The Cross River State house of Assembly Members representing the nine state constituencies in the Southern Senatorial District comprising of Akamkpa 1, Akamkpa 2, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Calabar South 1, Calabar South 2, Calabar Municipal, and Odukpani on a Press Conference at the NUJ Secretariat calabar, hereby pass a vote of confidence on Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, in recognition of his remarkable achievements since assuming office.
After a thorough and unbiased assessment of governance in Cross River State since 1998, we conclude that Governor Otu’s administration, in comparison with the achievements in first two years of former governors’ first terms, has made significant strides in infrastructure development, economic policies, human development, peace, and security.
Specific Achievements of Governor Bassey Otu’s Administration:
1. Economic Revitalization and IGR Growth:
• Governor Otu’s administration has significantly boosted the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) by 60.6% (N36.3 billion) from June 2023 to May 2024. This achievement has made additional funds available to drive the People First Agenda.
The states credit rating has improved from “BB” to “BBB” reflecting good credit quality and investment-grade status. This has enabled the state to secure $4,000,000 in Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI) due to sound financial management.
* The administration has introduced full automation of revenue collection, blocking leakages and ensuring real-time tracking of revenue from micro and small businesses in rural areas.
2. Agricultural Reforms:
* Governor Otu has completed a comprehensive soil test analysis to drive an agro-revolution in the state.
* The administration has distributed light farm equipment under the
FADAMA NG-CARES scheme and plans to procure heavy equipment like harvesters, threshers, and irrigation tools.
* A 50,000-hectare rice farm was inaugurated in Ndok, Ogoja LGA, with an expected annual yield of 300,000 tons of rice. This initiative is part of the state’s Rice Revolution aimed at ensuring food security.
* The state has also reclassified 12,000 hectares of land in the Southern Senatorial District for commercial agriculture, with groundbreaking ceremonies already held.
3. Infrastructure Development:
* The administration has declared a total war on potholes in Calabar and other major towns, rehabilitating intra-city roads and restoring street lights, traffic lights, and bus stops.
* The Ikom-Obudu Highway and Odukpani-Itu-lkot Ekpene Road have seen significant progress, improving connectivity across the state.
* The state is in the process of acquiring the Ikot Nyong Electricity Power Plant, which will make Cross River a net exporter of power.
4. Health Sector Improvements:
• Governor Otu has allocated 13% of the 2024 budget to the health sector, leading to the proposed ongoing expansion of the Ikom General Hospital.
* The administration has installed medical oxygen plants in Ogoja and Calabar General Hospitals and rebuilt the State Essential Drug Central Warehouse vandalized during the ENDSARS protests.
* A modern fistula facility has been established at the General Hospital, Calabar, to address feco-vaginal and urinary fistula cases among women.
5. Environmental Sustainability:
* The administration has launched the Green Carnival Initiative to promote tree planting and sustainable land use practices.
* The Bakassi Deep Sea port is one gigantic project that will surely turn around the fortune of the State.
* We have experienced so many road constructions work, even in areas that were written off, such as some areas of Calabar South and the ongoing Adiabo Road Project.
* The revitalization of the State Airline with new flights and the proposed Railway lines are landmark achievements of this administration.
* The state has also flagged off the UNESCO Oban Biosphere Reserve Project, recognizing Cross River’s commitment to environmental conservation.
6. Youth Development and Empowerment:
* The administration has sponsored so many youths for an internship program in electrical and electronics at Skyrun and trained so many others in different areas of skill acquisition.
* Thousands vulnerable youths receive A10,000 monthly stipends under the Labour Intensive Public Workforce of the NG-CARES program.
7. Security and Peace:
• The administration has strengthened security through collaborations with security agencies and community policing initiatives, ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state.
• The return of the pride of Obudu Ranch and the re-engineering of Calabar Carnival have regain the commitments of the international tourism.
These are just a few of the Governor’s numerous projects and programs.
We commend the invaluable contributions of the First Lady, Bishop Mrs.
Eyoanwan Bassey Otu, whose wealth of experience in Local government administration, State Civil service, Federal Civil Service and strong religious attributes have been brought to bear as a first-hand Adviser to His Excellency. Her initiatives in healthcare and women’s empowerment have indeed complemented the Governors achievements.
In the light of this progress in our dear state, we are left with no option, but to align with the Governor to sustain the tempo and do more.
As we work towards 2027 and the dynamics of another elections in our state, we urge every Cross Riverian and residents of our state to please think Cross River and the collective good of the state.
No reasonable team will replace its best goal scorer before the end of the match, when he is still in high performance, and the team still in need of more goals.
As patriotic and people’s driven Representatives, we hereby pass a vote of confidence on our Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu.
We declare, unequivocally, that he is our only choice for next term as Governor of Cross River State, to continue from 2027 to 2031.
We appeal to every other potential gubernatorial aspirant not to hope on us, but to please decline such aspiration and join forces to support Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu for a second term.
On behalf of our constituents and constituencies, we, individually and collectively, as the 10th Assembly Southern Caucus, hereby call on Sen.
Prince Bassey Edet Otu to accept, at the right time, to harken to our Clarion call to recontest for the Governorship, come 2027.
We earnestly pray God Almighty to grant the state the grace to sustain the progress we are witnessing in the state.
Long live Governor Bassey Otu!
Long live Cross River South!
Long live Cross River State!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Signed:
Rt. Hon Francis Bassey Asuquo
Leader Cross River State
House of Assembly and Chairman Southern Caucus
Odukpani State Constituency
Hon. Linus Bassey Etim
Deputy Whip
Akamka II State Constituency
Hon. Okon Owuna
Chairman, House Committee on Privatization and BPP Akamka | State Constituency
Hon. Bassey Effiong Bassey
Chairman, House Committee on Youth and Sports Akpabuyo State Constituency
Hon. Eyo Bassey
Chairman, House Committee on Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs Bakassi State Constituency
Hon. Francis Onete Ogban
Chairman, House Committee on NDDC
Biase State Constituency
Hon. Stanley Bassey Nsemo
Chairman, Committee on Lands and Housing Calabar Municipal State Constituency
Hon. Effiong Ekarika
Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Calabar South | State Constituency
Hon. Victor Nsa
Chairman, Committee on Transport Calabar South II State Constituency
