The association of the rainbow with new beginnings, with promises, withvisions of peace and prosperity is widely held. A quilt on the other hand, ismany patches of many different colours that are worked into a harmonious design. A quilt is made from rags, from cast off clothing and from bits and pieces of material that are too small to make a regular article of clothes. In a legend, the Leprechaun hides his gold at the end of the rainbow, and anyone who finds it, may keep it.These two powerful metaphors reflect, in their different imagery, the strategic direction of the administration of Governor Liyel Imoke. The agenda Imoke brought into office in August 26, 2008 consisted of a Seven-Point (Rainbow Number) Development Agenda, and a readiness to take the government to those who need it most, especially the rural poor, the urban poor , and other (quilt) on the lower rungs of the socio-economic ladder. This broad but wholistic agenda was first articulated in 2007, and reiterated in 2008 following Governor Imoke's victory in an Appeal Court ordered rerun of the gubernatorial elections.This hybrid agenda is responsible for the fundamental transformation of the socio-political architecture of Cross River State in the years following Imoke's election. For the peoples of the Cross River State, the Imoke years are years of renewal, of fresh beginning, of a purpose driven-government, of fiscal responsibility, of value for money via cost-efficient services and contracts, of educational renaissance, of quality health care delivery, and ultimately of the restoration of the dignity and pride of even the most average Cross Riverian.Now with barely a year to the expiration of his first term mandate, no rational critic can ignore or fault the fact that Governor Imoke has fulfilled, to a very large extent, the promises of his mandate and a call to service. It was a mandate to bring forth the vision and courage to reinvent Cross River State and set her on the path of wealth. Governor Imoke has not fallen short of the high hopes and expectations the state had at his election.Senator Imoke has been able to strike a balance between human and physical development within the limitations of the government's Seven-Point-Agenda and availability of funds, of critical importance is the fact that financial challenges confronting the government have not completely stalled the drive of the governments programmes and projects on health, education, agriculture, tourism, environment, private sector, and infrastructure upgrade and maintenance.In education for instance, reforms at all levels have been matched with award of scholarship at undergraduate and post-graduate levels. Funds have been provided for the upgrade of facilities in tertiary institutions. This has facilitated the accreditation of courses for academic programmes. Commercialisation and mechanisation programmes in agriculture have resulted in the empowerment of more than 3,000 households through parcellation of farmlands of high economic value. The governments free health policy for pregnant women and children, and the Conditional Cash Transfer programme for poor households have proved effective in addressing lack of access to health services and economic and educational opportunities.Massive provision of infrastructure in rural areas, especially roads, electricity, water and bridges is counterbalanced with the reconstruction and maintenance of urban roads and other infrastructure. New intra-urban roads are under construction together with the development of new residential layouts and neighbourhoods.One of the most significant achievements of these past three years is the computerisation of the operations of all MDAs, automation of Internally Generated Revenue streams. Regular monitoring and evaluation of on-going projects have ensured adherence to specifications and enhanced value for money.The government's ambitious greening programme, as part of a broader climate change agenda, is on course. Significant mileage has been added to it with the planting of 500,000 trees, and strengthening of an existing ban on logging. Five urban development authorities have been equipped with the appropriate equipment to maintain infrastructure and ensure clean and green cities. Prompt waste evacuation system and constant desilting of drainages have helped in checking floods and erosion menace.Bureaucratic reforms have created a well motivated and more productive/workforce. Staff morale has been greatly boosted with car loans, staff housing, better work conditions, regular and prompt payment of salaries, and other welfare issues. Most office complexes have been renovated and affixed with new signages.Governor Imoke started his phenomenal administration on a very strong footing, indeed, in terms of the breadth and dimension of his vision, it was like he jumped the gun so to say. In terms of his developmental spectrum for Cross River State, Imoke is clearly living in the future. The administration's Energy City Project, Calabar Modern Market Project, Calabar International Conference Centre, the Calabar Rivera Club, the expansion of the Margaret Ekpo International Airport and a Specialist Hospital that will serve as a referral centre in the subregion.The Governor's intervention in health manifested in the provision of free health care for pregnant women and children under five and the upgrading of health facilities to meet international bench-marks. These include general hospitals, primary health care centres, and health institutions for the training of health workers and equipping the health facilities with modern health equipment.In three years Governor Imoke has fulfilled the promises he made to the electorate, and discharged the burden of his overwhelming mandate. This has engineered confidence in his leadership, accorded him unprecedented popularity and connected him with the electorate. He has shown that he is a leader who cannot only be trusted but who is also worth doing business with. It has always been said that the value of a leader is his ability to strike the right chord in people and also empower them to attain their basic needs in life and assure them of a glorious future.Okoi wrote in from Calabar
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