The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State says it is set to stage a massive presidential rally at the Calabar Stadium on Monday, assuring that preparations are in top gear to deliver one of the best political rallies in the state.

The state chapter chairman of the party, Hon Chris Etta who spoke on the level of preparedness said all logistics have been put in place, with all APC candidates expected to be on ground to mobilize support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.

Addressing concerns over President Tinubu’s current trip to Mecca for Umrah in Saudi Arabia, the chieftain said the rally must go on whether the President is physically present or not.

“The President we know has gone to Mecca. The President will be here, if he’s not here, it doesn’t change anything. The rally must go on. It is the party that is on the ballot,” he said.

He explained that the President needs time to rest after the spiritual exercise, but that would not affect the party’s programme, noting that the APC as a party remains on the ballot and its activities must continue.

“We are doing our best crossing the t’s and dotting the i’s to make sure we give you one of the best rallies ever. The venue remains the stadium,” he assured.

The party chairman called on Cross Riverians to come out en masse and declare that the state has no alternative to Tinubu, urging opposition parties to bury their differences for the sake of the state.

“We in Cross River say we have no alternative. We must stand with the President, even opposition parties. They should bury their opposition for sake of Cross River State,” he said.

He hinged the call for support on what he described as Tinubu’s listening ear to Cross River’s challenges, listing projects like the Calabar axis of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway which is currently ongoing and the Bakassi Deep Seaport whose funding has been guaranteed with groundbreaking slated for 13th.

He also listed the siting of the Gulf of Guinea Commission secretariat in the state, the Extended Continental Shelf Commission, the Bakassi Development Commission, and 46 rice mills as courtesy of the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, the deep seaport and evacuation corridor will create massive economic activities and permanent food on the table for Cross Riverians, and urged citizens to endure current hardship as reforms yield results.

He said despite initial economic pains, with Naira dropping to N1,900 and inflation hitting 45%, the Naira has recovered to about N1,320 and inflation down to 15.8%, while food prices including cost of cooking Jollof rice are reducing.

The APC chieftain insisted that social interventions including gas-powered vehicles, solar buses and NNPC price management are cushioning effects, and called on residents to turn out massively on Monday to show solidarity with President Tinubu.