Cross River State

== History ==
Cross River as a south-south state was created on 27 May 1967 from the former [[Eastern Region, Nigeria]], by the General [[Yakubu Gowon]] regime. Its name was changed to Cross River state in the 1976 state creation exercise by the then General [[Murtala Mohammed]] regime from South Eastern State.<ref name="books.google.co.uk">{{cite book |author=Benjamin Obi Nwabueze |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=B6jrE5CBhl0C&q=creation+of+state+in+south+east+nigeria+without+cross-river&pg=PA222 |title=A Constitutional History of Nigeria |date=1982 |publisher=C. Hurst and Co LTD, UK |isbn=9780905838793}}</ref>{{rp|222}}The present day [[Akwa Ibom State]] was excised from it in the state creation exercise of September 1987 by the then regime of General [[Ibrahim Babangida]].<ref name=":1" /> The struggle for a new state creation started in 1980 in the reign of president Shehu Shagari where Senator [[Joseph Oqua Ansa]] (Mon) the senator representing Calabar senatorial district then was at the helm of affairs. Its capital is Calabar. Its major towns are [[Akamkpa|Calabar Municipality, Akamkpa]], [[Biase]], [[Calabar South]], [[Ikom]], [[Igede]], [[Obubra]], [[Odukpani]], [[Ogoja]], [[Bekwarra]], [[Ugep]], [[Obudu]], [[Obanliku]], [[Akpabuyo]], Ofutop, Iso-bendghe, Danare, [[Boki, Nigeria|Boki]], [[Yala, Nigeria|Yala]], Bendeghe Ekiem, Etomi, [[Ediba]], [[Itigidi]], [[Ugep]], Ukpe and [[Ukelle]].<ref name=":2" />

The state has many governors and administrators including Udoakaha J. Esuene, Paul Omu, Tunde Elegbede, [[Clement Isong]], Donald Etiebet, [[Dan Archibong|Daniel Archibong]], Ibim Princewill, [[Ernest Attah]], Clement Ebri, Ibrahim Kefas, Gregory Agboneni, Umar Faoruk Ahmed, Christopher Osondu, [[Donald Duke]], [[Liyel Imoke]] and [[Benedict Ayade]]. The current Governor is [[Bassey Otu|Bassey Edet Otu]], who was sworn into office on 29 May 2023. He was elected for a four-year term in office under the platform of [[All Progressives Congress|All Progressive Congress (APC).]]