Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State, is commissioning and inspecting several projects as his tenure closes. One of these is the monorail. His Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, speaks to journalists in Calabar. REUBEN BOJOR was also there for TheNEWS

Despite the not so impressive economy, the governor is still commissioning projects with the monorail being the latest. Can you shed some light on that?

Let me begin with the monorail project. Actually, about 80 ;per cent of the project has been completed so it is at the final stage. What he did was, to receive and inspect the coaches for the monorail which just arrived. So in a couple of weeks, the rail will commence operation between Tinapa business resort and the new development area called Summit Hills where you have the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC).

But the summit hill is yet to be completed so it is bound to derail the commencement of the monorail…

No. It will be completed before then. If you go there, there is 24 hours work in progress including Sundays.

What has brought this delay. Is it politics?

No. It is not politics. It is just that, there are some factors that are not under the state government’s control. For example, the manufacturing process as the rail is customized with the colour and logo of Cross River State Government. So it is something that has been embarked upon for a while. What I want to assure you is that, the governor will complete all his projects, commission and make them available for the Cross River people.

But there are fears that, the centre will likely experience the sorry state of the Tinapa Resort…

Well, the CICC is quite different from Tinapa in the sense that the factors that are to make Tinapa work are not in the hands of the state government. And that’s one lesson the governor learnt when he came into government that when embarking on projects you don’t involve parties that will cause a set-back. Tinapa was dependent on outside factors such as the federal government. The Convention Centre will not experience such. As I speak to you, even before its completion, booking has commenced. In fact, a competent management team is in place. So CICC won’t suffer the fate of Tinapa. And what you must also understand is that, the governor conceived the idea of Summit hills and CICC in particular in a bid to increase transactions with Tinapa. So CICC is meant to synergise Tinapa. What we are looking at is, now, we have a convention centre, rated the third best in the world. When activities such as conventions, seminars and all that begins to roll in, Tinapa is set to make provisions for accommodation and shopping for the guests whom will be chauffeured by the monorail.

•Christian Ita

A good number of companies are operating here in Calabar. One of which is, General Electric; GE and lots more, yet indigenes are not having a feel of their activities.

It is not true. People are picking up jobs. You don’t expect somebody there to come and give you one. When they get them, there can’t come announcing to you that they have gotten a job. In the last three years, besides, Lagos and Rivers States, Cross River has attracted the highest public direct investment. Over $ 2.5 billion has been invested in the economy in the past three years. And there is nowhere you will invest that sum of money and jobs will not come. Wilmar international, has invested over $ 450,000 million on agriculture. In fact, there are villages in Akamkpa, Wilmar’s location today where you will not find an unemployed person. The idea is also that the state can no longer operate a plantation economy. So in agriculture for example, the governor insists on value chain addition where by the time Wilmar is set to begin production, it will set up a millinery, where the oil and other raw materials are converted into finished and consumable goods rather than taking them to other climes for processing. Everything will be done here for the benefit of all.

There is an interview we had with the governor-elect, where he said he is going to convert forest conservation to management. Can you throw more light on that…

That question should be referred to the spokeman of the governor-elect. I am the spokeman of Senator Imoke and not the governor-elect. What I do know about the forest is that we have to conserve our forest for a long period and because it is the largest remaining forest in the entire Africa. It has earned the state what is caled carbon credit which gives Cross River the credit to start earning money for its forest from the United Nations. If I may recall, it was in 2013, that the state government signed the REDD’s agreement. It is well known that Cross River forest is rated as one of the worst biodiversity hotspots. So we are preserving our forest because it also earns money. So that has been the underlining principle of Governor Imoke.

As the governor is about to leave, there is that lack of festivity in comparison to when he came in…

It is well known fact that things are a bit tough globally. Particularly in Nigeria, where the dwindling oil price which resulted in reduction of state revenue so it’s bound to yield some bitters. But there are cubes of sugar! Walk along the streets of Calabar, see houses, not built by politicians but ordinary citizens. Before Imoke came, Calabar was a sleepy town. Now, 2.0 am to 3.0 am, the city is still bubbling. With these, where do you think they are getting the money from? Like I keep saying, an investment of such sums of money in the state attracts huge economy gains. The economy is not docile. It is only a mis-reading of a tiny group.

Can you narrate your experience as a pen pusher in the corridors of power in comparison to when you were an editor in one of the dailies. There is that professional shifting of post…

Truth is, unlike when you write from the comfort of your editorship, the experience is you see things from a different perspective. It is not about shifting poles or posts but being true to the principles that defines you as a journalist. Once in government, you see things from different perspectives because you are now an insider which is contrary to what is happening in the street. So in a way, it has to temper you a little. The truth of the matter is that, all along, I have stayed true to myself in the sense that, I do my job diligently at the same time I don’t lose sight of the ideals that I have espoused over the years. So I don’t believe office changes a person. I think it is about the individual and what you think who employed you wants.

Basically my job here is to serve as a communication link between the governor and the people. To let the people know from your known perspective, what this governor is doing to enhance their lot. So it is not about defending somebody or not. Truth is that there is so much falsehood out there about those in government even in a state like Cross River, where there is genuine leadership, despite the limited resources to enhance development. You find some people inputting certain negativity which is baseless. For me, if you talk about Cross River in the negative perspective, what about the positive aspects? How come in eight years with a revenue allocation from federal government that hovers between N3 billion and less, this administration has done a lot?

Why don’t we talk about the construction of over 1,100 rural roads, the massive urban renewal in Cross River towns, which have been converted from glorious towns to mega towns with network of roads, stadia, hundreds housing units for her civil servants.

Why don’t we talk about 179 communities having electricity, the good performance rate of our students in national examinations with the state government paying their WAEC and NECO fees and over a thousand schools built and renovated with state of the arts libraries, laboratories, staff rooms and quarters, the blue buildings and roofs are everywhere for you to see.

Why don’t we talk about Cross River having the best technical and management institution; The Institute of Technology and Management in Ugep, managed by a highbrow UK Institute. How about the College of Education, the infrastructure invested there is incomparable. Over 1,110 health posts spread all over the state with ambulance vans in each local government. About 30,000 people receive free eye surgery. There is near zero infant and maternal mortality with children from zero to five years including pregnant women having free access to medical care.

How about the human capacity development and the social safety nets, with the booming agro, engineering, manufacturing and tourism firms littered all over the entire state? Except in the seventies during Esuene, this has never happened. Governor Imoke deserves commendation. A big kudos.

Look, governance is not about giving out money but creating an enviable environment for the people to carry out their activities. The foundation of economy without oil is already thriving in Cross River State. This is the only state that can do without oil. It is not the mouthing on pages of papers. In the future I doubt if there will be any state that will compete with the state.