BEATRICE AKPALA
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress and Chairman of the Cross River State Extant Policy Review Committee, Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, has stated categorically that things are no longer the same as they used to be and every administration must endeavour to keep pace with its plans and policy objections for tangible results to be achieved.
Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo stated this when he featured in the current affairs programme, Inside Cross River, where he gave a situational analysis of the Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu’s led administration in the past six months.
The former Secretary to the State Government during the administration of His Excellency, Senator Liyel Imoke, noted that for a smooth take off of any newly inaugurated Administration, certain committees made up of experienced technocrats had to be put in place to streamline and bring out workable modalities for the new helmsman.
Accordingly, the Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu’s led people-oriented administration followed suit and quickly inaugurated the Transition review Committee of which he was Chairman. The committee, he noted, was able to carry out its assignment to the letter.
He said that the present administration is desirous of fulfilling its campaign promises to the people and urged all Cross Riverians to desist from the earlier held wrong notion that there was no proper handing over notes from the former to the present administration.
Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo commended His Excellency, Prince Bassey Otu for his forthrightness and altruistic spirit and he scored 75% in its overall performance as nobody in management and administration can be scored 100%.
The experienced technocrat hinted that in politics, the disturbing art of name-calling and deliberate falsehood are ochestrated by the opposition to scurry favours from the people with a view to taking over the administration of the State.
He said that nobody can be brought into any administration if he or she has nothing to offer. Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo added that he was brought in because he has gathered enough experience in the various assignments he had handled as former Secretary to the State Government, Secretary National Economic Council, Honourable Commissioner for Finance between 1996-1999 and as Director in the Central Bank of Nigeria. Having been imbued with the requisite experience and maturity, he has been able to add value, quality, finesse and suitable style to the various Committees he had participated in.
He contended that before now, Cross River State did not have a clear cut policy on ICT and E-governance to meet with current challenges.
Ntufam Fidelis Ugbo, who is also desirous of the growth and rapid development of the State under the present administration, said further that even small and medium scale enterprises are being captured in the scheme of things as all their operations will be synchronized throughout the State. He revealed that policies go along with implementation plans, otherwise they will just remain mere pronouncements on paper.
He noted that Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu has already set out his policies and commended his sense of purpose and patriotism.
On the political strength and unity of the Northern Senatorial District, he said that the north is once again united like never before, adding that the Governor has been very delighted about the positive development. He disclosed that the last administration lacked coherence, noting that a lot of appointees disappointed the Ex-Governor, while pretending to be loyalist.
On the 10th State House of Assembly, he made it clear that it is still largely a learning process for most of the members, having been elected into the House for the first time.
He described the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as a great party which will deliver on its campaign promises to the people of Nigeria, while contending that Asiwaju Bola Tinubu is a great strategist whose performance will soon be subjects of evaluation.
The seasoned technocrat and financial expert called on all Cross Riverians to give maximum support to the present administration in the State to enable it deliver on its promises to the citizenry.