By Abasi Ita
A former Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State, Venatius Ikem, Esq., has applauded Governor Bassey Edet Otu for making steady inroads in addressing the state’s infrastructure deficit, describing the volume of ongoing and completed projects across the state as impressive but largely underreported.
The former PDP chieftain, who recently defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), said his perception of the Otu administration had changed considerably following his exposure to the numerous development initiatives being undertaken across different parts of the state.
Ikem, who spoke during a media interaction, expressed amazement at the scale of government interventions in tourism, aviation and road infrastructure. He particularly cited the comprehensive renovation of Obudu Mountain Resort, including its cable car facilities, as a major achievement.
He also highlighted the rehabilitation of the resort’s airstrip and runway, which he said had undergone an aircraft test run, as well as ongoing work at the cargo airport, projects he noted were largely unknown to many Cross Riverians because of inadequate publicity.
”In the northern part of the state, I identified the completion of the long-abandoned road linking Yala to the mainland through Okoma and connecting Mfun Junction to Abakaliki as another significant milestone.
”That road had been lying there for probably more than 20 years. All these have been done, yet nobody talks about them,” he observed.
Ikem also acknowledged road projects in Yakurr and Adiabo-Eseku that had reportedly remained abandoned since the administration of General Sani Abacha, noting that the Otu administration’s infrastructure interventions were spread across different parts of Cross River.
”My assessment of the state so far is that the projects and programmes of the present administration have been highly underreported. Since engaging with the state, I have been humbled by the volume and number of projects being executed across the state,” he said.
The former PDP chairman, however, expressed concern that inadequate publicity and community engagement had deprived many of the projects of the public recognition they deserved.
He urged the government to strengthen its information machinery, engage beneficiary communities and ensure that residents were adequately informed about development initiatives being executed on their behalf.
”When you do projects, you speak to the people. You engage communities. They must be aware of what government is doing so that they can appreciate it and, most importantly, develop a sense of ownership,” he stressed.
He also challenged the governor’s media aides to improve their performance, arguing that the administration’s achievements offered a more effective response to political criticism than confrontations with perceived opponents.
”Rather than throwing tantrums at perceived political opponents, the governor’s media aides should confront dissenting voices with Otu’s scorecard, carefully packaged to convey the right message. That is enough to counter criticism and galvanise massive support for electoral victory,” he said.
Ikem maintained that communicating government achievements was not merely an exercise in propaganda but an essential responsibility that inspires public confidence and gives citizens hope that their communities would also benefit from development.
On Governor Otu’s anticipated second-term bid, he urged the administration to campaign on its performance rather than fresh promises.
”When you are running for a second term, you don’t run on promises. You run on your scorecard,” he declared.
He urged the government to intensify publicity around its infrastructure projects, insisting that the achievements already recorded provided a strong basis for presenting the administration’s development agenda to the electorate.
