The Governor of Cross River State, Senator (Prince) Bassey Otu, has been commended for embarking on people-oriented projects and programs aimed at making life easy and meaningful for ordinary citizens in the state.
According to a report by Andrea Ekeng, the Special Assistant on new media to the governor, the commendation was given when Barrister Ekepenyong Akiba, Special Adviser, General Duties, visited some projects sites in Calabar, the state capital.
Full of praises for Governor Otu, popularly known as Sweet Prince, the Calabar residents said they have never had it so good under any government in the state.
They noted that the governor has further proven himself as a reliable and dependable leader who never fails to fulfill whatever promise he made to the people.
85-year-old Deacon Bassey Effiom, a resident of Yellow Duke Street told newsmen that “Just look at where we are standing right now, this culvert at yellow duke has been a death trap and source of concern for several years now. Subsequent administrations have come and gone with promises to fix this place without anyone coming to our rescue. But just within one year of the administration of Prince Bassey Otu, just look at the quality of work that has been done. He has been able to do a perfect job and also deliver on time.
“I appreciate the fact that apart from awarding the contract, he also will come here to inspect the job. We are very grateful for him and we say that God should give him the wisdom and strength to do more. This is a permanent solution to a problem that has been on for years and has even taken several lives. We are grateful to him and his entire exco.”
Another resident, Ntebri Christopher said “For helping us to fix this terrible spot, it is clear that the governor is a leader who listens to the cry of his people. He loves the people and puts them first. He is not the first governor of this state, we have had several government before him. They will come here and promise us heaven and earth but at the end, nothing will happen. For the first time, we have seen a man who came here as one of his first on the spot visit after his election and promised to fix the deadly spot and today, that promise has been actualized.
“There is no one who didn’t know the danger this place posed to both residents and commuters. People have died here because of the bad road. Whenever it rains, this place becomes a no go area. But today, no matter the kind of rain or volume of water that passes through here, everything will seem very easy as if nothing happened. All we can say is, God bless the governor and his entire team”
Speaking while inspecting the projects, Barr. Ekpenyong Akiba, Special Adviser to the governor on General duties said “The intention of the governor is to immediately improve our infrastructure in the state, this will ensure that our people, especially those involved in small and medium scall business have basic platform and opportunity to make little gain in their businesses while waiting for the bigger opportunities.
“You will agree with me that with the little resources available to the state in terms of federal allocation, our dear governor have been doing his best to drive infrastructural development not only in Calabar, but also in the central, in communities like Nde in Ikom, central part of the state, Abakpa and the whole of that area in Ogoja which is in the northern part of the state and so on.
“Right now, all that the state government need is the support and prayers of Cross Riverians to enable the governor, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu and his able deputy, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey implement all that is contained in their people first mantra which we all believe is for the good and well-being of all of us,” he maintained.
Barrister Akiba was accompanied during the visit by the Deputy Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Edem Darlington and the Special Assistant, New Media, Andrea Ekeng.
Among the sites visited were the mini bridge at Yellow Duke, construction of Harcourt street and the renovation of Model secondary school, Uwanse, all in Calabar South.