By joshua Governor Otu’s three years of purposeful governance
By Michael Jegede
Upon taking the oath of office on May 29, 2023, Governor Bassey Otu was reported to have inherited a Cross River State constrained by a heavy debt burden, dilapidated infrastructure, low Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), and an unwieldy civil service/depleted workforce.
Beneath those challenges lay a state of immense, untapped potential, a territory blessed with great tourism assets, massive agricultural possibilities, huge natural gas reserves, and rich mineral deposits waiting to be unlocked.
What was Otu’s response to the systemic challenges he met on ground? Governor Otu’s response was a governance framework rooted in an unyielding philosophy: The ‘People First’ Mantra.
Three years into his administration, Governor Otu is seen to have made considerable progress in actualizing his ‘People First’ agenda, designed to turn around the fortunes of Cross River State for the good of the populace.
In three years, the People-First blueprint of his administration has evolved from a campaign promise into a visible socio-economic revolution, steadily unlocking the dormant potential of Cross River State. His demonstration of visionary leadership and delivery of strategic, people-centric, and purposeful governance over the past three years have, in the views of many observers, progressively transformed the landscape of Cross River State.
Otu’s administration rebuilt institutions, revived long-abandoned projects, and converted latent assets into concrete gains. The governor successfully revamped over 100 primary healthcare centres across the 18 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state. He is also expanding secondary healthcare with the building and renovation of some hospitals underway.
Under Otu’s watch, several kilometres of roads were constructed/rehabilitated across the state. The ramshackle state library was remodelled into a world-class facility and the Local Government Service Commission Complex was completed opened after 10 years of abandonment.
Likewise, Tinapa Resort was reclaimed from AMCON, a N500 million business loan facility to MSMEs was initiated, 400 Cross Riverians were empowered with a ₦2 million seed grant each, totaling ₦800 million. Backlog of gratuities owned retired civil servants from 2009 to 2015 were paid with plans said to be currently on to clear 2016 to 2023. 200 housing units delivered, 400 under construction, and 1,000-unit ‘People-First’ housing scheme flagged off for civil servants.
Also, over 43,000 students were registered for the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) in 2024, 2025 and 2026, relieving their parents of financial burden. 108 subsidized mini-tractors, over 50 power tillers/rice threshers, 3.5 million improved oil palm nuts were procured for distribution to farmers, and a host of other interventions made and projects executed.
When Otu on May 29, 2026 celebrated his three years in office at a special town hall meeting with Cross River indigenes and investors in Abuja, he reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to delivering more democratic dividends to Cross Riverians via further reforms in critical sectors of the economy. The event themed “Inside Governor Otu’s Three Years of Bold Rebirth of Cross River,” provided a platform for him to showcase the achievements of his administration over the past three years, x-ray the progress made so far and outline plans for the future.
In celebration of Otu’s 3 years in office, prominent stakeholders commended him for his inclusive, purposeful leadership that has restored public trust in the Cross River State government. His administration has continuously received praises from different quarters for its impressive investments in road network expansions, tourism, education, agriculture, health, human capital development, and security.
The Pro-Chancellor and Chairman Governing Council of Federal University, Oye-Ekiti (FUOYE), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, SAN, in extending his warmest congratulations to Otu on the occasion of his third anniversary in office, on May 29, 2026, applauded the governor for his visionary leadership and deep commitment to the welfare of Cross Riverians. The former Senate Leader, a colleague of the governor in the Seventh Senate, noted in a press statement that through his inclusive leadership style, Otu has fostered a strong sense of belonging across all communities in Cross River State.
Ndoma-Egba, who represented Cross River Central in the Red Chamber between 2003 and 2015, hailed the governor’s consistent efforts in pursuing the ‘People-First’ agenda, alongside his drive toward economic rejuvenation and sustainable development, which he said, were laying a robust foundation for a better and more prosperous Cross River.
Describing the governor as a compassionate leader and a committed bridge builder, the ex-Senate Leader and elder statesman further stated that the People-First Manifesto, upon which Otu anchored his campaign for the 2023 election, has been systematically translated into tangible realities for Cross Riverians.
He said: “Since you assumed office on May 29, 2023, your administration has unwaveringly pursued the ‘People First’ agenda with consistency and purpose. Regardless of the challenges you inherited at inception, your measured and compassionate governance has engendered peace and stability, paved the way for meaningful infrastructure development, and renewed public confidence across the state.
The Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, also poured encomium on the governor, maintaining that Otu’s three years in office has been quite impactful and beneficial to Cross Riverians.
