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  • Otu inherited empty treasury, decayed infrastructure in Cross River, says commissioner

    Otu inherited empty treasury, decayed infrastructure in Cross River, says commissioner

    The Cross River State Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Mr. Ankpo Edet, has said Governor Bassey Otu’s administration inherited an empty treasury and decayed infrastructure.

    The commissioner said the administration has achieved a lot in its urban renewal pursuit.

    Edet, who said this while addressing reporters yesterday in Calabar, the state capital, added that several road projects were ongoing across the state, particularly in Calabar metropolis and its environs.

    He said aside rehabilitating roads, the current administration was also initiating new ones and planning to build several other signature roads across the state.

    “The level of infrastructure decay we met on the ground was such that I was confused as a commissioner when I went round Calabar upon resumption.

    “I am happy to announce that we have done a lot in rehabilitating most of these roads, in spite of the Senator Bassey Out-led administration meeting empty treasury.

    “Just like we had in Calabar Municipality and Calabar South, so were there several unmotorable roads in Cross River North and Cross River Central,” he said.

    Edet said since government is a continuum, the Otu administration would not abandon any of the road projects it inherited from the previous administrations.

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    “These projects are being carried out with tax payers’ money. So, we will work on them and also not abandon any of those we are working on now.

    “You will see the serious work on the Parliamentary Extension road.

    “We are using this road to be our super highway since the one embarked upon by the immediate past administration didn’t see the light of the day,” he said.

    The commissioner stressed that the current government had adopted the use of concrete pavement in constructing roads across the state.

    He added that the road projects were mostly being handled by local contractors, for economic purposes.

    “We don’t like capital flight and these local contractors are doing tremendous job on these projects,” Edet said.

    Commenting on the ongoing Obudu airport project, the commissioner said it would be concluded next month.

  • Gov Otu denies taking fresh loans

    Gov Otu denies taking fresh loans

    Cross River Governor Bassey Otu has denied taking or signing any fresh domestic or foreign loan since he took over on  May 29, 2023.

    The Governor’s reaction follows the worrisome figures presented on the spreadsheet of the Debt Management Office (DMO) on its website.

    The same figure from the DMO is what the Punch Newspaper relied upon, analyzed, and reported on their Sunday, March 31st, 2024 edition.

    Speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, Governor Otu wondered how the Debt Management Office arrived at N220.2billion as the domestic debt profile of Cross River State as of December 2023, up from N204.04billion posted for the state as of June 30th, 2023.

    The difference in the figures, subtracting N204billion from N220.2billion is the purported N16.2billion reported as a fresh domestic loan allegedly obtained by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration. “This is not true.”

    “There’s no record in the annals of the State government that suggests that fresh borrowing was undertaken; since the  inception of the present administration till date; both domestic and foreign debt.”

    “We challenge any person, including the DMO, who has evidence of any fresh loan taken under the administration of Governor Bassey Otu to make that Public,” the Governor’s Spokesman said.

    Read Also: Gov Otu appoints Nation’s correspondent as CPS

    He noted that Fresh loans take processes including seeking legislative approvals. “The governor has not signed nor taken in a fresh loan on behalf of the state.”

    He quoted the Governor also as saying, “Anyone in doubt of our position can make findings with the state legislature and even to the DMO. I have taken up the matter with the DMO and they have denied knowledge of any fresh loan under the current administration”.

    The Chief Press Secretary said Governor Otu frowns on the misinformation portraying fresh borrowing and demands scrutiny of the figures posted by the DMO.

    He said: “It is also pertinent that the media and the general public understand that the dynamics of DMO debt profile spreadsheets includes the principal amount plus interest over time as well as other variables that may have been made available to the DMO; such as judgment debts, contract debts, garnishee orders, etc. in this case, Cross River State Government vehemently rebukes any interest calculation or any surreptitious calculation that portrays the government to have increased her domestic debt profile by borrowing N16.2billion within June 2023 to December 2023.  And the taking Foreign debt amounting to $57.9million within the same period.

    “We would like to reiterate that, Senator Bassey Edet Otu’s “People First” administration has promised the good people of Cross River State a very financially responsible leadership and will not borrow except for very critical and fiscally responsible reasons in line with the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2007.

    ”Moreso, the Governor has directed the Commissioner for Finance in the state to take up the DMO on the figures and ensure clear explanations are given on the published figures which are untrue and unacceptable.”

  • Gov Otu appoints Nation’s correspondent as CPS

    Gov Otu appoints Nation’s correspondent as CPS

    Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River has approved the appointment of The Nation’s correspondent in the state, Nsa Gill, as his new Chief Press Secretary. 

    Until his appointment, Gill was the Cross River state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ). 

