Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, has reaffirmed that public feedback remains an indispensable pillar of good governance, describing citizens’ participation as critical to building a responsive, accountable, and people-centred government.
The Governor’s position was conveyed on Friday by the Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. Peter Odey, who represented him at the Public Advocacy Summit themed, “The Role of the People in the People’s Government: Institutionalizing the Feedback Mechanism,” organised by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Content Development and Archiving.
Declaring the summit open at the Metropolitan Hotel, Calabar, Odey said the People First administration recognises public feedback as a vital instrument for shaping government policies and programmes, stressing that governance is most effective when it reflects the aspirations and concerns of the people.
He noted that democracy extends beyond the electoral process, stressing that continuous engagement between government and citizens fosters trust, accountability, and inclusive development, while describing the People First mantra as a deliberate commitment to placing the welfare of Cross Riverians at the heart of governance.
He further emphasised that the voice of the people remains a key measure of purposeful leadership, noting that the administration consistently reviews its policies in response to citizens’ feedback. He therefore encouraged political office holders to sustain regular town hall meetings to remain connected to the needs and aspirations of the people.
Odey highlighted several government interventions informed by public feedback, including the establishment of the State Public Complainant Office, reforms in road traffic management, tax harmonisation, the reduction of traffic fines, and the introduction of free bus services during festive periods. He said the initiatives reflect the administration’s commitment to responsive governance and the institutionalisation of effective feedback mechanisms.
Odey urged citizens to engage government through lawful and constructive channels, assuring them that the Otu administration remains committed to strengthening citizens’ participation, deepening public trust, and advancing the People First philosophy.
In his keynote address, Col. Pam Ogar called for greater collaboration between government and citizens in strengthening participatory governance, urging stakeholders to embrace constructive dialogue, mutual respect, and solution-driven engagement. He cautioned against abusive and divisive public discourse, stressing that while constructive criticism is vital to democracy, it must be expressed responsibly and with the collective interest of Cross River State in mind. He encouraged citizens to offer practical solutions to societal challenges and work together to sustain the state’s development and People First vision.
Earlier, in her welcome address, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Content Development and Archiving, Mrs. Beatrice Akpala, described the summit as a strategic platform for deepening democratic participation and strengthening collaboration between government and the people. She said the theme underscored the importance of institutionalising feedback mechanisms to ensure citizens remain active partners in governance and contributors to public policy.
Akpala commended Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s people-centred leadership, noting that the administration’s achievements in infrastructure, education, healthcare, agriculture, tourism, youth empowerment, and economic recovery are further strengthened through constructive public engagement. She urged participants to contribute meaningfully to the discussions and work collectively towards building a more prosperous, transparent, and inclusive Cross River State.
High point of the event was the official unveiling of the Content Development Magazine by the Deputy Governor, assisted by the representative of the Wife of the Governor, Dr. Comfort Oko, keynote speaker, Col. Pam Ogar, representative of the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Sylvester Agabi, and other dignitaries. The summit also featured paper presentations by Senator Prof. Stephen Odey, Rt. Hon. John Lebo, Prof. Francisca Bassey, Dr. (Mrs.) Glory Tony Effiong, and Dr. Bong Duke.
Deputy Governor’s Press Unit,
Government House, Calabar
July 24, 2026
