By Joseph Kingston
William Shakespeare once said that ‘the heavens themselves blaze forth the birth of kings.’ This postulation emphasizes that each time an extra-ordinary personality is born into the earth planet, even the planetary systems react in a special way to announce the entry of that child into the sphere of human.
The Holy Book, the Bible, may have lent credence to this postulation too. It records that a special star appeared in the sky to announce the Birth of Christ Jesus. The wise men from the east followed that star to trace where the Lord Jesus was born. It is therefore clear that births of great men are not accidental but predetermined.
Today, Cross Riverians agree that when Governor Bassey Edet Otu was born 65 years ago, heaven may have declared in its customary mysterious language, understood only by gifted, that the man is properly packaged and sent forth to Cross River.
It is this destiny mission that explains vividly the dramatic way in which Gov Otu emerged the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and scaled through all hurdles to become Governor against predictions of nay sayers.
Apart from endowing him with special passion for humanity which has caused him to put smiles on faces of many Cross Riverians, God also gave him creative spirit and grace to lead by example especially concerning the matters of the Kingdom of God.
His attitude to governance, especially in the management of men and resources is applauded by even his critics. The Governor is passionate about his ‘Peoples First’ mantra and is doing everything to ensure he leaves the State better than he met it.
Those who have asked whether there is anything special about being 65 years old should realize that while the age of 65 may be insignificant, it is significant for Cross River State because of the impactful leadership that the 65 years old Odukpani-born Governor is offering.
Suffice it to say here that it is the mettle of the man that is 65 that makes 65 a special number. This write-up does not seek to itemize the Governor’s achievements but to establish that at 65, Governor Bassey Edet Otu may have etched his name in gold already. Those waiting for him to fail should better have a rethink.
Time there was where there was no hope for any retiree in Cross River to get his/her gratuity as at when due. Today, the story has changed. He vowed some months ago that he would stop a situation where those who worked for 35 years would die without their entitlements.
Today, retirees, who hitherto had no hope of accessing their gratuities are about to smile to the banks in few days’ time, that is, if feelers from government sources are anything to by.
In Today’s Cross River, parents do not have to worry about their children’s WAEC fees as the Governor has taken that on his shoulders.
On road construction and rehabilitation, analysts have scored Gov Otu very high. The capital city, Calabar, is wearing a new look with intervention in Ekpo Abasi road, New Airport road, Eta Agbor road, Jebs road, Anantigha, Atamunu street, Uwanse, Edem Edem, Orok Orok, Douglas, Atekong, Cecilia Ekpenyong streets.
Others also are Hawkins road, Marian road, Essien Town, Ediba, Spring road, Old Odukpani road, Okoroagbor, Omar Street, Akpanika street, Azikiwe street, Abasi Edem street amongst many others. Yellow Duke has a mini bridge now while Parliamentary road extension axis in Calabar is a beauty to behold.
The ‘Peoples First’ Governor, has also, within these seventeen months in office, rehabilitated Edet Ansa Farm Access Road and Etap Ayip Road in Calabar Municipality; 3km Bebuasuan Rural Access Road in Obudu LGA; 3km Ketting Community Road in Obanliku and re-modeled/renovated the Governor’s Office Complex. Governor Otu is celebrated in Yala for the construction of 39km Ukelle Road which is ongoing.
Road projects are ongoing in Ogoja, Akriya road and bridge ongoing in Yala, construction works are also ongoing in Ikom and Ugep, and in fact there is no local government area that Governor Otu has not stamped his visionary imprint. The ongoing Adiabo-Ikoneto road construction is seen as a feat of no mean proportion.
The Deputy Governor’s lodge, Speaker’s lodge, Deputy Speaker’s lodge, Ikot Eneobong Police Station, CICC have all been renovated.
Something is happening in the Ministry of Environment too. The statewide monthly environmental sanitation exercise is recording huge success, even as the ministry is also carrying out desilting of drains, maintenance of green verges, sensitization and environmental education.
Critics agree that Otu is carrying out a silent revolution in Cross River and creating hope where there was none. Various analysts have described Gov Otu’s vision for the State as outstanding.
The academic world is also singing praises to God for the Destiny-helper Governor as he effortlessly awarded contract for the renovation/equipping of the State ultra-modern library complex, Calabar.
The beauty of the millennium park recreational Garden in Calabar has also been restored even as the government has reconstructed the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) and Rural Access Mobility Project (RAMP) warehouses.
The government has also put its best legs forward in agriculture sector by attracting $15million private sector investment into the Ayip Eku Oil Palm Estate, with multiple effects on employment and growth of the State GDP.
Gov Otu’s government has also developed a-6-years N30bn agricultural credit guarantee fund for rice, maize, fisheries and livestock farmers, and had embarked on the State-wide Digital Soil Fertility Mapping to ascertain, with precision, the soil texture for specific crops in the different zones of the State for agricultural purposes.
In partnership with the Oil Palm Growers Association of Nigeria (ORGAN), the Governor initiated the planting of 3.5million hybrid oil palm seedlings in 13 identified locations across the State.
Furthermore, Governor Bassey Otu’s government has given free rice seedlings, fertilizer and pesticides to 50 starter-rice growers while 30 starter-livestock farmers have been assisted with day old chicks, feeds etc.
Verifiable reports indicated that the State government has attracted an Irish Aviation Company to build and run an Aviation Training School in Bebi, Obanliku even as billions of Naira has been sourced for and made available for the completion of the Obudu Cargo and Passenger Airport as well as the Bakassi deep seaport initiated by the last administration.
The thunderous ovation that rankles throughout the land for Governor Bassey Edet Otu at 65 is evidence that wherever good leadership is given, it is rewarded with gratitude and corporate appreciation.
As Governor Bassey Otu crosses into his 65th year on earth, it is expected that the accolades of Cross River State and its people will propel him to greater achievements.
