From Judex Okoro, Calabar
Ahead of 2023 polls, some governorship candidates in Cross River State have interfaced with the members of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), promising to restructure the economy of give the mandate.
The interface, tagged “Governance Under Your Watch”, was attended by four political parties including All Progressives Congress (APC), Peoples Democratec Party (PDP), Peoples Redemption Party (PRP) and Labour Party (LP), is part of activities to mark this year’s media week.
The participants were Prof. Sandy Onor (PDP), Ogar Osim (LP) Hon. Peter Odey, the Deputy Governorship candidate of APC and Dr. Usani Uguru Usani (PRP)
Speaking on his agenda, Prof. Sandy Onor said Cross River State is in a place we cannot be proud of and needs us to bring the right people into governance and he embodied all the qualities the next leader of the state needs.
“Our state is in a place we cannot be proud of, enough of murmuring from behind and then pretending all is well. Our streets are all filled up with filth and our problems are obvious even to the blind.
“We do not need policy statements, there are enough policy statements already and having served as commissioner, I understand the problem of the state from multiple perspectives.
“We need to to bring the right people into governance and I possess the qualities the next leader of the state needs”, Sandy said.
On his part, Patriarch Ogar Osim of the Labour Party said politics is somehow divine and somehow divine providence nominated him and he accepted it.
He promised to run a participatory governance where everyone will have a voice and given an opportunity to play their role.
Peter Odey of APC said the next administration will consolidate on the gains of the present administration, especially in the area of industrialisation of the state, adding that the next APC government will ensure the factories go into production.
He added that the APC agenda will centre around three E’s which are employment, empowerment and emancipation.
Usani Uguru Usani, a former Minister of Niger Delta Affairs and of PRP, said his previous performances in government stands him out and he will not propound clichés to impress anybody.
He promised to appoint a pension earner to manage the pension bureau and also establish tenant farms so that those who don’t have access to land can access it.
Earlier, the State Chairman of the NUJ Nsa Gill said the union, as an umpire in all spheres, would give all candidates the opportunity to air their views.