By Efio-Ita Nyok | 4 June 2015 |8:55am
Liyel Imoke, the former governor of Cross River State was sworn into power 8 years ago, that is, on 29 May 2007 to succeed the then outgoing governor, Mr Donald Duke who had been in power since the advent of the 4th Republic in 29 May, 1999.
A majority of Cross Riverians, excluding this writer, had anticipated much from the then incoming executive state administration to be led by Governor Liyel Imoke. Alas, their hope where to be dashed unknown to them!
As I observed earlier I was not among those who expected anything positive from Imoke owing to circumstances that surrounded his stint as the minister of Power and Steel where he allegedly gulped state fund to the tune of N3 billion with nothing to show in the power sector which he directly superintended over. This means the present dilapidated power sector is a 'credit' to Liyel Imoke. Owing to the writer's characteristics critical bent I remember conversing with my interlocutors telling them Imoke had nothing to offer Cross River and Nigeria at large; but I was perceived to be a leading member of the 'cynical and naysayers club' against Imoke. Nevertheless, we know better today.
Imoke was the successor to Donald Duke's governorship, an administration that demonstrated leadership in the state by bequeathing a well-etched blueprint to Cross Riverians. Notable among these were Urban Development and Tourism. Duke's urban development initiatives materialised to his urbanization of five cities in the state, namely Calabar, Ugep, Obudu, Akamkpa etc while his tourism drive galvanised into the business and pleasure hub, Tinapa. Other tourism sites were developed as well as a boost to this drive. So much had been invested into these two initiatives to make them see the lime light of day, they were in dire need of further investments from the state/federal government and private sector, and some had expected the succeeding administration of Liyel Imoke(2007-15) to influence further investment in these direction but they were to be disappointed and disillusioned.
Imoke did not only succeed at erecting a hollow, visionless and clueless government through a near decade era, he deliberately embark on reversing the leadership blueprint of his predecessor. Today, these policies are white elephant projects begging for serious and urgent attention.
After Imoke's 8 years, Cross River can hardly boast of being the preferred destination for business and pleasure as it used to be, and urban development is on the low. Today the primary responsibility of government which is the protection of lives and property is a farce. Street children and cult groups of disenchanted youths have decided to terrorise the state capital. Commercial activities have been totally crumbled in the state due to the retrogressive taxation policy of the state government. Democracy have been shown the way out through the back door in the state as the former governor prided in being the 'one man called men'. Internal democracy in the state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) was challenged as his decision/vote alone prevailed against all others. Because of this, so many hitherto committed and influential members of the PDP defected to opposition parties. Youth unemployment and restiveness is on the high. Civil servants were owed salaries to the tune of 6 months.
To crown it all, the state is owing the whooping sum of N400 billion a 500% increase from the N80 billion Duke incurred with nothing concrete to show.
As it stands one wonders how the incumbent administration of His Excellency Benedict Ayade will thrive and succeed taking cognizance of the checkered economy of the state. However, I wish to charge Ayade to appoint seasoned technocrats into his team of redefining the entire outlook of state and have faith. In my opinion, security, education, agriculture, tourism, urban development, entrepreneurship and a humane taxation policy should be given priority. The existing taxation policy should be overhauled.
Finally, morality should characterise public policy formulation and its execution. Here, the campaign mantra of 'politics with ethics' makes meaning. This mantra should necessarily translate from mere letters to action.