By David Odama
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has said the enduring values of faith, compassion, discipline, and selfless service instilled in him by his late parents remain the foundation of his people-centred approach to governance.
The Governor spoke during a memorial thanksgiving service in honour of his parents, the late Elder and Mrs. Edet Okon Otu, at the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, Duke Town Cathedral, Calabar, where he paid an emotional tribute to their influence on his life, character, and public service.
Addressing family members, government officials, clergy, and worshippers, Otu described himself first as the eldest son of his parents before occupying any public office. He recalled how his upbringing shaped the leadership principles that now define his administration. “I stand here today not as Governor, but as your first child. I learnt from you that a man’s greatest worth is not measured by riches, but by the number of lives he touches. Your open-door policy has become our People’s First Agenda,” he said.
He praised his late mother as an exceptional educator who devoted over five decades to teaching and mentoring young people, and his father as a man of generosity whose compassion made their home a refuge for the needy. According to him, the values of humility, service, integrity, and compassion imparted by his parents continue to guide his decisions in government, particularly his commitment to improving the lives of ordinary Cross Riverians. “Today, your classroom has become our learning ground. Your legacy lives on in every child we educate, every hungry person we feed, every applicant we employ and every life we uplift,” he added.
Delivering the sermon, His Eminence, Most Rev. Dr. Ekpenyong Nyong Akpanika, Prelate of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, urged parents to intentionally raise children with godly values, discipline, and strong moral character. Drawing lessons from biblical families, he warned that wealth and social status can never substitute for intentional parenting, stressing that lasting legacies are built through integrity, discipline, and commitment to God.
He lamented the erosion of moral values in society and challenged parents to prioritise the spiritual and character development of their children above material pursuits.