    The appointment which was with immediate effect was contained in a statement signed by Prof. Anthony Owan-Enoh, Secretary to the State Government on Monday, March 11,:in Calabar.

    Otu who had earlier approved the appointment of 83 aides reassigned his former CPS, Emmanuel Ogbeche to the post of special adviser, media to the Governor in Abuja and Linus Obogo as special adviser, media and publicity.

    The governor also suspended Uko Inaku as chairman of Cross River Civil Service Commission while appointing Maurice Effiwat as the Acting chairman of the Commission.

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    Also, he confirmed the appointment of Mr Abang Otu as the State Chief of Protocol and Mr Edwin Okon as Chairman, Cross River Internal Revenue Service.

    While congratulating the new appointees, Otu wished them success in their new portfolios.

  • Cross River to regain oil-producing status, says Otu

    Cross River to regain oil-producing status, says Otu

    Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu at the weekend made a cheering disclosure during a stakeholders’ meeting of All Progressives Congress (APC) members that the state would soon regain its oil-producing status.

    He said: “I am truly delighted to announce here that plans have reached advanced stage to restore Cross River State to its status as an oil-producing state, with the beginning of oil drilling in three to four oil wells in the state in the next couple of weeks.”

    Cross River State lost her oil-producing status in 2013 when a Supreme Court judgment ceded her known oil wells to neighbouring Akwa Ibom State, regarding Cross River as a “non-littoral state”.

    The meeting was attended by former Governor Clement Ebri, ex-Deputy Governor Prof. Ivara Esu, former Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba SAN, Minister of Sports Senator John Owan-Enoh, Deputy Governor Peter Odey, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa and Deputy Chairman (South) of APC, Emmanuel Eneukwu, among other party members and leaders across the 18 local governments.

    The governor did not give further disclosure on the drilling sites or the position of the Federal Government over his recent efforts to officially restore the state’s lost oil-producing status. But no one was in doubt about his honesty and he received a standing ovation with long applauses.

    He acknowledged the support he had enjoyed from party members and the patience displayed amid high expectations to expand government by making more appointments.

    He said while there was a general belief of challenges in the state, the extent and depth of the challenges “far outstretched our wildest imaginations.”

    He continued: “Faced with these challenges, our very early months were marked by serious planning, which were preceded by painstaking examination of confounding issues. These challenges, you will all agree with me, could not provide an enabling environment to run a large government, at least in its formative months. But having gone this far and with the widespread yearnings among men and women, who contributed their all in the political battlefield to secure victory for the party, expediency demands of us to yield to demands, no matter the cost.”

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    Otu said: “However, it is only good to be truthful to ourselves that not everyone will be lucky to be offered an appointment. To accommodate all, the government is putting in place a robust economic structure in which youths and school leavers, as indeed all ‘Cross Riverians’, shall easily key in and make a success of their lives.”

    He added: “It seems Cross River as a state lost it along the way. This is the time to regain our state by taking control of our lost assets, which were sold at pittances to non-‘Cross Riverians’.

    “Tinapa, Oban Plantation, Akamkpa Rubber Plantation and several such state assets that were wrongly sold out are set to be recovered. Similarly, the state is bidding for the purchase of Odukpani Power Plant, while efforts are in top gear to achieve joint ownership of the UNIDO Power Plant in Obudu.”

    Giving hope for a bright future for the state, Governor Otu said: “From the backwaters among sister states in the federation, Cross River State is today second only to Lagos State in the prospective advancement index, which takes into consideration our potential resources and organisational structure. The future of the state is certainly bright and our lost dignity will soon be regained.”

  • Otu seeks maritime, aviation ties with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon

    Otu seeks maritime, aviation ties with Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon

    Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has called for closer diplomatic ties between Nigeria and two neighbouring African countries, Equatorial Guinea and Cameroon.

    He made the call when he hosted the Consuls-General of both countries in Calabar on Wednesday and yesterday.

    Speaking when he received the Consul- General of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Iideonso Mchama, Governor Otu said plans were underway for the beginning of flight operations as well as marine transportation to the country.

    “We are happy to receive you on behalf of all ‘Cross Riverians’. I believe your aim is for us to build stronger ties with the Republic of Equatorial Guinea.”

    He stressed the need for an aviation and maritime transportation between the two countries through Cross River State, saying such formal ties would be mutually beneficial.

    Mchama had said the visit was to identify with the Cross State Government for its hospitality and how to strengthen relationship between his country, Nigeria and Cross River State.

    Governor Otu yesterday hosted Patrice Onana, Consul-General of Cameroon, for South-South, South East and Benue State.

    Read Also: Otu okays payment of WAEC fees for indigenes

    He noted that Nigeria and Cameroon had long standing relationship and there was need to strengthen it in the face of security threats that had undermined trade and commerce between both countries.

