Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu
By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu has urged Nigerians to shift their focus towards the long-term national objectives, rather than being preoccupied with the temporary challenges brought about by the current economic reforms spearheaded by the Bola Tinubu-led administration.
Otu made this call on Tuesday at the renowned UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, during the commemoration of the 64th Independence Day Anniversary in Cross River.
Acknowledging the substantial economic challenges facing the nation, the governor emphasized that the anticipated benefits of the ongoing reforms far surpass the current difficulties.
He emphasized that what Nigerians need is perseverance, as there is a promising future ahead. He highlighted that the nation has made significant progress and remains a united, sovereign entity.
Governor Otu emphasized that during his leadership in Cross River over the past year, his administration has been proactive in avoiding blame games of previous administrations. Instead, they have been diligently working to set a new course for the state across all levels of governance.
“I have cultivated the practice of seeking consensus before making critical governmental decisions to position the state for political unity and economic prosperity.
“While politics often involves narrow-minded views, ethnic prejudices, and religious biases used by some politicians to secure electoral victories, once a government is established, these divisive elements should have no place in governance.
“Rather, we must embrace the principles of statecraft by harnessing the inner drive to serve the people. We must cultivate a generation of selfless politicians for the enduring prosperity of a distinguished Cross River,” he stated.
He stressed that the expectations of the governed are substantial and sincere, underscoring the importance of collective efforts to meet these expectations.
Governor Otu called on all political stakeholders in the state to merge their interests into a cohesive entity, to establish a well-defined development agenda for Cross River to effectively compete among other sub-national entities.
Operating under the ‘People First’ mantra, he expressed readiness to implement any measures aimed at alleviating the hardships faced by his constituents.
In a similar vein, the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang, emphasized that the 64th Independence Day celebration is an opportunity for Nigerians to reflect on the journey thus far.
Ekpang noted that it is also a time to commemorate the sacrifices made by the nation’s past heroes to ensure national unity and cohesion, highlighting that together, Nigerians can overcome the current economic challenges being felt nationwide.
