By: David AGABI.

The Member representing Odukpani/Calabar Municipal Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Bassey Akiba averred that there will be a deviation in terms of representation at the national level to that of the Cross River State House of Assembly.

The MP stated this against the backdrop of his travails at the 8th State of Assembly led by Speaker John Gaul Lebo.

Akiba who disclosed this during an interview with Journalists at a reception in honour of Distinguished Senators and Honourable Members of the Cross River extraction at the national assembly organised by the Association of Cross River State Indigenes in the National Assembly, said there’s respect and mutual understanding among Members at the national, noting that each person’s ideas and inputs are respected.

According to him “Here everyone that wants to speak will be allowed to do so and we respect our opinions and ideas whereas, at the State, many of the things we said weren’t going anywhere and were not taken seriously. At the House of Reps except if you don’t want to speak if you want to, you’ll be given the chance, that’s the difference” he stressed.

Meanwhile, in a remark at the reception, the Odukpani-born politician appreciated the association for organising a first-of-its-kind reception for them while urging them to continue to be good ambassadors of the State at the national.

Speaking further, the only Labour Party representative from Cross River revealed that he will host all indigenes of his Constituency residing in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja in a bid to familiarise himself with them and also sort for better ways of rendering service to his people.

Also in attendance were Members representing the Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency, Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba, Chief Alex Egbona, and members representing Abi/Yakurr.