In an open letter addressed to His Excellency, Sen. Prince Bassey Edet Otu, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, the Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) has urged swift action following the Supreme Court’s recent judgment. The court’s decision on July 11, 2024, mandates financial autonomy for Local Government Councils across Nigeria. The letter signed by the CUPP Chairman, Amb. Dr. John Ogar, highlighted the chronic neglect of grassroots governance in Cross River State. He called on the governor to ensure the state complies with the Supreme Court ruling and Federal Government directives, moving away from the practices of the previous administration under Prof. Ben Ayade.The letter stresses the need for a functional Local Government Administration to positively impact the grassroots and improve governance perceptions. Additionally, CUPP appeals for an inclusive political environment that aligns with the Governor’s ‘people first’ manifesto.
Excerpt from the Letter:
MATTER OF URGENT ATTENTION:
We under the auspices of The Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP) in Cross River State, are compelled to write to you following the Supreme Court’s judgment on the 11th July, 2024, granting financial autonomy to Local Government Councils in the country. Consequently, we urge you to take immediate steps to ensure Cross River State joins the list of states with functional Local Government Administrations, in line with the supreme court ruling and position of the federal government. The neglect of grassroots governance has been a recurring trend in Cross River State, perpetuated by the immediate past APC administration of Prof. Ben Ayade’s tenure to the current administration in the state. As a coalition of political parties, we implore you to restore the functional Local Government Administration, enabling the people at the grassroots to feel the impact of governance and eradicating the negative perception created by the consistent neglect. Furthermore, we wish you well as we appeal to you to create an enabling atmosphere and level playing field for all political parties, which allows the people to choose their leaders freely, in line with the ‘people first’ mantra enshrined in your manifesto.
