By Frank Ulom
CALABAR (CONVERSEER) – Senator Gershom Bassey, former Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District, has urged Governor Bassey Otu not to vilify his critics but rather listen to them the same way he listens to his supporters.
Senator Bassey stated this on Tuesday while fielding questions from selected journalists at his residence in Calabar, the state capital.
Converseer reports that recently, Governor Otu’s administration has been put on a torchlight, and those who dare question or say anything contrary are seen as enemies, and at some point, attacked verbally and through writing.
A case scenario was that of Ntufam Hilliard Eta, Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), who questioned Otu’s “Season of Sweetness” and “People First” mantras, asserting that he sees “no change in the narrative and trajectory of Cross River State,” citing a “high level of wants, poverty, and lack of economic opportunities” in the state, along with a noticeable absence of entrepreneurial activities.
The 2023 Governorship aspirant under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) reiterated that criticism shapes a leader, stressing that any leader who only listens to his supporters may likely fail.
“I would urge him [Otu] to listen to his critics, and not to vilify them. When people criticise you, yeah, some criticism may be out of place, but a lot of the time, there’s something in that criticism. Please do not make enemies. Don’t vilify your critics; alongside your supporters, also listen to your critics, especially those who criticise you in a very cordial and respectful way. When they criticise you respectfully, please, it’s good to listen to them,” Bassey stated.
The PDP chieftain said he’s worried about the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led government policies, but he would, however, reserve his judgment for the next one and a half years.
“I’ve told you that I’m worried about the APC’s policies at the centre and I feel that so far, the policies have caused a lot of economic problems for Nigerians. However, as a Nigerian and as a patriotic Nigerian, I’m willing to reserve my judgment until the end of the tenure because you cannot call a game at halftime – you have to wait until the end of the match. I think the same has to be said in Cross River State,” he said.
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The former Chairman, Senate Committee on FERMA, and former Vice Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), lauded Governor Otu in the aspect of security and infrastructure.
“There have been positive things about the APC government that have been said, but there have also been some negative things; let’s wait and see how the government goes before people pass judgment.
“I know that the government is trying in a number of areas, water and so on, but more importantly, I think that one of the main areas where I must give Prince Otu credit, is security. Since Prince Otu became governor of Cross River State, the security situation in Calabar and even in the state, has improved significantly.
“You know constitutional issue is the security of lives and property, and he has really done something about it, and I have to praise him, no end for that one.
“I also see that he’s trying to do things in the area of
infrastructure, you know we have
interacted once or twice about the water situation and I know he’s doing something about roads and all that, but I would urge him to do more, as much as possible, try and do more,” Bassey urged.
The former Chairman of the Cross River State Water Board Limited, added that, “At least, he [Otu] has the good intention, and he’s ambitious to do the right thing, and so I have to give him kudos for that. Like I said, the kudos will not be too much, I’ll hold on till the end of his first term and see how it goes. So far, I think he’s going on the right track in a lot of areas, and so let’s just encourage him and see how he does by the end of his administration,” Bassey added.
Converseer further reports that Bassey was a senator of the 8th and 9th National Assembly, from 9 June 2015 to 9 June 2019.
