The new Cross River State Governor, Bassey Otu, has vowed to prioritise the welfare of young people and women in the state by initiating policies that will break long-held gender biases in the state.
Addressing the crowd, that had shown up at his inauguration, Otu expressed his gratitude to the former leaders and commended the immediate past Governor, Ben Ayade, for upholding fairness and justice during his tenure.
He extended his gratitude to his wife for her support and thanked all the members of the All Progressive Congress for their hard work in making this day a reality.
His words; “We will pay special attention to our young men, children and women by ensuring that the government’s programs, policies and laws are framed in such a way that will break all forms of gender biases.”
The governor revealed that the government has collaborated with credible international development institutions to formulate a medium-term sustainable development plan aligned with the state’s long-term strategy.
“We are ready to hit the ground running from today,” Otu declared. “Already we have designed and reviewed our strategic roadmap to guide our actions as we kickoff.”
In terms of priorities, Otu emphasised safety, peaceful co-existence, and security of lives and properties. He made it clear that there would be zero tolerance for criminality and urged criminals to turn a new leaf or leave the state.
Governor Otu also promised to address the challenges facing the civil service, including retirement and the backlog of staff promotions.
He further committed to engaging the federal government and the international community to address issues such as the loss of Bakassi and the ceding of oil wells, as well as to streamline boundaries to minimise communal crises.
“We trust in the capacity of the incoming President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to support our efforts in making our state a paradise,” Otu expressed.
Otu concluded his speech by assuring the people of Cross River State that their interests would always come first. He called for their prayers and support as they embarked on a journey toward a prosperous and glorious future.
“I commit to you and my God to put you first in all considerations,” Otu stated. “Welcome to a new and greater Cross River State.”
