From Edem Archibong, in Calabar
The Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has declared that he intentionally decided not to adopt the “blame game” approach in the style of his administration, rather, he prefers to develop the habit of evolving a consensus before taking major Government decision towards positioning the state for political harmony and economic prosperity of the state.
This was made known in Calabar during the 64th Celebration of Nigeria’s Independence day in Calabar on Tuesday.
The event was attended by members of the armed forces and the political “cream de la cream” in the state.
Governor Otu appealed to all Cross Riverians to understand that the economic hardship being experienced in the country is not intentional but a deliberate approach to reposition the country’s economy.
Governnor Otu said that his administration in the state stands on the “People First” mantra, and that means he is well prepared to implement measures that will ensure the amelioration of the people’s suffering in the state because “this is the pact I signed with the good people of Cross River State, I must uphold it”.
He further explained that his administration is poised to tackle hunger in the state through the home-grown initiatives; which he claims that food prices have definitely begin to come down in the state as an initial results of these initiatives and as an agraian-based economy, his administration has massively invested in the production of food crops like rice, cassava, beans and cash crops like Cocoa, Palm oil, cahew, rubber etc.
On the Cocoa production level in Nigeria, Governnor Otu also stated that Cross River State is now ranked the second largest producer while promising to soon capture the first position because of the ongoing Cocoa revolution initiative and Mechanize agriculture to reduce employment of human labour.
In an attempt to reduce the suffering experienced by the pensioners since the days of his predecessors on their failures to pay pension to retirees in the state, Governnor Bassey Edet Otu maintained that he has long made the sum of N10bilion available for the initial payment of pensioners, and that the exercise is currently ongoing while the next batch of pensioners would soon benefit in receiving their gratuities after the screening process is completed.
The Governnor also explained his administration’s decision to lift the embargo on employment placed on the state civil service for the past 25years is a deliberate decision to reduce the level of suffering and hardship of the state.
He revealed that not less than 2,500 employees will be given employment into the state government offices accross the state.
On the abandoned deepsea port projects conceptualized by his predecessor in office, former Governnor, Professor Ben Ayade, Otu said it has been revisited and will commence soon as he has said that funds for the project have been secured while the stakeholders engagement is ongoing.
Also, the ground breaking ceremony for the Construction of the famous and first 365km Calabar – Obudu railway project have been done while state government and the state holders interface are also ongoing.
Also, to further boost the tourism initiative of the state, the Governnor will acquire more aircraft for Cally Air to boost transportation, tourism and economic growth to be in consonance with his promise which is to build upon his predecessor.
In the same vien, in attempt to increase the growth of the Small and Meduim Scale enterprises, Governnor Otu has so far committed the sum of N1billion as counterpart funding for the SME’s in the state.
