Governor Otu inaugurates newly elected local council chairmen; harped on transparency, democratic dividend
Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, has officially inaugurated the 18 local government chairmen and vice chairmen who emerged winners of the November 2 local government elections in the state.
The newly elected chairmen and their deputies all emerged under the canopy of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), as the party swept all the 18 chairmanship seats and 196 councillorship positions.
Speaking at the event, held in Dan Archibong Lodge, the temporary office of the Governor, Otu charged the new leaders of the third tier of government to serve their constituencies diligently. He highlighted the importance of transparency, accountability, and the ‘People First’ governance approach.
He hyped key priorities for the new leadership to include community development, addressing infrastructure needs, and improving public services at the grassroots level.
“Your victory is a call to action to serve the people of Cross River and deliver on your promises with integrity. We have a goal as a state, and it is important to align with this goal. We want to build our Gross Domestic Product (GDP); we want to attract investment. We want our people to live better. So, it is not a ceremonial office; it is serious business,” Sen. Otu added.
Also Read: APC sweeps 18 local council seats in Cross River State
He noted that as each local government council is consumed in the euphoria of autonomy, there is a corresponding burden of statutory responsibilities as enshrined in the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended, reminding the new LGA leaders that the resolve to bring government nearer to the people remains priority to the present administration.
“As the closest tier of government to the people, the core mandate of every local government council is the provision of basic amenities. The accomplishment of this task shall be a litmus test for the huge confidence the electorate repose in you and a referendum on your capacity to deliver on your campaign promises.
Responding on behalf of the inaugurated officials, the Chairman of Obudu local government area, Hon. Udiandeye Peter assured Governor Otu, the APC, and all Cross Riverians that the current crop of chairmen and their deputies will not rest on their oars to bring the democratic dividends to the grassroots, a position, he mentioned, has been borrowed from the Otu-led administration.
He used the opportunity to thank Cross Riverians for trusting them with the mandate to contribute their own quota to the development of the state through grassroots leadership while praying God for the enablement to live up to the billing of their offices.
In a subsequent development the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness in collaboration with All Accredited Observer Organizations that monitored the Local Government Elections in Cross River State have passed the conduct of the Nov. 2nd 2024 polls as free, fair and credible.
Dr. Gabriel Nwabu, Director General of the group made the remark on Monday November 4, 2024 in a post election briefing at Hogis Hotel, Akim close, State Housing Estate, Calabar venue of the media parley.
He said the organization which compose of over 16 observer bodies with 400 field staff each covering 196 wards and polling units in the State has described in their individual reports that the election was devoid of any acrimony by voters though acknowledged voters apathy and pockets of disturbances in Bakassi and Abi Local Government Areas which was promptly put under control by Law enforcement Agents.
It would be recalled that the Centre for Credible Leadership and Citizens Awareness with slogan: “Election No Be War” worked in tandem with the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) Cross River State chapter to monitor and observe the Saturday November 2, 2024 Local Government Elections conducted by the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission in the State.
By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)