor Otu, represented by his deputy, Peter Odey, welcomed Kwankwaso and his delegation, describing their decision to invest in Cross River as a step in the right direction.

He highlighted the state government’s agricultural initiatives, including the purchase and distribution of three million oil palm seedlings across all 18 local government areas, the promotion of cocoa and coffee cultivation, and the introduction of wheat farming, a first in southern Nigeria.

“Cross River is very rich in agriculture. Oil palm, cocoa, coffee, and now even wheat are doing well here. We have fertile soil, we are the safest sub-national area in Nigeria for businesses to thrive, and we take pride in our hospitality. So, you are in the right place to do business and to invest,” Odey said.

The deputy governor further noted that Cross River will host the Intra-African Trade Fair in 2026, which he said will concentrate on agriculture and investment, thereby strengthening the state’s position as a key agricultural centre.

He assured Kwankwaso of the government’s full support, security, and partnership for any ventures he chooses to establish in the state.

Meanwhile, the Cross River State Government has clarified that Kwankwaso’s visit to the state is devoid of any political colouration, contrary to what some mischievous persons have insinuated.

A statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Linus Obogo, stated that it has become necessary to address, in the strongest and clearest terms, the unnecessary hysteria, false conjectures, and mischievous insinuations surrounding the recent visit.

He said the visit was merely an investment reconnaissance by a prominent Nigerian who, like many before him, has recognised in the state’s rich agricultural land and extensive natural resources a productive base for enterprise and growth.

Obogo described attempts to dress a simple mission in the robes of political conspiracy as not only irresponsible but also an insult to the intelligence of discerning Cross Riverians.

“The notion that Governor Bassey Edet Otu, a man whose political convictions are as clear as daylight and whose fidelity to his mandate is beyond reproach, is ‘romancing’ the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) on account of this harmless visit, is as laughable as it is idiotic. It is the product of idle, demented minds and mischievous tongues, no less than flies buzzing around the banquet of progress, desperate to contaminate what they cannot create,” he said.

He said Governor Otu is currently in Algiers, where he is promoting Cross River State on global platforms by participating in the 5th Afreximbank Sub-Sovereign Business Forum to attract meaningful investment into the state.

In his absence, the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, took the most respectful and courteous action—receiving Senator Kwankwaso, as has been done with other distinguished Nigerians who have similarly visited the state. These courtesies are not about political parties; they are about respect, hospitality, and the pursuit of development.

“It must therefore be said without equivocation that Cross River State under Governor Otu remains open to all investors, irrespective of political colouration or geographic origin. To read partisanship into such an open-handed visitation is to demean the state’s dignity and to betray a warped understanding of governance. Mischief-makers who peddle these insinuations are no more than merchants of confusion, merely stirring muddy waters in the hope of feigning depth,” he concluded.