Cross River can be self-sustaining with huge mineral resources – Commissioner

Ehigimetor Igbaugba

Mr Oliver Orok, Cross River Commissioner for Agriculture, has said the state would need not to rely on federal allocation if its huge deposit of mineral resources was harnessed.

Orok, who stated this while interacting with newsmen on Wednesday in Calabar, said the minerals could be found in almost the entire local government areas of the central senatorial district of the state.

Oliver commended Gov. Ben Ayade for his developmental strides within the last eight years, adding that Cross River had no business with poverty.

He said this was because there was no council area in the state without its potentiality of contributing to the development of the area and that of the State by extension.

The commissioner said the incoming administration of Sen. Bassey Otu, had a lot to look forward to in boosting the revenue base of Cross River.

“Otu will certainly do well to change the fortune of Cross River, he has all that it takes to achieve that.

“Cross River is blessed and has potential to be self sustainable when the huge mineral resources deposit is fully harnessed for the greater benefit of the people. All these abound in the Central Senatorial District of the state.

“Agriculture is also another area where we have huge potential; from rice to groundnut, cocoa, rubber, oil palm and others. The state has no business being poor.

Bassey Otu must also work assiduously to shore up revenue and also block all leakages,” he stated.

Oliver also pointed out what Cross River would benefit from the development of the Bakassi Deep Sea Port.

He said that the development of the port would radically transform the economic wellbeing of the people through massive job creation as well as shore up the revenue base of the state.

“The development of the port will be a win-win thing for both the state and country in general,” he stated.

He further called on the Federal Government to assist the incoming administration of Bassey Otu by putting into use the cooked oil wells in the state.

The commissioner, however, urged the people to support the incoming administration to succeed.

On Ayade’s achievements, Oliver said history would be kind to the governor for his faith in the youth across the three senatorial districts.

He said that following Ayade to the All Progressives Congress (APC) was the best decision most of them ever took in their political journey.

According to him, “Leaving PDP opened ways for most of the young politicians in Cross River today. If we haven’t left, I won’t have this opportunity am having today.

“God used Ayade to raise many of the youths to become what they are today politically. Ayade made youths to become leaders of the present generation and not future generation.

“It was the reason why youths in Cross River were propelled to work for the success of the APC in Cross River.

“PDP and its old politicians have their connections in Abuja but in APC, your connection is what you have to offer and Ayade is always ready to give you that opportunity, irrespective of your age.”

(NAN)