By Asuquo Cletus, Calabar
The Peoples Democratic Party governorship candidate in Cross River State, Arthur Javis Archibong, has accused the administration of Governor Bassey Otu of nepotism, poor project supervision and neglect of communities outside the state capital.
Archibong made the allegations on Thursday during a press conference on the state of Cross River, where he assessed the Otu administration after three years in office.
The PDP candidate said he had deliberately refrained from publicly criticising the administration in its first three years to allow the governor sufficient time to demonstrate his capacity and implement his development agenda.
However, he said the remaining period of the administration made it necessary for him to speak out on what he described as shortcomings in governance.
Archibong alleged that the administration was largely concentrated in Calabar, arguing that the governor’s limited presence outside the state capital had affected project supervision and his understanding of the challenges confronting communities across the state.
He said, “Calabar is not Cross River State; it is only the state capital, and the Governor is clearly the Governor of Cross River, and not the Governor of Calabar.”
The PDP candidate further alleged that several projects across the state were poorly executed or abandoned due to inadequate supervision.
According to him, while contracts may have been awarded in different parts of the state, effective supervision required the governor and relevant officials to periodically inspect projects and verify their actual progress.
Archibong also criticised what he described as the absence of a major signature project under the administration, saying much of the government’s attention had been directed towards renovating structures inherited from previous administrations.
He cited the refurbished library complex, the Governor’s Office, the completed Local Government building and other projects as examples, while alleging that some road projects were poorly executed.
The PDP candidate also accused the administration of promoting what he described as an imbalance in appointments, contracts and access to government opportunities.
He alleged that proximity to political power, rather than competence and merit, had increasingly determined access to government privileges.
“One of the sore thumbs of this administration is the obvious imbalance reflected in appointments, contracts, and general access to government privileges,” Archibong said.
He further alleged that contracts were being awarded directly or indirectly to family members instead of through open and competitive processes, describing the practice as detrimental to competence and development.
Archibong also raised concerns about the state of local government administration, alleging that councils had been unable to effectively perform their constitutional responsibilities, particularly in areas such as rural roads, electricity, healthcare and support for local businesses.
He said Cross River needed a governance structure that would give all three senatorial districts, local government areas and ethnic groups a sense of inclusion.
The PDP candidate, however, said his criticism was not merely political, promising that if elected, his administration would prioritise grassroots development, equitable distribution of resources and competence in public appointments.
Archibong pledged that he would serve for only four years if elected, describing the promise as a covenant with Cross Riverians.
He also promised not to be an absentee governor and said he would spend more time in the state, regularly visit communities and personally inspect government projects.
“I will not be Calabar limited. I have the broad-mindedness, vision, agility, love as well as the physical and mental capacity to constantly traverse the different zones of our dear state,” he said.
He further pledged to allow local governments to enjoy financial autonomy and promised that Cross Riverians, irrespective of political affiliation, would be treated equally under his administration.
Archibong said his government, if elected, would prioritise sustainable wealth creation and place competence above mediocrity.
He urged Cross Riverians to remain vigilant and participate actively in the democratic process, insisting that the state deserved purposeful and inclusive governance.
