By Anietie Akpan and Ita Williams, Calabar
Cross River residents have declared that one year of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has erased whatever gains Nigeria achieved in her 25 years of democracy.
In their divergent views, they said there is no democracy in Nigeria as the entire system, institutions and individuals throwing up democracy and governance in the country are fraudulent and dirty. This Federal Government has rolled back Nigeria sucking the masses into a state of topsy-turvy and despondency.
However, the populace in the state have taken solace in the one year performance of Governor Bassey Otu saying he has given Cross Riverians hope and great expectations of what democracy should be by thinking of the people first through his lofty programmes and projects.
A popular lawyer in the state, Barr Ozinko Ozinko raised concerns about President Tinubu’s national policies, specifically attributing them to the exacerbation of the hunger crisis in the country.
He said, “the President’s policies have not done enough to address the pressing issues faced by the people”, enumerating the need for “more effective strategies to tackle the challenges impacting citizens nationwide”.
Jacobson Okpa, a final year secondary school student expressed deep concerns about the leadership of President Tinubu, saying, “it’s a disaster and a colossal failure.”
Okpa opined, “in just 365 days of our 25 years of democracy, President Tinubu has led Nigeria to a state of failure. The country has become a poverty-stricken nation, plagued by hunger, starvation, and insecurity…Nigeria is on the verge of becoming a banana republic if urgent action is not taken”.
He however poured encomiums on Governor Otu’s efforts in Cross River State, expressing confidence that with continuous support, the entire state will be transformed.
“Governor Otu has been working tirelessly to fix every facet of the state’s economy,” Okpa said adding, “if given the chance to serve for even up to eight years, I believe the entire state will be unrecognizable because of his good governance, programmes and projects delivery. We should give him the opportunity to fulfil his vision for Cross River given his transformative initiatives in his first year in office that have brought positive changes to the state that was adrift eight years ago.
Pastor Dominion Esang: Lauded the Governor of Cross River State for his dedication to enhancing the state’s infrastructure and services.
“The Governor’s focus on fixing existing systems has led to noticeable improvements in Calabar,” Pastor Esang acknowledged, identifying the tangible benefits of the initiatives undertaken by the state leadership as he also expressed hope for President Bola Tinubu’s administration, calling for support and prayers from Nigerians to facilitate positive change in the country.
Other Cross River State residents shared their perspectives on governance and progress at both the state and national levels.
On his part, Obi Ozoh, a University student, criticized President Tinubu for the sudden removal of the oil subsidy without proper planning, warning that “Nigerians may turn against him if issues are not addressed by 2027”. However, he lauded the visible improvements in the state and expressed hope for continued progress.
Suny Agu a trader, stated, “while local developments are evident, the national policies need a revaluation to address the current crises affecting ordinary citizens. In fact Nigeria needs help, we should pray hard; prayers to the God Almighty can avert Nigeria from the doom that is coming ahead of us. Now we have become a poverty stricken nation under President Tinubu. This is not democracy”.
“For Otu and Cross River, this is democracy”, Agu said adding, “I want to say that the governor of Cross River State Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s one year in office has paid off. He has light up the city, today there are no more potholes on our roads, the traffic lights have returned from eight years exile. Traffic Wardens can now heave a sigh of relief and some people are saying Otu is magician, but I see the People’s Mandate as a silent performer, let’s give him support for he has perform credibly well, in fact I score him 99.9 percent for now”.
Another resident, Efiom Ette, a businessman, appreciated the progress in the state but stressed the need for national decisions that align with the needs of the people for sustainable growth.
He criticized the current economic policy, particularly the removal of subsidy from crude oil, as leading the country to failure.
“in our President’s inaugural speech, immediately he said, ‘Fuel subsidy is gone’ everything in the markets went skyrocketing, he said adding, “but our governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the ‘People First Mantra’ is trying, he is doing his best at least we can see Calabar is gradually becoming a mega city of our time”
Anita Effiong, an undergraduate student, applauded the governor’s focus on state-level projects, but stressed the need for introducing a more comprehensive national strategy for holistic development across the country.
“While the governor’s attention to state-level initiatives is commendable, we need to see a more cohesive, nationwide approach to development.
“The challenges we face, from poverty to infrastructural deficits, require coordinated action at all levels of government. I urge the executive and legislative branches to work together to avert further failure in addressing the needs of the Nigerian people”, Effiong said.
Florence Uko, a petty trader, acknowledged the impacts of governance in Cross River at the grassroots level, but expressed deep concerns about the prevailing issues of hunger, poverty, and the lack of effective price control policies.
“Since the inception of the Tinubu administration, we have seen prices of goods and services skyrocket, making it increasingly difficult for ordinary Nigerians to make ends meet,” Uko said.
“I call on the government at all levels to introduce policies that will empower local businesses and enhance livelihoods. Our leaders must reflect on how to move Nigeria away from the brink of collapse, because the country is gradually becoming a failed state”, she said.
In this 25 years of democracy, Ene Ikang, another student, called for the governor to focus on youth development, stating that investing in the nation’s young people is crucial for the country’s future and the people.
“Developing the youth means developing the nation. We need to ensure that young people are actively involved in shaping the future and that our leaders implement impactful governance at all levels. Their perspectives and aspirations must be central in the decision-making process.”
An undergraduate, Obi Ofem praised Governor Otu’s leadership qualities and humility, which he believes are driving progress in the state.
“Governor Otu’s approach is one that should be emulated by other leaders,” Ofem said noting that “his commitment to humble, effective governance is evident in the developments we’ve seen in the state. However, we must also maintain investment in youth development to ensure a brighter future for all Nigerians.”
Vincent Omini: A level-3 student of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, applauded the governor’s efforts in revitalizing Calabar and called for the adoption of inclusive policies to foster national unity.
“Governor Otu has shown a genuine commitment to improving the state’s infrastructure and overall livability,” Omini said adding, “but we must also address the need to bridge divides and promote collaboration for sustainable development. Nigeria’s future is at stake, and we cannot afford to let political and social divisions undermine our progress”.
A welder, Mr. Daniel Mbe stressed the essence of economic stability and the need for a focused approach to job creation and industry growth to uplift communities.
Economic stability is the foundation upon which our communities can thrive. The government must not sleep on the current state of the nation. Every facet of our economy seems to be collapsing at the national level. We need to prioritize job creation and industry growth to uplift our communities and urban areas. Only then can we truly tell our future generations a different story, one of a prosperous and resilient Nigeria”, Mbe said.
In all, they submitted that as Nigeria celebrates Democracy Day, these diverse voices in the state have underlined the pressing need for responsive, inclusive, and effective governance at all levels to address the multifaceted challenges facing the country.
