The Southern Caucus of the 10th Cross River State House of Assembly has passed a vote of confidence on Governor Bassey Otu and declared him as their choice for the 2027 governorship election.
The lawmakers, comprising representatives of Akamkpa, Akpabuyo, Bakassi, Biase, Calabar South 1, Calabar South 2, Calabar Municipal, and Odukpani constituencies, made their position clear in a press conference in Calabar on Tuesday, stating that the endorsement is in recognition of the remarkable achievements of Governor Otu since assuming office and his leadership capacity in governance.
Speaking on behalf of the Caucus, the member representing Odukpani Constituency and Leader of the Assembly, Hon. Francis Asuquo, said that after a thorough and unbiased assessment of governance in Cross River State since 1998, they concluded that Governor Otu’s administration, in comparison with the achievements in the first two years of former governors’ first terms, has made significant strides in infrastructure development, economic policies, human development, peace, and security.
He enumerated some of the specific achievements of the Governor Otu-led administration, including economic revitalization and IGR growth, which has significantly boosted the state’s Internally Generated Revenue by 60.6% (N36.3 billion) from June 2023 to May 2024.
He added that this achievement has made additional funds available to drive the People First Agenda.
Others, he said, include the improvement of the state credit rating from “BB” to “BBB,” reflecting good credit quality and investment-grade status. This, he said, has enabled the state to secure $4,000,000 in Disbursement Linked Indicators (DLI) due to sound financial management.
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The lawmakers also lauded the Governor Otu-led administration for introducing full automation of revenue collection, blocking leakages, and ensuring real-time tracking of revenue from micro and small businesses in rural areas.
Under agricultural reforms, the Caucus hailed the governor for completing a comprehensive soil test analysis to drive an agro-revolution in the state and for distributing light farm equipment under the FADAMA NG-CARES scheme, with plans to procure heavy equipment like harvesters, threshers, and irrigation tools.
During the period under review, he said a 50,000-hectare rice farm was inaugurated in Ndok, Ogoja Local Government Area, with an expected annual yield of 300,000 tons of rice—part of the state’s Rice Revolution initiative aimed at ensuring food security.
He said, “The state has also reclassified 12,000 hectares of land in the Southern Senatorial District for commercial agriculture, with groundbreaking ceremonies already held. It has declared a total war on potholes in Calabar and other major towns, rehabilitating intra-city roads and restoring street lights, traffic lights, and bus stops.
“The Ikom-Obudu Highway and Odukpani-Itu-Ikot Ekpene Road have seen significant progress, improving connectivity across the state. The state is also in the process of acquiring the Ikot Nyong Electricity Power Plant, which will make Cross River a net exporter of power.”
Under the health sector, he said Governor Otu has allocated 13% of the 2024 budget to the health sector, leading to the proposed ongoing expansion of the Ikom General Hospital. The administration has also installed medical oxygen plants in Ogoja and Calabar General Hospitals and rebuilt the State Essential Drug Central Warehouse, which was vandalized during the EndSARS protests.
“A modern fistula facility has been established at the General Hospital, Calabar, to address fecovaginal and urinary fistula cases among women.” “The administration has launched the Green Carnival Initiative to promote tree planting and sustainable land use practices. The Bakassi Deep Sea Port is one gigantic project that will surely turn around the fortune of the state.
“We have experienced so many road construction works, even in areas that were written off, such as some areas of Calabar South and the ongoing Adiabo Road Project,” he said.
Beyond this, he said, the revitalization of the state airline with new flights and the proposed railway lines are landmark achievements of this administration.
“The state has also flagged off the UNESCO Oban Biosphere Reserve Project, recognising Cross River’s commitment to environmental conservation, and sponsored many youths for an internship program in electrical and electronics at Skyrun, training many others in different areas of skill acquisition.
“This administration has ensured that thousands of vulnerable youths receive N10,000 monthly stipends under the Labor Intensive Public Workforce of the NG-CARES programme. It has also strengthened security through collaborations with security agencies and community policing initiatives, ensuring the safety of lives and property across the state,” he stated.