    He said the state was keen on boosting security, especially along its maritime corridor, welcoming a meeting of the Nigeria/Cameroon Mixed Commission with his counterpart across the border.

    Governor Otu assured his guest that Nigeria would not harbour separatist elements in the country, “but Cameroon must work hard on border control.”

    Onana said Otu’s leadership had been exemplary, as Calabar, the state capital, was showing signs of progress, hinting of his desire to continue in the state.

    He hailed the Cross River State Government for hosting over 60, 000 Cameroonian refugees, following crisis in two of its 10 provinces.

    The Consul-General said the visit was to maintain good collaboration with the state, adding that the peaceful nature of ‘Cross Riverians’ would not be abused.

    He said the long maritime border between both countries required robust security collaboration to safeguard and boost trade and business.  

  • Group urges Otu, wife to intervene in crisis

    Group urges Otu, wife to intervene in crisis

    The Joint National Association of Persons with Disability (JONAPWD) has urged Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu to intervene in the crisis rocking the body.

    It made this known at a news briefing held in Calabar on the steps needed to engender peace in JONAPWD, Cross River State chapter.

    The association called on the governor’s wife to use her office to intervene as a last resort in case a congress at the instance of the police commissioner fails to resolve the issues.

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    The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the association, Prof. Jacob Agba and the Secretary, Marbel Ekpang, made this known in a statement signed by them.

    They demanded that “the peace initiative of the Commissioner of Police already acceptable to all sides should be allowed to go ahead as planned: while Her Excellency can intervene as the last resort, should the congress, at the instance of the Commissioner of Police, fail to resolve the issues.”

  • Otu fetes public servants

    Otu fetes public servants

    • Pledges united, prosperous Cross River

    Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has pledged that his administration will leave legacy of a united and prosperous Cross River that will be the envy of the country.

    Otu, who made the pledge when he hosted newly elevated public servants of the state extraction at the federal level, however, said the idea of a greater Cross River was a challenge and an endeavour that must be supported.

    The governor, who noted that he remained focused in spite of the seeming challenges, said everything worthwhile was usually an uphill task that required the determination, endurance and focus to achieve.

    “The crucible of leading a state is overwhelmingly daunting, but with the force of our collective resolve, we shall arrive at the desired destination.

    “We shall therefore not relent in presenting to the citizenry our laudable ideas for everyone to ask questions that will stimulate more victory and participate in the implementation of the ideas and take part in the glory of the accompanying successes,” he stressed.

    The governor, who also bestowed awards on the elevated public servants, including ministers, Army, Police and the judiciary, said their elevation was due to years of hard work and dedication to nation building.

    He urged them to replicate the same zeal in governance and patriotism in the service of the state.

    According to him, “I am privileged, humbled and highly elated to be at the helm in the state when these our illustrious sons were elevated and chosen in their different fields of endeavour.

    “They have impacted the states development agenda, therefore, no responsible government will downplay the importance of this distinguished human capital.

    “The social responsibility each of you owe the state is to serve as role models in terms of mentorship and provision of transformational leadership.”

    Otu said it was only in the atmosphere of unity that the desired development could be achieved and called on everyone to be responsible for promoting unity among the people.

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    “Fellow compatriots, permit me to use this forum to reiterate the essence of unity among our diverse ethnic groupings and party lines in the state.

    “The unity of Cross River State is sacrosanct and therefore takes precedence over and above other considerations and nation building.

    “The challenge of building a peaceful and harmonious and prosperous state rests squarely on everyone’s shoulders, irrespective of tribal and political inclinations,” he said.

    Responding on behalf of the honoured public servants, Justice Jane Inyang of the Court of Appeal pledged that in their respective capacity, they would lift the banner of Cross River high.

    Other public servants honoured are Maj.-Gen. Emmanuel Undiandeye, Chief of Defence Staff Intelligence; Sen. John Owan-Enoh, Minister of Sports and Dr Betta Edu, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

    Others are Patrick Edung, AIG Zone II Command, Osobo; Echeng Eworo Echeng, AIG Zone 9, headquarters Umuahia among others.

  • Kalu, Sanwo-Olu, Otu, Makinde, Zulum, others honored by Council of Bishops

    Kalu, Sanwo-Olu, Otu, Makinde, Zulum, others honored by Council of Bishops

    Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Benjamin Okezie Kalu has been honoured with an award of selfless service to humanity by the Council of Bishops in Nigeria.

    He was honored alongside the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, his Cross River State, Borno State, Oyo and Ogun State counterparts, Bassy Otu, Prof. Babagana Zulum, Seyi Makinde, Dapo Abiodun amongst others.

