By Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
The Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Hon. Christopher Etta, has dismissed allegations that the state government’s ongoing demolition exercise is politically motivated or aimed at weakening the opposition ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Etta said the demolition exercise has also affected properties belonging to members of the ruling APC, insisting that the operation is not targeted at any political party or individual.
Speaking on the controversy surrounding the exercise, the APC chairman alleged that opposition parties were behind the claims in an attempt to tarnish the image of the administration of Governor Bassey Edet Otu.
He maintained that the majority of the properties marked for demolition belong to APC members, stressing that it is misleading to portray the exercise as a campaign against opposition figures.
According to him, “If you look at the records, several APC members’ houses have also been marked.
“The issue is not about political parties but about compliance. It is wrong to isolate one individual and make it appear as though the government is targeting the opposition.”
Etta also challenged journalists to go beyond publishing allegations made by affected individuals and independently verify the facts with the relevant government agencies before reporting.
He said responsible journalism requires presenting all sides of an issue to enable the public to understand the true circumstances surrounding government actions.
The APC chairman further dismissed allegations made against the state government by political commentator Paterson, describing him as someone who lacks firsthand knowledge of developments in Cross River State.
He argued that it is difficult to attach credibility to commentaries from individuals living outside the state without direct knowledge of events on the ground.
“You cannot be living abroad and claim to know every detail of what is happening here. It is important that the media verify such claims instead of accepting them at face value,” he said.