By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Chief Dan Obo, Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on Youth Mobilisation, has said political leadership in the Cross River Central Senatorial District must be driven by young people and not controlled by fear or intimidation.
Obo made the remarks during a one-on-one interview with Friday Awade, also known as Last Prophet, Media Personality and Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on New Media Advocacy. The interview, tagged “One-on-One with Dan Obo”, was held on Tuesday, 27 January 2026, in Calabar, and focused on political developments in Cross River Central Senatorial District.
Speaking on the current political climate in the district, Obo, immediate past Chairman of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN), Cross River State, said elected representatives at both the state and national levels should not be afraid of healthy political engagement. He stressed that any individual or group showing goodwill, organising young people, and providing leadership direction deserves attention rather than hostility.
According to him, no political actor in the district should fear contesting for office, noting that political power is not given but taken. He insisted that the future of Cross River Central must be youth-driven, adding that young people are prepared to assert themselves politically.
“Nobody should be scared of a contest. Power is taken. It’s not donated. For us in Central, it has to be youth-driven, and that’s where we stand,” he stated.
Obo addressed speculations surrounding the recent activities of Hon. Oden Ewa, Commissioner for Special Duties and Chairman of the Cross River State Green Economy Commission, clarifying that Ewa’s engagements across the senatorial district were carried out in a personal capacity and not as a government official. He explained that Ewa exercised his constitutional right to freedom of movement and was not restricted to touring the entire state.
He criticised what he described as persistent blackmail against Ewa by some elected office holders, stating that it was troubling that individuals occupying senior political offices were allegedly engaging in daily campaigns of misinformation against a young politician. Obo said such actions suggested fear rather than confidence.
Responding to allegations that Ewa failed to fulfil certain promises, Obo argued that statements attributed to him had been misinterpreted. He explained that casual assurances without timelines should not be classified as binding promises, insisting that Ewa had a strong record of commitment and follow-through.
“You know, when you talk about the issues of promise, it is difficult to get Oden to make a promise and not fulfil it; it’s very difficult. If I come here and I tell you, Last Prophet, give me this camera and you say, I will reach you. It’s not a promise. When somebody says, ‘I’ll reach you,’ he cannot be held responsible. For example, I will reach you can be anytime. It has no time,” Obo said.
On youth inclusion and leadership gaps, Obo said Ewa was already bridging generational divides by empowering young people across the district. He denied claims that any political figure was afraid of Ewa’s growing influence but noted that the reaction from some office holders reflected insecurity.
Obo highlighted financial barriers as a major obstacle preventing young people from contesting elections, citing high nomination form costs and consultation fees. He explained that Ewa’s message to youths focused on collective contribution and shared responsibility to overcome these limitations.
“If you get involved in an election as a young man, what limits you are finances. They will tell you that to buy the form is ₦30 million, and to consult the caucus is ₦1 million. By the time you put those resources together, you’re going to have a big sum of money that you cannot afford. So you will naturally, even with the desperation to serve, give up. But there’s a young man who beyond shouldering himself, can also carry other young people along, and the message has been to the young people that look, yes, this has been a limitation but from here if you bring your own, I bring my own, him bring him own, we come put together, we go fit move o…,” Obo said.
When asked whether he supported Ewa for political office, Obo said youths would support him if he decided to run and would mobilise others based on shared history and trust. He confirmed that young people in the district want Ewa to contest for the Senate but maintained that his recent tour was not politically motivated.
He defended Ewa’s youth-focused Christmas outreach across several local government areas, questioning why similar engagements with elders and party members did not attract criticism. Obo described the initiative as unprecedented, noting that it was the first time a serving government official celebrated Christmas directly with young people across the district.
According to him, financial support was given to youths under 35 in various local government areas, including ₦15 million in Boki, ₦11 million in Ikom, ₦10 million in Etung, ₦11 million in Obubra, and ₦10 million in Abi.
Addressing reports of a ₦100 million grant for each local government, Obo confirmed that the funds were real and explained that a structured application process was ongoing. He said forms were distributed across wards to ensure accountability and proper disbursement.
He explained that the initiative was designed to stimulate the district’s economy by supporting youth businesses, education, and small-scale enterprises. Obo added that targeted grants were more effective than smaller, widely spread amounts and urged patience as the process continued.
“So, if you now say, look, your business total is about ₦300,000 and we support you with another ₦300,000, right? Your school fee is ₦150,000, and we give you ₦150,000 to pay school fees…It is better to give 10 people ₦150,000 each than to give 30 people 50-50 thousand naira,” Obo stated.
