Cross River traditional institution harps on need for feasible developmental plan for 2024 budget of government

Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council says the State needs a clear developmental plan from the Bassey Otu led government as the truth needs to be told from Cross Riverian.

The Council made the observation through the Paramount Ruler of Bakassi Local Government Area who doubles as Chairman of the Traditional Rulers Council – HRH Etim Okon Edet, in a one-day Consultative Forum for the preparation of the 2024 budget.

The royal fathers said it is high time Cross River leaves bogus white elephant projects and embark on projects that will impact directly on the livelihood of citizens.

“I have sat here for almost one hour or so. And I want to speak my mind. We cannot continue in sin for grace to abound. The picture is not very clear to me where we are going. And so I will not at the end of the day be able to tell my colleagues who are not here what happened here today.”

And continuing he said, “Every time, we allow the leadership to bring programs to us without us giving it to them. We are supposed to give Governor Otu from Yala to Bakassi, this is what we want. We want rural roads at so and so places. We want water supply at so and so places, and not someone telling us, he will do super highways by himself all by himself, and everybody will clap.

“A lot of things need to be straightened out. This is the people’s government. Prince Otu requires the truth from the people.

“He is a good man but a good leader can be turned into a bad one by the followership. Let the Sweet Prince be in our heart, not from our lips. As for me and my Traditional Rulers in the State, the Sweet Prince is in our hearts not on our lips. If you pass through the State Traditional Rulers Council, you will see a new phase of life just in two months of his reign and the owners of the palace are happy with him.

“Let’s adopt a bottom-to-up approach in our 2024 budget. Do away with those projects that are not feasible, continue or complete those that are, so that at the end, Sweet Prince would be even sweeter,” he inferred.

On his part, the Special Adviser to Governor Otu on Budget, Monitoring, and Evaluation, Mr. Otu Otu Ita said “Cross River State as it stands does not have a State development plan, and if we don’t have a State development plan you cannot build on anything.”

The SA disclosed that Governor Otu has directed the State Planning Commission to do a short-term and long-term plan for the State, and the budget office to develop a medium-term expenditure framework; hence, the bedrock of the consultative forum ahead of the 2024 budget.

“It is important that we establish that Cross River State as it stands does not have a State development plan and if we don’t have a State development plan, you cannot build on anything. So, on the directive of the Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu the State Planning Commission has been directed to do a short-term and long-term plan for Cross River State. And in the same vein, the Governor has also directed the budget office to develop a medium-term expenditure framework.”

He added: “The reason why we are gathered here is to discuss the medium-term expenditure framework which will now set the guidelines that will follow in the course of the preparation of the 2024 budget. We have tagged it the budget of consultative forum because we know that most of the Ministries that have been created are new, and it is important that our people know and understand the mandate of each of these Ministries.”

In another development, The Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, has visited and assured the people of Adiabo Okurikang in Odukpani Local Government Area of the State that his policies will stimulate economic development among rural dwellers.

Otu gave the assurance during his visit to the Presbyterian Church in his ancestral home in Adiabo Okurikang of Odukpani LGA of the State, as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office and lauded the people who supported him.

Accompanied by his wife, Rev. Eyoawan Otu, and other top government officials, said his administration is determined to ensure that basic social amenities like power and access roads among others get to the grassroots.

In his excerpt from Luke 17:11-19, he averred that: “There are a lot of challenges in power, but none is stronger than God. The battle of governance is not easy, especially that of governing Cross River State. But in all, I can say that God has been faithful.

“I am confident that it does not matter whatever financial situation we are in as a State, we are committed to taking Cross River to a better place.  One of the things we hope to do as a government is to expand plans to accommodate a greater number of our rural communities in terms of rural access roads, and power among others to help stimulate economic development among rural dwellers.

The presiding priest of the parish, Rt. Rev. Umo Ekpo, who preached on: ‘Thanksgiving as an act of respect’ urged everyone to always show appreciation to God at all times, and commended Otu for coming back to the church where he began as a young child.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)