Magnus Effiong
The Chairman of Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State, Hon. Ofem Ebri Obeten, has said criticism from his political foes spurred him to archeive the giant strides he recorded during his tenure as council chairman.
Hon Obeten said this in a valedictory speech, organised by his administration, at the Conference Hall of Yakurr Council Guest House to mark the end of his tenure in office, and which he also used to say thank you to all who assisted his administration
While soliciting for projection of the good image of the Yakurr nation at home and in diaspora, the council boss said, “I begged that you forgive us in places that my team and I wronged you. We must have stepped on toes in the course of trying to discharge our duties.
“It couldn’t have been possible without you and the criticism that we got. Like it is often said, no one achieves success without the help of others.
“Let me extend my profound gratitude to all members of my Exco who assisted us out with some of the most fundemental questions that we had.
“We laud our friends, families and foes for their patience, support and love, through thier constructive criticism, provision of one form of support or the other, got us to achieve the feat we recorded. It was the inspiration and motivation for us to actualize our goal.
“I cannot gloss over the central role of our royal fathers. To our royal fathers, you did so l well to have stood solidly behind us, throughout the period of our administion. It couldn’t have been possible without you”.The council boss maintained.
The Council Boss stressed that despite the series of civil disturbance that broke out between Nko and Oyedama communities, Mkpani and Aduma internal wrangling, Idomi chieftaincy tussle which created a civil war scenario, cultism and outbreak of banditry within his council area which almost caused him emotional breakdown, he and his team were unperturbed.
Obeten, who was a former counselor of Ijom ward but latter became a council chairman, charged appointees in his administration to create opportunities for others to benefit notwithstanding how small the privilege might be.
He enumerated his giant strides to include erecting Ijom multi-purpose health centre, construction of a bridge at hospital road by Ikom- Calabar Highway, Construction of Okoi Arikpo round about, renovation and furnishing of Chairman’s residential quarters and provision of solar street lights.
In his earlier remarks, leader of Yakurr Legislative Assembly, Hon. Usang Eteng Mbang, who spoke in company of Council secretary, Mr. Mbang Bassey Mbang, lauded the council chairman for the cordial relationship that existed among staff of the council.
