Gov Otu acknowledges potential of Ogoja State when created

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has acknowledged the potential benefits of Ogoja State if it materialises.

He has advised that the processes for its actualization be pursued without rancour and acrimony.

The governor spoke when he played host to leaders of Abi and Yakurr local government areas of the State who visited him to reaffirm their enduring allegiance and that they elect to remain an integral part of Cross River State should Ogoja State materialize.

The governor, however, expressed skepticism regarding the feasibility of creating the amplified Ogoja State out of the present Cross River State.

But he has advocated for a peaceful and orderly pursuit of the people’s aspirations to have another state given the vastness of the present Cross River State.

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Otu assured of the security of lives and properties regardless of any outcomes related to state creation.

The governor underscored the inalienable right of the Abi and Yakurr peoples to self-determination, affirming their sovereign prerogative to elect their desired state affiliation.

He highlighted the indissoluble cultural bonds that unite the peoples of the southern regions of the state and the Abi-Yakurr communities, asserting that the historical and cultural ties must remain intact.

Governor Otu further expressed support for the Abi-Yakurr people’s preference to remain within the state and recognized the enduring cultural and historical connections that bind them.

Otu, however, noted that the principal challenges confronting Nigeria are pervasive hunger and a lack of productivity, noting that these fundamental issues would significantly diminish the impetus for new state agitations when governance is effective.

“Effective governance supersedes mere administrative reconfigurations”, he stressed.

In their statement signed by Dr Sam Eno, the Secretary of Abi-Yakurr Peoples Assembly, the stakeholders said, “The primary objective was to present a formal declaration of our unwavering resolve to remain an integral part of Cross River State, contingent upon the prospective creation of Ogoja State.

“We unanimously support the creation of Ogoja State.

“We recognize that the creation of an additional state from the current Cross River State would likely foster significant economic development. This potential is seen as a positive incentive for the restructuring.”