One of the frontline gunners for the office of Governor of Cross River in respect of the much anticipated 2023 general elections across the country has highlighted his political leadership model should he be elected to man the state plum job NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
Rt. Hon. Daniel ‘Dansuki’ Asuquo the lawmaker representing Akamkpa/Biase Federal Constituency at the 9th National Assembly, NASS has disclosed that his leadership will hinge on continuity and partnership. According to Asuquo, he will weave the tourism-cum-urban development initiative of former governor Donald Duke (1999 – 2007), the rural transformation programme of former governor Liyel Imoke (2007 – 2015), and the industrialisation drive of the incumbent governor Ben Ayade (2015 – present) into a single programme while seeking a participation with the people of the state who will be the primary beneficiary of government policy.
Rt. Hon. Asuquo made his disclosure in Calabar the state capital metropolis on Monday while briefing a section of journalists in the state.
The guber hopeful observed that, ‘I think the government we are looking at… I am coming to partner with Cross Riverians to bring about a model that can make us harvest our common investment that is tied into the three visions that we already have. Both the vision of Donald Duke, Liyel Imoke and Ayade.
‘I believe that Cross River state does not have the financial ability or resource capacity now to say that we can come in with a new vision that wouldn’t look at first of all trying to untieing the lock up wealth which we have invested over time in these three visions.
‘So, if we say ‘‘what are the problems you are trying to solve?’’, I think, problems are only available when the people say the problems are available. I think one of the biggest problems we have in Cross River today is government have been very much away from the people. The people are not part and parcel of the conversation about the low hanging fruits… The immediate things they need.’
Asuquo further explained that his proposal for partnership between the government and governed is inspired by the need for the people to deliberately own public policy, programmes and activities etc. According to him, his scheme is used in Botswana, Rwanda, China, and the like. Here, government does not own projects immediately it is implemented, community development unions do.
His words, ‘…Because there was no ownership; if you’ve identified that there’s no ownership of government projects and initiative, then this new partnership wants to bring ownership. Who owns these projects. If I come to your community for instance, and we are going to work on that health center that has been abandoned or that school project that has been abandoned, government does not have the resources to go into infrastructural development, Cross River is broke and bankrupt so long as I am concerned. I know the numbers. If you are to pay pensions, gratuities as at when due, there will be nothing left to even run government itself.
‘So, if we look at that then we should be looking at partnering with the people first of all, to build a new consciousness of patience, trust, making sure the communities and people participate in government policy and activities. Otherwise, there will be no movement.’ he said.
