BY: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
The Chairman of Bakassi Local government area, Hon Iyadim Amboni Iyadim, has restated his position in carrying everyone along irrespective of physical handicap or political lining in order to create a sense of belonging amongst the people of the area
Speaking while receiving the Special Assistant Inter_Party ( South), Mr Dunamis Archibong and the Special Assistant Agric Research, Mr Anthony Bassey, during a joint courtesy call in his office, Iyadim disclosed that the decision is in line with the magnanimity which the governor of Cross River, Prof Sir Ben Ayade, has extended to none PDP members and physically challenged persons of the state origin
He said in line with the concept ,the council is planning a ward tour which will afford both the executive and legislature the opportunity to know the needs of the people, explaining that it is the desire of his administration to locate one project in a ward as away of creating government presence as well as uplifting the living standard of the people
He expressed his preparedness to partner the federal and state government in their respective agriculture programs as they will not only boost production but also turn around the fortunes of the local farmers
According to him, with and expanse of an arable land and marine potentials, Bakassi stands to benefit from such partnership
Earlier,the Special Assistant, Inter Party ( South) ,Mr Dunamis Archibong, who said he was impressed with what he saw in Bakassi within the short stay of the present Council, commended Iyadim for the quality capacity shown
Archibong commended the people coexistence which is enjoyed in Bakassi and added that all hands must be on deck for the area to go places
He hinted that modalities are being worked on an agric project which will see all the local government areas come to Bakassi for training with the hope of transforming the economy
He said as the fourth schedule in the constitution , local government areas are expected to key into Prof Ben Ayade’s policy for an inclusive governance in order to carry everyone along
The Special Assistant on Agric Research Mr Anthony Bassey, disclosed that the office which is created by the state governor is expected to liaise with agric research institutions and make their findings available to local farmers to boost their yields
Bassey noted that his office will bring some crops to create value chain, stressing that research has shown that some crops which were hitherto believed not to grow in southern Nigeria can grow in places like Bakassi , adding that through partnership with the federal, state governments and Central Bank of Nigeria CBN, the internally generated revenue of the council will improve
He said research has proven that high revenue yielding crops like groundnut, sugar cane,soya beans and sesame ( beniseed) can grow in Bakassi , adding that with the Council’s participation in agriculture, a lot of idle youths will be taken off the streets
