By Musa Yaro, Calabar.
ASHENEWS reports that Prince Bassey Otu has taken over as the new Governor of Cross River State.
Addressing residents on Monday, shortly after taking the oath of office at the U.J Esuene stadium in Calabar, Otu said that safety, peaceful coexistence, and security of lives and property are major pillars of his administration.
He also maintained that his administration shall have zero tolerance on criminality.
“For the people who take part in criminality, there shall be no hiding place and only two options are on the table.
“Turn a new leaf within our upcoming amnesty window or vacate Cross River State without delay.
“Security confidence will be further strengthened by greater illumination of the streets, monitoring crime flashpoints and water routes in synergy with security operatives and community leaders for maximum feedback.”
He said that the state will be given an immediate facelift through critical infrastructural repairs, planning of waterways, trimming of overgrown trees, and preventing and refusing evacuation.
The governor also said that his administration will engage with the Labour Unions dispassionately to find sustainable paths for dealing with agitating civil service.
According to him, over 75 percent of the manpower in the state will be retiring before December 2024.
Affirming his resolve to boost the morale of civil and public servants in the state, Otu said, “Immediate attention will be given to the reward operation system in our civil and public service including local government staff.
“The flag of partisanship is now lowered as this is the government of all CrossRiverians, by all CrossRiverians, and for all CrossRiverians.
“Women and men, young and old, educated and non-educated will be carried along and treated as equal before the law,” the new governor assured.
Earlier, the outgoing Governor, Prof Ben Ayade, urged residents of the state to support the incoming administration.
“Whatever love you have shown to me, please give to Otu a thousand fold, wherever I have failed, please pray for him to do much better, where I have succeeded, let him do much more if I am a shining star, let him be a super shinning star,” Ayade prayed.
