Dear compatriots, today October 1, 2024 marks the 64th Independence Anniversary of our great country – Nigeria; and this year also marks the 110th year of Nigeria’s existence as a nation after the watershed amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates on 1st January, 1914. Meanwhile, the usual fanfare that greets every year’s Independence Anniversary should only be regarded as a super structural objective, while the reason substructure is the solemn and conscious appraisal of the post-independence leadership vis-a-vis the political and economic stability and progress of contemporary Nigeria State. The long and tortuous journey to independence undertaken by our forefathers therefore, can only be justified and appreciated by setting and implementing enduring agenda for the political and economic emancipation of the people. For the object of any government, is the citizenry.
Today, like every other 1st October, is an occasion to remind ourselves of the patriotic zeal with which we collectively wrestled the country out from the political stronghold of our then Colonial Masters – the Great Britain. The fundamental objective of Nigeria’s Independence celebration should be primarily stock-taking and a meticulous assessment of Nigeria’s Independence so far both on the political and economic fronts, has indicated some remarkable progress. The eyes of all Nigerians should be on the goal; and not the momentary pains that afflict the body and the stress that assail our mental capacity occasioned by the prevailing economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government. Admittedly, the inconveniences are enormous but the expected gains of these reforms far outweigh the pains. What is required at this critical time of our nationhood is perseverance; for there is light at the end of the tunnel. So at 64 years, we can confidently admit that Nigeria has come a long way and is steadily progressing as a sovereign and indivisible political entity.
2. Fellow Cross Riverians, permit me at this juncture to digress a little from the national perspective and dwell on Cross River State as a sub-national with a unique identity.
Since 27th May, 1967 when the State was created from the then Eastern Region and the birth of Modern Cross River on 23rd September, 1987 when Akwa Ibom State was excised, the State has undergone fundamental transformation both politically and on the economic front. For the past one year that I have superintended the affairs of the State as its Chief Executive, I have been intentional not to engage in any blame game of the previous administrations in Cross River State. Rather, in order to chart a new course for the State’s greatness in every sphere of governance, I have developed the habit of evolving a consensus before taking major government decisions aimed at priming the State for political harmony and economic prosperity. It is therefore my informed opinion that, when we think together, we can resolve any issues we may encounter and work together towards a prosperous Cross River State.
Politics may come with its parochial sentiments, ethnic biases and religious bigotry as ready tools deployed by some politicians to achieve electoral victory. But when a government is put in place, these divisive tendencies must have no place in governance. Rather, we need to imbibe the arts of statecraft by unleashing the inner will to serve the people. We must as a necessity, build a generation of selfless politicians for the continuous existence of a glorious Cross River State based on the unwritten solemn agreement between the government and the governed.
The expectation of the governed is enormous and genuine; hence the need to work collectively to meet most of these expectations. Accordingly, all political actors in the State need to dissolve their interests into a composite unit, in order to have a well-defined development plan for the State, and compete favourably in the comity of sub-nationals.
3. The unintended hardship visited on the citizenry arising from the necessary economic reforms introduced by the Federal Government of Nigeria, spares no sub-national and its citizens. So, if it could be possible to wish away the attendant inconveniences on fellow Cross Riverians, I would gladly do that, as hunger knows no political ideology, tribe or tongue. As an administration operating on the “People First” mantra, I am willing and prepared to implement any measures aimed at ameliorating the suffering of our people. This is the pact I signed with the good people of Cross River State; which I must uphold.
My administration is therefore tackling hunger in the land through home-grown initiatives; which I am glad to state that, food prices are beginning to come down in the State as the initial result of these initiatives. As an agrarian-based economy, my administration has massively invested in the production of food crops like rice, cassava, beans and cash crops like cocoa, palm oil, cashew, rubber etc.
Presently, Cross River State ranks the second largest producer of cocoa in Nigeria and we aspire to capture the first position with the ongoing cocoa revolution initiative. We have equally mechanized our agriculture to reduce human labour.
In a bid to reduce the suffering of our senior citizens who tirelessly served our State and retired, I have released a bulk sum of N10B (Ten Billion Naira) only; for the payment of gratuity at the first instance. So, as I speak, screening of the first batch of retirees has been completed and every voucher and other financial documentation concluded and the reports were submitted to the Accountant-General Office for payment. Any moment from now, the screened pensioners will start to receive credit alerts to that effect. And by God’s grace, the next tranche of payment for the second batch will soon be worked out.
Arising from the empathy I have for the qualified but unemployed teeming youths in the State as a result of the embargo placed on employment by the previous administrations, my administration has lifted the 25-year embargo on employment by approving the employment of 2,500 qualified indigenes into the State Civil Service. We are witnesses to the fact that the exercise is ongoing.
4. Cross River State under my watch, is already primed for accelerated growth and development; as we have undertaken the laying of solid infrastructural foundation in the areas of Road, Rail and Seaport. The rehabilitation of urban and semi-urban roads and the construction of new ones have begun across the State. My administration has secured funding for the Bakassi Deep Seaport and relevant Stakeholders’ engagement on-going. The ground-breaking ceremony for the construction of 365km Calabar - Obudu railway project and Cross River State Government (CRSG) – Stakeholders’ interface also concluded. Additional brand new aircrafts have been procured and works on the Obudu airport are at advance stage to boost transportation, tourism and economic growth. This is in consonance with the promise I made on my assumption of office as the governor of Cross River State, which is to build upon the projects achievement of my predecessors.
In order to catalyze the exponential growth of the small and medium scale enterprises, my administration has so far committed N1billion (One Billion Naira) as counterpart funding for the SME’s in the State. On security, the drastic reduction in violent crime in the State, is a glowing testimony of my administration’s avowed commitment to create an investment-friendly environment for investors in Cross River State as well as the protection of lives and property.
In summary, as a State government being conscious of the need to fast track integrated development, we have in the short term, revived the necessary infrastructure, created and provided relevant fiscal interventions in critical sectors. We have also raised the wages of our workforce, provided employment for our teeming youth, paid fees for our children in schools, promptly paid pension and gratuity to our senior citizens. These laudable initiatives are enablers of cash flow in the system and to our people. As a catalyst for increase in the State Gross Domestic Product (GDP), capital advances and equipment have been made available to our entrepreneurs in the State, through relevant State Government Agencies.
As far as my administration is concerned, the foregoing is just the tip of the iceberg; as we are poised to roll out more incentives to cushion the hash economic reality everyone is facing.
Without doubt, we are therefore celebrating the 64th Nigeria’s Independence Anniversary in Cross River State with justification and optimism. With my purposeful governance, the State’s greatness is on course; we should therefore not despair over the challenging times we presently find ourselves.
Every curve of our history as a people requires sacrifice, hope and tenacity; while my administration will continue to uphold the high moral principles of accountability, empathy, selfless service and sincerity in the course of managing the common wealth of the State entrusted to us by the people. Let’s keep the collective hope and aspiration alive!
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria!
Long live Cross River State!
May God lead us aright!
Thank you.
Sen. (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu
Executive Governor