Governor Otu desirous of conducting LG polls – Akiba

… Says paucity of funds responsible for delay

The Special Adviser on General Duties to Governor Bassey Edet Otu of Cross River State, Barrister Ekpenyong Akiba, has said that the governor as a democrat remains eager and determined to conduct Local Government (LG) elections to bring in democratically elected officials at the 3rd tier of government in the state.

Akiba stated this in an interview where he maintained that lack of funds was the only impediment delaying the conduct of LG polls in the state.

He was speaking against the backdrop of the three-month ultimatum issued by the Cross River State Chapter of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) to Governor Otu to organise LG elections to allow the people choose their leaders at the grassroots level.

“His Excellency, our governor (Bassey Otu), needs no ultimatum to conduct local government elections. And I say this very emphatically. Whoever that has gone ahead to issue that (ultimatum) would have done that ignorantly not knowing the person of Senator Prince Bassey Otu and what he represents as far as democratically elected structures are concerned. The governor is a complete democrat and a product of the people’s decision. So, he cannot hinder any democratic process. He believes in democracy.

“So on that note the governor is very desirous of conducting local government elections. However, we are financially handicapped in Cross River State. And you cannot conduct local government elections when you don’t have funds. It is capital intensive to conduct elections.

“So what has stood as an obstacle to the conduct of local government elections is simply funds. If we have money tomorrow I can assure you the time-table for the election will be released,” the special adviser said.

He added that “As a government we are very committed towards the conduct of local government elections. We need no ultimatum because it is our desire. It is what we long to achieve because it will be an appropriate window for the distribution of resources to the lowest of the lowest in the rural areas and communities.

“So we’ll continue to plead for patience as we are battling with a lot of setbacks and hoping that we will be able to overcome the challenge of funding. We are committed to a lot of developmental strides that require funds. Therefore, it entails patience, support and understanding not an ultimatum.”