By Bassey Ita.
Within the last one year of the Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu led administration, unarguably, tangible developments have dotted the entire landscape of Cross River. This assertion and assessment, interestingly,lends credence to the effectiveness and efficiency of the leadership.
It is of more interest to note that the even spread or distribution of these developments has continued to attract huge applause and or appreciation of more Cross Riverians who also believe that the Government has truly prioritised their interest in line with the much touted People First Agenda.
I am sure that even an avowed Critic of all time, would find it a herculean task to spot a down side in this administration’s quest to fix the state. From infrastructural development to security of lives and properties; and from the issue of good governance where the inclusive leadership disposition of the Sen. Otu Government holds very high to the revival,growth and expansion of the economy; from the issue of recreating the true spirit of enterprise amongst Cross Riverians to giving them a pride of place in national light among others, the administration has discharged itself creditably well.
Although different aspects of the appraisal of the administration abound,one very interesting picture is the ability of the administration to fuse all different sheds of opinion and interests into one,in a manner that reflects commonality of interest. I am sure this is where derives the ovation and the applause the administration has so bountifully earned.
The composition of the State Executive Council, Appointments into other Establishments and Institutions of Governments, the conglomeration of the state from the initial dichotomous North, Central and South inclinations through the distribution of resources have all come to expand the understanding of Egalitarianism which is focal to the People First Mantra of the Government.
The Administration has addressed social stratification issues; recreating the spirit of unity,peace and love among brothers and sisters.Cross Riverians are one whether they live on the Hilltops, hunt in the Forests or are swimming across the Atlantic.
In the last one year too, there has been recourse to changing a number of sad narratives about the state. For instance,the Sen. Otu led administration has demonstrated enough capacity to take off the civil service toga which the state has been wearing.
Now, Cross River is gradually inching towards becoming an industrial giant.
The foundation for the growth and expansion of the economy is being laid, including of building consciousness in the minds of more Cross Riverians to be Entrepreneurs and Manufacturers. This is recreating the true spirit of Enterprise!
Our Manufacturing Giants would have no fears to entertain about the marketing of their vast products, coming from our local environment but of international value,and of standard certification because the evacuation corridors and linkages are being considered. The many losses incurred in the past are also being restored to enable Cross River win back its many great laurels as aTrail Blazer.
Interestingly too,the last year has witnessed unprecedented growth in the Internally Generated Revenue, IGR of the state whereupon funding of developments can be initially leveraged on before external sources are considered.
The aesthetic beauty and appeal of the state especially it’s urban centres has gradually returned. Today, Calabar,Ugep,Ikom, Ogoja and Obudu among other urban and semi-urban centres are wearing new looks in terms of roads and bridges, sanitary conditions.
Many road users especially along the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja highway are quick to recall the difference between their experiences on the roads in the past and today,with a sigh of relief now.
Indeed, the past one year of governance in Cross River State has been a really rewarding experience for the people,and this is further affirmed by the avalanche of public applause. It is an indication that the People First Agenda was designed to value public interest mostly and that by often reversing harsh policies initiated by some public officials against the people,Sen. Otu considers it an Anathema,any program that goes against the public interest. A Pundit once found out that for Sen. Otu, being in office as Governor is to offer ancillary services to the people,and this is indeed the totality of his appreciation of the People First Agenda which the Administration symbolises.
At the inception of this Administration,recall is being made of the fact that the Governor and his dear Wife,Rev. Mrs Eyoanwan Otu,committed the people and entire state of Cross River into God’s hands for divine intervention and lifting.
Governance is akin to warring against the elements;but to win is better at God’s intervention,a replica of what Jehoshaphat did of Judah in Jerusalem (2nd Chronicles 20:20) That has been the necessity of the Solemn Assembly and Prayer initiated by the First Family.
That this Administration further values public interest is seen in its accountability disposition. It’s ability to secure and retrieve public assets hitherto carted away is legendary. It has so far indicated that it follows the Thucydides (471-401BC) instructions on brilliance in governance,that “brilliance constitutes not in what ordinary men(the Masses)should begin to think of leadership in terms of how much of public fortunes they are able to amass for themselves,but in how much they are pulled out of their ordinary dispositions.”
The past one year has seen this leadership putting in place legacies as building blocs for a prosperous economy in Cross River other than a hegemony of destroyers who would plunge all of our common patrimony into ostentation and then extinction.
It is indeed a period where Governance has had to be reshaped for the bliss of today and for the gratitude of tomorrow.
Woodrow Wilson,a great Scholar and Leader once said “If you would be Leader of Men,you must lead your own generation,not the next,” this implying that every generation has its appreciation of leadership and to understand what yours appreciates of you as a Leaders is to give them reason to be grateful to you. Passing on a legacy,attracts the goodwill of your generation,whereupon the next generation will use as a measuring line to assess its own Leader(s)
Incidentally,that the applause and ovation for this Administration becomes higher and louder by the day,since May 29,2023, indicates that the leadership has demonstrated great humility and respect for the people and has equally,like the Roman Catholic Angelus,considered a consistent positive image for itself in a manner that has amplified its affability.
BASSEY ITA,a Journalist and Public Affairs Analyst,writes from Calabar.
