My brother Akpanke possesses undeniable charisma, political energy, and potential. But this boy need to know that potential without patience and discipline can become self-defeating
By Koko Dan
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Published on August 26, 2026
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6 min read
Your Excellency, I write this not out of malice, but out of concern for the quality of leadership, representation, and political culture in Cross River State.
A society where upright men are pushed out of public service while questionable conduct is tolerated risks losing its moral compass. Until this moment, I still struggle to understand why Godwin Offiono was denied the opportunity to return to the National Assembly.
From my observation, he was a decent representative who demonstrated intellectual capacity, composure, and a strong commitment to the interests of his people. His efforts to advance the Ogoja agenda and pursue what he believed was right for his constituency should not, in my view, have become grounds for political isolation.
Conversely, my brother Akpanke possesses undeniable charisma, political energy, and potential. But this boy need to know that potential without patience and discipline can become self-defeating.
His repeated appearances in the public space for the wrong reasons should concern everyone who genuinely wishes him well.
Akpanke has the ability to build a meaningful political career. He has a family,two beautiful wives, children, political relevance, and a future before him. Why sacrifice these blessings in the pursuit of unnecessary validation or hurried political victories?
Politics is a long road.
Every journey begins with a step, and every step should be taken with wisdom. One cannot successfully begin a journey from its destination.
My brother peter Akpanke, you have the charisma. You have the opportunity. What is required now is patience, restraint, maturity, and strategic thinking . Don’t rush to pick up the dice because,it might be a hot plate. You are just a boy visible blind to the damages you are accruing to your masculinity. Stop it bro. No deh monkey!
But, Your Excellency, I believe the responsibility does not rest entirely on the shoulders of the National Assembly members.
As Governor of Cross River State, you have a responsibility to maintain a healthy working relationship with those representing the state at the National Assembly. Their constituency is not Abuja.
Their constituency is Cross River State.
National Assembly members have enormous responsibilities to their constituents. They need resources to maintain functional constituency offices, engage their people, respond to emergencies, support legitimate community initiatives, and maintain the political structures necessary for effective representation.
Politics is local. When elected representatives are left without the institutional and political support required to function effectively, frustration can easily turn into desperation, and desperation can damage both the individual and the government under which they serve.
Your Excellency, therefore, I appeal to you to look beyond political differences and consider the bigger picture. Find a legitimate and transparent way to strengthen the capacity of our National Assembly members to serve their constituencies. This should not be about personal enrichment or questionable transactions; it should be about creating a responsible framework through which elected representatives can discharge their legitimate responsibilities.
There is also a broader lesson here.
Lobbying is not a crime. Negotiation is not a crime. Business relationships are not a crime. But whenever an individual undertakes an obligation in exchange for consideration and is unable to deliver, the responsible thing to do is to communicate, renegotiate where appropriate, and resolve the matter professionally.
That is how serious business works.
No politician should be in such a hurry to prove himself that he damages the very image he is trying to build. You cannot start a small engine-oil business today and immediately expect to compete with Dangote Refinery on the basis of size and capacity. Growth requires time, strategy, patience, and discipline.
Akpanke must slow down.
He needs people around him who will tell him the truth—not merely those who applaud him. He needs advisers who will protect his long-term political future rather than encourage every confrontation.
And he must understand that every public action contributes either positively or negatively to the political legacy he is building.
Your Excellency, there is also a principle of leadership that must never be forgotten: the conduct of those who serve under a leader eventually reflects upon the leader himself.
When a political appointee or elected ally becomes repeatedly associated with controversy, the embarrassment does not stop with that individual. It eventually reaches the political leadership that is perceived to have enabled, supported, or ignored the situation.
That is why I appeal to you to intervene—not necessarily by protecting anyone from accountability, but by ensuring that your political family does not destroy itself through unnecessary conflict, neglect, or lack of guidance.
Cross River State deserves representatives who will bring honour to their constituencies. We need people who can stand confidently in the National Assembly, defend the interests of their people, attract development, negotiate intelligently, and return home with their heads held high.
We should not celebrate political noise over political substance.
We should not mistake aggression for courage or haste for effectiveness.
And we should never allow personal political battles to become more important than the people we were elected to serve.
Your Excellency, Governor Otu, the National Assembly members serving Cross River State are serving the same people you serve. Their constituency is Cross River State, and ultimately, their success or failure becomes part of the story of our state.
Please therefore look into the challenges confronting our representatives and create a legitimate, transparent and sustainable framework that enables them to serve effectively. ” As in,make you deh give them money”
At the same time, I urge our representatives—including my brother Akpanke—to exercise restraint, protect their names, respect the office they occupy, and remember that political relevance is not measured by how frequently one’s name appears in the news, but by the quality of one’s service and the respect one commands when the noise has disappeared.
Cross River needs less drama and more delivery.
Less confrontation and more representation.
Less haste and more wisdom.
Let us build a political culture where competence is rewarded, integrity is protected, mistakes are corrected, and public office remains an avenue for service rather than personal validation.
Your Excellency, this is a call for leadership, not an accusation. It is a call for correction, not condemnation. And it is ultimately a call to protect the dignity of Cross River State.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Koko Dan.