    The award ceremony which held at the National Ecumenical Centre in Abuja on Friday during the “National Solemn Assembly: A Day of Praise, Worship and Thanksgiving to God for Nigeria” had the President, Charismatic Bishop Conference of Nigeria and Charman National Solemm Assembly, Archbishop (Professor) Bature Cawas; the Vice charman, National Solemm Assembly/CAN Secretary Benue state, Bishop Dr. Chivir Chianson and the Secretary, National Solemm Assembly/ CAN Director, Legal & Public Affairs, Dame (Barr) Comfort Otera Chigbue as conveners.

    Giving the award to Dr. Jerry Nwohu, a security expert and political strategist who represented Kalu at the event, the body of conveners said the award was for selfless service to humanity from the charismatic Bishops in Nigeria and coalition of Christian association of Nigeria.

    They added that the recognition was a testament to Kalu’s dedication, commitment, and impactful contributions to better the lives of others, stressing that his remarkable efforts and service-oriented approach have undoubtedly made a significant difference.

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    In his reaction to the award, Nwohu said that Kalu, has since his emergence as public servant garnered widespread recognition for his steadfast dedication to upholding the principles of honour, integrity, and service.

    “His unwavering commitment to the pursuit of public service has earned him yet another award, this instance originating from the revered Council of Bishops in Nigeria.

    “The eminent persona of the Rt. Hon. Benjamin Kalu, characterised by unwavering integrity and unwavering commitment, profoundly resonates with the principles cherished by the esteemed Council of Bishops. The recent acknowledgment of his societal contributions further contributes to the plethora of accolades that underscore his commendable stewardship and altruistic dedication to the well-being of fellow individuals.

    “This esteemed recognition arrives at a momentous juncture as Deputy Speaker Kalu prepares for his highly anticipated homecoming on the 28th and 29th of December 2023. The forthcoming event is expected to witness the convergence of distinguished individuals in Nigeria, a gathering that is poised to commemorate and pay tribute to his remarkable contributions to the nation”, he said.

    Also speaking, Rear Admiral Ilesanmi Alade (rtd) exolled Kalu’s leadership virtues, describing him as a detribalized Nigerian who has embraced the whole country as his political constituency.

    He added that Kalu’s poise to serve Nigeria in his capacity as the deputy speaker of the House has been well noted.

    “The award given to Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu by the National Solemn Assembly on Friday, 1st December 2023 is a testament of his enviable political character and rising profile in nation building. I was privileged to witness the encomium showered on the Number 6 citizen of Nigeria and my sincere feeling was that Rt. Hon Deputy Speaker is emerging as a figure for national unity. I am confident that this is the beginning of many more honours to come. Congratulations to him and I wish him well”, he said.

  • Otu rewards youths for foiling ex-INEC official’s kidnap

    Otu rewards youths for foiling ex-INEC official’s kidnap

    Cross River State Governor Bassey Otu has presented cash to some youths from Nyanghasang community in Calabar municipality for their role in foiling the kidnap of Mrs. Caroline Bassey, a former official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The foiled kidnap occurred three weeks ago and the state government had promised to encourage residents, who assisted government to combat crime.

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    The governor had promised to reward community leaders and persons, who could help with useful security information that would lead to the arrest of kidnappers and other criminals.

    Represented by his Chief of Staff, Emmanuel Ironbar, Otu hailed the youth of Nyanghasang community for being security conscious and for being vanguards against crime in their localities.

    He assured citizens of his administration’s willingness to partner the people to ensure the security of lives and property.

  • My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    My role is complimentary, says Mrs. Otu

    • Governor’s wife solicits media support for husband

    Wife of the Cross River State Governor, Rev. Mrs. Eyoawan Otu, has described her role as complimentary in helping her husband succeed in his mandate. According to her, she prefers staying off media interviews and highlights because she is not the governor.

    Mrs. Otu spoke in Calabar when she hosted leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), led by the Chairman, Comrade Nsa Gill. She noted that she initiated a solemn assembly to pray for the peace, restoration and total recovery of the state having lost a lot over the years, given to many reasons, including the sad ENDSARS insurgencies of 2000.

    Mrs. Otu insisted she enjoys remaining private but providence has put her in the position to be supportive to her husband who is the governor. She solicited good representation and reportage of government programmes because ‘the governor is committed to fulfilling the promises made to the people’.

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    Gill said the union came to build a working relationship with the Office of the wife of the governor because it has recorded success in the numerous programmess initiated for the wellbeing and welfare of the les-privileged.

    He noted the free medical outreach to some communities, outreach for expectant and nursing mothers, as well as back to school programmes were students in some communities were supported with new pairs of uniform, school bags and books.

    The NUJ also congratulated the governor’s wife on her recent investiture as a champion in nutrition advocacy and breastfeeding.