09/03/2026
How Gov Otu dey bring government closer to people with Ogoja Governor's Lodge
Governor Bassey Otu don do something wey many people dey praise for Cross River State. Im don start to build Governor's Lodge for Ogoja, wey be the main town for Northern Senatorial District. This move show say im really want make government reach everybody for the north part of the state.
For long time, Cross River government dey always for Calabar, the state capital. If you dey north, places like Ogoja, Obudu, Yala, Bekwarra, Obanliku, e far from Calabar. Sometimes e hard make government people come visit or hear wetin dey happen for ground. But Gov Otu say make e change this matter.
December last year (2024), Gov Otu go Ogoja carry out foundation laying for this new lodge. E tell people say na im government want make things better for north and other senatorial district. The lodge no go just be place wey governor go sleep when e come north. E go get office, hall for meeting, place for cook, and quarters for workers. So whenever governor come north, e go fit do all im government work from Ogoja.
Why Ogoja? Na the centre of all the local governments for north. From Ogoja, e easy reach Yala, Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanliku and others. So na im be the rallying point for the whole northern district. The governor choose well well.
Few days back, the Deputy Governor, Peter Odey, just show face for the site without information. Im come see how work dey go. Im happy with wetin e see. The workers dey do fast and the work dey strong. The Deputy Governor talk say this project go make government dey close to north people and e go show say Gov Otu really care about everybody for Cross River.
This kind move na wetin Gov Otu call "People First" government. Na im style of work. Instead make everything dey Calabar, im dey spread things go other areas.
For north people, this lodge no be just building. E mean say dem no forget dem. E mean say government see dem and want make dem part of things wey dey happen by bringing government close to them. If governor dey near you, e go hear your wahala quick quick. E no go wait long before e know wetin dey worry you.
Gov Otu dey show say im want change how government dey work for Cross River. No be again make people think say government dey far far away. Im want make government close to everybody, for grassroots level.
If this project finish well, the Ogoja Governor's Lodge go stand as example of how government suppose be - close to the people, dey hear dem, and dey answer dem quickly.
©crossriverblog || Owai Obo