Nestled between the misty highlands of Obudu and the sun-drenched shores of the Calabar River, Cross River State pulses with untamed potential—a land of emerald rainforests, world-class carnivals, and resilient communities yearning for equitable growth.
Yet, as the 2027 gubernatorial race draws nearer, whispers of frustration echo through the markets of Ikom and the halls of Calabar: a call for leadership that unites rather than divides, innovates rather than stagnates.
Amid this chorus rises Senator Chief Gershom Henry Bassey, the indomitable representative of Cross River South Senatorial District, whose storied career in business, diplomacy, and public service has cemented him as one of the state’s strongest personalities.
With his unyielding resolve and visionary blueprint, Cross Riverians from Bakassi to Obanliku are fervently looking forward to Bassey’s emergence as a gubernatorial contender—a beacon of full potentials ready to steer the “Nation’s Paradise” toward renewed prosperity.
Born on March 18, 1962, in the bustling heart of Lagos to Cross Riverian roots in Calabar South, Bassey’s trajectory mirrors the state’s own blend of grit and grace.
Educated at the prestigious Corona School Apapa and Federal Government College, Sokoto—where he clinched his West African School Certificate in 1977—he honed a sharp intellect early on.
Married to Chioma Gershom-Bassey and father to five children, Bassey is no stranger to the corridors of power.
A self-made multi-billionaire businessman with stakes in oil and gas, real estate, and hospitality, he transitioned seamlessly into politics, embodying the entrepreneurial spirit that Cross River desperately needs to revive its economy.
His senatorial stints in the 8th and 9th National Assemblies (2015–2023) were marked by committee leaderships in Niger Delta Affairs, Marine Transport, and Housing—roles where he championed infrastructure that could transform the state’s blue economy and tourism goldmine.
A Strong Personality: Forged in the Fires of Advocacy and Resilience
What elevates Senator Bassey to the pantheon of Cross River’s strongest personalities is his battle-tested resilience and moral compass, qualities that have weathered political storms without eroding his core.
In a state where zoning debates have long fueled senatorial district rivalries—North, Central, and South rotating the governorship since Donald Duke’s era—Bassey has been a vocal proponent of equity.
During his 2023 bid to succeed Benedict Ayade, he declared unapologetically: “The next Governor will be from the south,” invoking the PDP caucus’s moral resolution on rotation.
Though the APC’s Bassey Otu clinched victory, Bassey’s campaign galvanized the South, exposing fault lines and positioning him as the unifier who respects tradition while demanding merit.
His strength shines brightest in advocacy. As a former deputy governorship aspirant under Liyel Imoke and a key PDP chieftain, Bassey has funneled personal wealth into community upliftment—empowering youths in Odukpani with scholarships and vocational training, and mediating communal clashes in Bakassi over resource disputes.
In the Senate, he sponsored bills for deep seaport development in the South, a nod to the Bakassi Peninsula’s strategic oil wealth, and pushed for federal interventions in flood-ravaged farmlands across the Central district. Critics may label him a “political godson” of the Imoke-Duke lineage, but supporters hail his independence: even after a 2014 PDP primary loss to eventual Governor Otu, Bassey rebounded, reclaiming his seat in 2019 with a mandate that echoed his mantra of “service over self.”
In July 2025, he joined a formidable coalition—including ex-Governor Imoke and former Minister Usani Uguru Usani—to vow sacking the APC in 2027, a clarion call that has mobilized opposition forces against Otu’s “no vacancy” narrative.
“We cannot have a system where people predict results yet to be contested,” Bassey thundered, a statement that has since trended on local social media, igniting debates in tea shops from Ugep to Akpabuyo.
This coalition-building prowess underscores his strength: Bassey isn’t just a senator; he’s a strategist who weaves alliances across ethnic lines—Efik, Ejagham, Bekwarra—fostering the inclusivity Cross River craves amid rising youth unemployment (over 35% in 2025) and insecurity from cross-border banditry.
Full Potentials: The Vision Cross River Craves for 2027
Cross River’s potentials are as vast as its rainforests—$2 billion in untapped tourism from the Obudu Mountain Resort and Tinapa Resort, fertile soils for cocoa and palm oil exports, and a strategic coastline ripe for blue economy booms.
Yet, underfunding and political inertia have left them dormant. Enter Bassey’s full potentials: a governor who could deploy his business acumen to attract FDI, much like his private ventures have generated thousands of jobs in Calabar’s hospitality sector.
Imagine forensic-precise budgeting to revive the moribund Bakassi Deep Seaport, channeling revenues into rural electrification for Obanliku’s 50,000 farmers, or leveraging his Niger Delta expertise to secure federal palliatives for flood-hit Abi LGA.
Youths, who form 60% of the electorate, see in Bassey a mentor. In 2021, the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) in Cross River endorsed him outright, declaring him “tested, trusted,” and the rightful Southern successor.
Fast-forward to 2025: WhatsApp groups in Ikom buzz with #BasseyForGovernor2027, while town halls in Calabar South draw crowds chanting for his PDP comeback. Women leaders praise his push for gender-inclusive policies, from maternal health bills to market cooperatives in Efiat.
Even in the North, where Otu’s APC holds sway, elders whisper of Bassey’s equitable zoning stance as a balm for perceived marginalization.
As primaries heat up—Otu backed by a Southern Caucus endorsement in February 2025, and whispers of Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong’s ambitions—Bassey’s coalition signals a PDP resurgence.
Polls in local dailies peg him at 32% in hypotheticals, buoyed by his clean record: no scandals, just steady service.
His vision? A “Southern Renaissance Agenda”—infrastructure corridors linking Obudu to Calabar, tech hubs for diaspora remittances (Cross River’s $500 million annual lifeline), and cultural preservation via expanded Leboku and Calabar Festivals to rival global events.
The Horizon Calls: Why Cross River Awaits Bassey’s Declaration
In September 2025, with primaries looming in 2026, the anticipation is palpable. From the Kwa Falls’ roar to the serene Afi Wildlife Sanctuary, Cross Riverians aren’t merely hoping—they’re demanding Senator Gershom Bassey’s gubernatorial run. As one NYCN leader put it back in 2021,
In a state where hope often dances like fireflies in the night, Bassey’s steady flame promises daylight: unity, innovation, and unleashed potentials. When he steps forward, it won’t be as a contender, but as destiny’s architect—ready to etch Cross River’s next chapter in gold. The paradise awaits its prince; the people, their champion.
Pamela .O. writes from Lagos.
