By Onwa Ekor
Cross River governor, Prince Bassey Otu, has assured that his administration would not rest on its oars until the state is returned to its glory days.
The governor gave the assurance when he received Obudu Women In Politics (OWIP), when the group led by its President, Dr Sylvia Atsu, formally endorsed him and the nation’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, at the practice pitch of the U J Esuene stadium, Calabar.
Otu who was represented by the Commissioner for Information, Dr. Erasmus Ekpang at the event, noted that although Cross River was hitherto backward in the scheme of things, his team would ensure that the state is fixed in all ramifications, to enable the citizenry enjoy better livelihood.
Describing the group as inevitable, the governor lauded them for their kind hearts to endorse him and President Tinubu, affirming that OWIP remains the first Women group in the state to initiate such act of benevolence.
“Anything that comes from women is always nice, we are grateful that our mothers felt the impact of what we have achieved within two years and are here to endorse the President and my team, this surely would trigger us to do more,” the governor said.
On her part, Wife of the governor, Bishop Eyoanwan Otu, represented by her Special Adviser on gender mainstreaming, Dr Inyang Asibong, pointed out that she remains happy that her efforts on issues of health, environment, social welfare, education and agriculture were felt by women in the state.
She charged them to continue to exhibit true love in their homes and never relent in prayers for the growth and development of the State and nation.
Chairman of the occasion and Special Adviser to the governor on General duties, Barr Ekpenyong Akiba, explained that Cross River is blessed with a government that women are not only carried along but actively included in its policies and programs.
Akiba commended the group for endorsing the governor based on the impactful interventions vividly seen even by the blind.
Earlier, the OWID President said the group remains “a conglomeration of distinguished Women from different professional fields drawn from the ten political wards of Obudu local government area both at home and in the diaspora.”
Atsu, a former Commissioner said, “as people from the northern part of the State, we are particularly enthralled by your leadership commitment to complete some on-going projects which are very critical to our development.”
She listed the projects to include the resuscitation of the Obudu Ranch Resort, the completion of the Obudu International Cargo airport project, the Obudu-German hospital, the Nfom-Okpoma-Okuku-Ebo-Izekwe-Wanokom-Wanikade-Wanihem-Benue border road, among others.
The Women President added that, “it is our strong conviction that your mandate renewal in 2027 for a second term will provide you and your team the ample time and opportunity to complete all these on-going projects and many more which are part of your good governance initiatives for the people of Cross River.”
The event featured cultural performance by the National Association of Bebuabe-Begiading; Unified Cross River Widows Foundation Obudu chapter and Obudu Women Network.
Others include, Obudu Women Development Association, Angiaba/Begiaka daughters MPCS and Bebuabe-Bebuaobong Development Association.
