Sir Leonard Anyogo, Executive Director of Good Governance Advocacy International (GGAI), has commended Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration for prioritising project continuity and sustaining inherited initiatives, including the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.
Anyogo made the remarks while appearing as a guest on The People’s First Administration 2.0, a radio programme aired in Calabar.
He argued that successive governments in Nigeria often abandon projects initiated by previous administrations, even when they are close to completion. According to him, the Otu administration has adopted a different approach by sustaining existing projects and separating political considerations from governance.
“This government, the Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu government, is a different government. I keep telling people that we must distinguish politics from governance. Politics is a vehicle and good governance is the destination, and we are seeing good governance in Cross River State,” Anyogo said.
He urged residents to assess the administration based on tangible development projects and policy implementation rather than viewing its performance solely through partisan considerations.
Anyogo Highlights Continuity of Key Projects
The GGAI executive director cited the rehabilitation of the airstrip previously used under the administrations of former governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, the continued development of the state library and progress on the cargo airport project as examples of project continuity.
According to him, sustaining projects initiated by previous governments demonstrates the importance of preserving public investments beyond political tenures.
“If you want to criticise government and look only at the political targetry, virtually you will be blinded; you will not even see development. But if you go beyond and look at the tangible governance that is being done by the present administration, you will see that there is a clear case for continuity,” he said.
On the state library, Anyogo described the facility as a world-class project and argued that public infrastructure should be sustained regardless of changes in government.
“This government is a government of continuity. It has not abandoned any project. Look at the library; the library is a world-class facility you cannot fault. Government comes in and also goes, but projects have to be sustained. That is governance over politics,” he added.
Cross River Government Reclaims Tinapa from AMCON
Anyogo also disclosed that the Cross River State Government had reclaimed Tinapa from the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), describing the development as an important step towards restoring the facility as a state asset.
He recalled that Tinapa was initiated under the administration of former Governor Donald Duke as a major investment intended to support commerce, tourism and economic development in Cross River State.
Anyogo put the project’s cost at approximately ₦50 billion and said its recovery deserved public attention because of its potential value to the state and future generations.
“Tinapa particularly was taken over by AMCON. Tinapa is a project that Cross Riverians are still paying for because it was a ₦50 billion naira project done by the administration of Donald Duke. So it is something that we have not even celebrated that is back to Cross River State,” he said.
He argued that the current administration could have chosen not to prioritise a project it did not initiate, but instead took steps to recover the facility.
“The current governor would have looked away and said, ‘I didn’t start this project so what is my business with it?’ But Tinapa has been reclaimed. It is now an asset to Cross River State, an asset to the future generations because if you have an asset you can access things in the future,” Anyogo stated.
He maintained that recovering and preserving public assets could create opportunities for future economic activity and development.
GGAI Director Calls for Constructive Criticism
Anyogo acknowledged the role of criticism in democratic governance, saying citizens should be able to question government policies and performance constructively.
However, he urged Cross Riverians to consider ongoing projects and other governance activities when evaluating the administration.
“You can criticise constructively; I don’t have issues with that. But when you talk about governance, you are seeing tangible governance. This government is just three years in office, yet it has taken steps that previous administrations did not complete,” he added.
His comments focused on project continuity, the preservation of public investments and the importance of assessing government performance beyond partisan politics.
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