Governor Otu Relocates Abandoned Ayade-Era Generators to Calabar, Cites Misuse of State Assets

Governor Bassey Otu of Cross River State has explained why he ordered the relocation of several large generators that were previously bought and left unused in the hometown of his predecessor, Prof. Ben Ayade, to the Government House in Calabar.

The directive to move the generators was issued last week in a letter signed by the State Security Adviser, Major General Okoi Obono.

Early last year, the Cross River State House of Assembly raised concerns about state-owned assets allegedly being held by the former governor, including heavy-duty generators and agricultural tractors. Some of these items were recovered and returned to Calabar.

Governor Otu stated that he personally approved the removal of the generators after discovering they had been stored at the Obudu German Hospital, a facility that requires constant electricity.

According to him, the generators had never functioned since their delivery, and he had to procure a new solar-powered generator from Belgium for the hospital’s operations.

He noted that the previously unused generators would now be used to boost electricity supply at the Government House in Calabar, rather than allowing them to continue deteriorating in Obudu.

In recent months, the state government has intensified efforts to retrieve state assets that were allegedly taken or illegally occupied.

Gilbert Agbor, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Assets Management and Recovery of State Property, told reporters that several movable and immovable assets have already been reclaimed under the current administration’s initiative, which began two years ago.