Nyok|29 July 2018
Honourable Emmanuel Awhan Ibeshi, Saturday, declared to run for office of governor of Cross River State in the forthcoming 2019 general elections in the state in particular and Nigeria in general NegroidHaven can report authoritatively. The gubernatorial hopeful officially did declare to run at Transcorp Hotels in Calabar the state capital.
Ibeshi who said he was on a rescue mission to the state informed the audience that if given the mandate to become the governor of the state he would make entrepreneurship synonymous with Cross River.
While making references to the legacies of former governor Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, particularly in the areas of agriculture, tourism, urban renewal, infrastructural development, security, education, etc the gubernatorial aspirant harped on the fact that if he emerged as governor, he would be remembered for making existing projects viable, giving details to little initiatives which are of benefit to the common Cross Riverian.
His words, 'let me make it abundantly clear to all that my government will complete, actualise and activate all projects initiated and established by our very visionary governors, Donald Duke and Senator Liyel Imoke; because these projects have everything the state requires to make it great, self-sustaining and self-reliant. My focus therefore shall be to complete these projects, from agriculture, to access roads —especially rural roads, to health, to education, to support for traditional institutions, to women empowerment, to tourism and so on. So when you talk of tourism, you talk Cross River State…In simple words, I shall initiate Tinapa phase 2, Obudu ranch resort phase 2, entrepreneurship development phase 1.'
Speaking earlier, Ibeshi observed that 'I am not out to make promises of gigantic projects hurriedly conceptualised that are dead on arrival; rather, you will remember me as the governor who ensured that existing select projects become viable and completed the uncompleted ones. The governor who paid attention to fixing little things that matter to the common man. That is my promise to you and it shall be so… We must and have to bring the Calabar Carnival back to what it uses to be and better!! O yes, we must make it better! That is the promise I make to you: with your support, we shall take the Calabar Carnival to the greatest heights.'
While decrying the gross dilapidation of gigantic projects of previous administrations, and recounting some notable ones, Ibeshi observed that in just three years, all these strides have taken a regrettable downward spiral. He declared that government had no business meddling with entrepreneurship but provide the enabling environment via sound policy framework and incentives to attract investors: 'Permit me to remind you of some international assets globally acclaimed that we proudly call our own in Cross River State. Let me begin with Obudu Cattle Ranch… Unfortunately, that resort is literally dead today. The Cable Car, first witnessed in West Africa in the Ranch Resort is dead. The Tinapa business and holiday resort; contiguous with the Calabar Free Trade Zone projected to turn around N200 billion is dead! The Institute of Technology Management (ITM) is technically dead! So, is the Songhai Farms!! The aforementioned projects desperately need focused leadership with foresight and insight on how to actualise the vision behind their setup. These projects are phased projects that require clearly thought out projections and timelines with a vision to activate the Export Free Trade Zone (EFTZ).'
Continuing, he added 'Foreign exchange income generated from these enterprises will make crude oil of little or no significance to Cross River State. The key to Tinapa and Obudu Ranch Resort is entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship!! Be rest assured, I will make entrepreneurship become synonymous with Cross River State if you give me the mandate as governor in 2019.'
Concerning urban renewal, Ibeshi noted that the state is desperate for a facelift: highlighting potholed road networks, unhygienic environments which has made the state now a sad commentary, failure of ITM, Ugep; security of lives and property, connecting road networks across the state, the governorship aspirant promised to fix these. He also promised not to neglect traditional institutions which he claimed are a repository of cultural heritage and civic mentorship, in view of combating high moral decadence thereby reducing crime.
For Ibeshi, his government anticipates to be hinged on key democratic principles of inclusion, rule of law, transparency, etc. According to him, 'my government will be participatory —it will not be a government of one-man-knows it all; there must be rules of law… I will demystify governance by being transparent. This is so elementary, yet so difficult by the current administration… Government facilitated projects/ investment that leave the citizens guessing whether they are individual programs or government programs. The confusion is endless in a cloud devoid of transparency. People-oriented programs originating from needs with a bottom up approach translates government activities into actions that give the people an opportunity in town hall meetings and other fora to ask questions.' He hinted on responsiveness, consensus building, equity, efficiency, effectiveness, accountability, as what will characterise his government.
In the concluding part of his address to the public there present, Ibeshi said, 'I am here to serve you for just one term of four years completing the two terms of Northern Cross River Senatorial District under the People's Democratic Party(PDP); a precedence already benefitted by South and Central Senatorial Districts respectively'.
Nyok
Is the Blogger-in-Chief, Editor-in-Chief & Publisher of NegroidHaven