In a press release containing his message of felicitations to Otu, Senator Jarigbe remarked: “Your Excellency, three years ago, you took the helm of our dear state with a vision of renewal and progress. Today, we stand in awe of the remarkable transformation you have spearheaded. Your legacy in infrastructure is already etched in stone and asphalt, quite literally. From the breathtaking Construction of Adiabo Road to the network of arterial roads crisscrossing our capital and rural communities, you have turned our state into a massive construction site of hope. The newly constructed Okpoma road and the ongoing urban renewal projects are not mere concrete and steel; they are lifelines connecting our people to prosperity.
“Beyond the gleaming roads, your greatest monument may well be the peace we now sleep in. Prior to your administration, our headlines were dominated by the daily dread of kidnapping. You refused to accept that as our reality. Through strategic investment in security infrastructure, empowerment of local vigilantes, and a zero-tolerance policy for criminality, you have silenced the guns of the abductors. Today, a child can walk to school, and a farmer can tend his crops without looking over his shoulder. You have restored the dignity of safety to our people.”
The Cross River Businessmen’s Forum, a socio-economic interest group, averred in a press statement that Governor Otu (popularly known as “Sweet Prince”) has made exceptional exploits over the past three years to drive economic prosperity in the state. The forum, led by High Chief Henry Onwe, a philanthropist and business tycoon, noted that the persistent criticism and fault-finding by certain individuals stem from petty grievances rather than a sincere, objective evaluation of Governor Otu’s performance over the past three years.
According to High Chief Onwe, in the last three years, Otu has not only committed himself to pushing for infrastructural development, but also to transforming the economic landscape of the state which has brought about significant improvements in the lives of Cross River residents.
In his words, “Our Sweet Prince has purposefully set standards and achieved lofty heights which no other administration has attained in recent times. In road construction and rehabilitation, educational advancement, agricultural mainstay, general infrastructural development and human capital enhancement which have all essentially restored the state to its pride of place in the comity of states.”
After an inspection tour of key projects undertaken by Cross River State government under Otu’s stewardship for the past three years, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Zone F, South-South, declared that governance was truly working and thriving in the state.
Addressing newsmen on behalf the team, the Vice President of NUJ Zone F, Mr. Opaka Dokubo, lauded Otu’s administration for making the state one of the most peaceful in Nigeria, creating a secure environment for residents, visitors, and media practice, delivering tangible dividends and purposeful leadership across the state’s critical sectors.
Dokubo, who led members of the South-South Zonal Executive Council to the state for its meeting, said the visit allowed journalists in the region to independently review the Otu administration’s performance, giving them the opportunity for a firsthand look at how government interventions are actively improving the lives of the people of Cross River State.
He was quoted as saying: “We can boldly say that governance truly works here because we have seen it for ourselves. There are not many states where the impact of government is this visible.”
According to him, the inspected projects demonstrated the administration’s resolve to rebuild public infrastructure, revitalize key state assets, and guide Cross River toward sustainable growth. Some of the landmark projects inspected were the rebuilt State Library, ongoing reconstruction of Nigerian Chronicle Complex, and Blake Calabar Resort at the Marina Resort.
In a press briefing organised to present the scorecard of the Otu administration after three years in office, the Cross River State Special Advisers Forum noted that only those who are mischievously bent on pulling down the state government for selfish reasons, would not see the expanded healthcare services, infrastructural and urban renewal, rural electrification, civil service reforms, recovered public assets, tourism revitalization, agricultural innovation, improved security, impactful empowerments, and enhanced IGR, under the dynamic and pragmatic leadership of Governor Otu, over the past three years.
The Chairman of the Forum, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, said critics of the Cross River government chose to deliberately ignore major achievements recorded across key sectors, to give the wrong impression that Otu is not working, simply because of their interests in the forthcoming 2027 elections.
Akiba, an outspoken lawyer, grassroots politician, and Special Adviser on General Duties, is a prominent voice in Otu’s government. He emphasized that the forum will continue to prioritize public awareness, using facts to correct misleading reports and keep citizens informed on the administration’s achievements and activities.
Insisting that the Otu administration was focussed on restoring the state’s fortunes through strategic recovery initiatives, Akiba was quoted as saying: “Some of these mischiefs are coming from evil men because elections are close. The people deserve to be updated on the impact of the government’s policies and programmes. We owe our people a responsibility to bring them up to speed with the achievements, milestones, impact and improvements Governor Bassey Otu has brought to bear in his administration.
“The governor is recovering Cross River State, rehabilitating Cross River, reconstructing Cross River State and also reforming Cross River State. We are happy that the movement to recover all our lost assets, our lost glories, wealth and resources is achieving positive results.
“Our governor has delivered projects across the state without prioritising publicity and promotion. Several roads and public facilities have been completed and were already serving residents. That is because this administration focused on people-centred governance.”
Jegede, a journalist, writes from Abuja