Governor Bassey Otu has officially sworn in Hon. Egbung Egbung as the substantive Executive Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Area, effectively ending a tumultuous seven-month leadership crisis in the council.
The leadership change follows the December 2025 sacking of the former chairperson, Theresa Ushie, by the Cross River State House of Assembly. Ushie’s downfall began on June 10, 2025, when eight local councillors petitioned the Assembly, accusing her of gross misconduct, corruption, and the arbitrary stoppage of their salaries. After a 90-day suspension and a rigorous probe by the House Committee on Judiciary and Public Petitions, the Assembly voted for her permanent removal.
During the swearing-in ceremony in Calabar on Monday, January 5, 2026, Governor Otu delivered a stern warning to the new chairman. He emphasized that local government is the most critical tier of governance due to its proximity to the grassroots.
“Position is not given for you to exert power or become an emperor. Position is for you to serve the people,” Otu stated. “The new chairman should know that leadership is a call to responsibility, compassion, and accountability, especially to the most vulnerable.”
Governor Otu praised the All Progressives Congress (APC) leadership and Bekwarra stakeholders for managing the transition peacefully without civil unrest. He noted that Egbung, who previously served as Vice Chairman and then Acting Chairman, has already earned the trust of his people through his performance during the interim period.
The Governor reaffirmed that Bekwarra remains a focal point for the state’s economic vision in Northern Cross River, promising that new initiatives would soon reposition the area for growth.
In his response, Chairman Egbung described his inauguration as a “renewed energy” for the people of Bekwarra. He vowed to run an administration guided by transparency and the “rules of engagement,” declaring that the era of complacency in the local government was over.