By Magnus Effiong
Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, has accused the state government of deliberately encouraging and promoting what he described as “deep-rooted rural poverty” in the state.
Archibong made the allegation on Thursday at a press briefing in Calabar, where he claimed that the state government had no programmes specifically targeted at addressing rural poverty.
He described the situation as an “unmitigated tragedy”, alleging that Governor Bassey Otu had “handed governance to a third party who lack capacity for competent decision-making.”
Flanked by the state PDP Chairman, Barrister Vena Ikem, and other party stalwarts, the PDP candidate also accused the state government of weakening local governments by allegedly withholding or interfering with their statutory funds.
“What has become more worrisome is that local governments that are legally and structurally designed to reduce rural poverty have been practically handcuffed and choked by a state government that recklessly ambushes their funds on a permanent basis,” he alleged.
Archibong, who is the proprietor of Arthur Jarvis University, also criticised Governor Otu over what he described as his frequent travels outside the state.
According to him, “the Governor is hardly in the state,” alleging that available records showed that Otu spends no more than 10 days in the state in any given month.
“Twenty days, at least, on a monthly basis, are spent either in Abuja and/or abroad, with nothing whatsoever to show for this absence,” he alleged.
He said the Governor’s alleged absence had deprived Cross Riverians of meaningful interaction with their governor, whom he described as “the harbinger of hope for their yearnings and aspirations.”
Archibong further alleged that the administration’s failure to deliver any major signature project in almost four years was evidence of a lack of capacity.
“The clearest proof of this administration’s lack of capacity is its failure to deliver any signature project in almost four years,” he said.
He criticised what he described as the administration’s concentration on renovating projects inherited from previous governments.
“Instead, all focus has gone to the year-round renovation of structures inherited from past governments. As much as this act is commendable for the purpose of continuity, channelling all his strength into the renovation of past administrations’ projects raises a fundamental question: was there any plan or vision for the state before the election?” he asked.
Archibong listed the refurbished library complex, Governor’s Office, completed Local Government building, the ongoing renovation of the Cultural Centre and some road projects among the projects he said the administration had focused on.
He also alleged that some of the roads were poorly executed due to inadequate supervision, adding that the development was taking place at a time when federal allocations to the state had increased significantly.
The PDP candidate, who said he would serve only one term, which he described as “the remainder of the tenure agreeable to Cross River South in this dispensation,” promised not to be an absentee governor if elected.
“I would not be an absentee Governor. I would constantly traverse the different zones of our dear state in the search for and implementation of real development for our people,” he said.
Allegation Completely False, Politically Motivated, Governor’s Aide, Nsa Gill, Fires Back
However, the Governor’s Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Mr Gill Nsa, dismissed Archibong’s allegations as politically motivated and false.
Nsa said the administration had implemented several programmes aimed at reducing poverty and empowering residents across the state.
“That is completely false. I say so because the government of Senator Prince Otu has on ground many programmes which are lifting people from poverty,” he said.
According to him, the government, under its youth empowerment programme, had in its first phase disbursed N800 million to 400 youths, with each beneficiary receiving N2 million to establish businesses of their choice.
He also cited a programme targeting retirees, saying it was designed to prevent them from retiring into inactivity while promoting entrepreneurship and skills acquisition.
Under the programme, he said, beneficiaries receive a grant of N500,000 to invest in ventures that would keep them economically active.
“That programme has been copied by the Federal Government,” Nsa claimed.
He added that the state government had introduced other programmes targeting youths and women, stressing that the administration’s “People’s First” mantra was inconsistent with any policy aimed at promoting poverty.
“With what is on the ground, nobody can truly say that a government of sorts, which runs the People’s First mantra, is promoting poverty,” he said.
Nsa accused the PDP of attempting to politicise the achievements of the administration, saying Cross Riverians were capable of judging the government’s performance for themselves.
On the allegation that Governor Otu spends too much time outside the state, Nsa said the Governor’s travels had attracted benefits and investments to Cross River.
“There is a lot to show for it. For instance, we have the Bakassi Deep Seaport project that is about to take off in terms of construction. The trips have brought in Afreximbank to fund the deep seaport project,” he said.
He added that investors were showing interest in the state because of what he described as the confidence generated by the Governor’s engagements outside the state.
“The PDP knows that they have nothing to offer, that’s all,” Nsa said.’
