By Kelvin Obambon
With the local government elections in Cross River State in focus, a sociopolitical group, Biase Rescue Movement (BRM), has begun mobilizing students to queue behind its preferred chairmanship aspirant.
Director General and convener of BRM, Comrade Solomon Arikpo, during an interactive session with students of Biase extraction in Calabar on Monday, lamented that poor leadership over the years had put the local government area on the back foot in all aspects of development, despite the enormous deposit of mineral resources.
“The level of development in Biase currently cannot be compared to other LGAs. We are very backward in terms of infrastructure and community development. Every time we elect people into office but at the end of the day there’s nothing to show for in our LGA.
“I hope you all are aware that Biase doesn’t have electricity? Does that bother you? Have you ever thought about it? Nobody should deceive you. It’s your destiny we are talking about. If we don’t sit together and plan the future of Biase, the LGA will never develop. Biase is so rich in agriculture and mineral resources but backward in terms of infrastructural development.
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“We must begin to ask ourselves critical questions. Until you move to change things, nothing will change. It only takes N25million to restore electricity in Biase. Yet the local government collects monthly allocation of N318million. What significant thing can one boost of in Biase? It’s worrisome,” he said.
Arikpo then reminded the students that the choice they make in the forthcoming local government elections would determine how ready they are to change the narrative. He urged them to support a candidate who thinks Biase and is committed to pull the local government area out of the doldrums.
He noted that among all those who have shown interest so far in the chairmanship position, only one of the aspirants ticks all the boxes when it comes to exposure, experience and the capacity to mobilize both human and material resources for the overall development of Biase local government area.
“When you see something that is good you don’t wait for it to come. You go for it. We are using this opportunity to beckon on our industrious son and leader in the person of Deacon Andy Owai to please come and complement the effort of His Excellency Prince Bassey Otu to develop Biase. Come and join hands with every other major stakeholder and ensure that we build Biase.
“Biase needs him. With his vast knowledge and wealth of experience in the oil and gas sector and human capital development, he’s the kind of person we need. Someone who can think out of the box and provide solution for Biase,” the BRM DG said.
Comrade Arikpo also used the opportunity to congratulate Governor Bassey Otu for securing victory for the APC in the just concluded Edo State governorship election.
