The most underrated measure of effective governance is peace. In Cross River State, Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s administration has recorded a significant turnaround in the security sector, restoring relative peace and tranquillity across the state. Yet, this achievement remains frustratingly underappreciated, often overshadowed by discussions around infrastructure and other development initiatives whenever the administration’s performance is assessed.
Before Otu assumed office, Cross River’s historic reputation as one of Nigeria’s most peaceful states had suffered considerable setbacks. Kidnappings plagued major routes, including the Calabar-Ikom highway and the Itu-Akwa Ibom corridor, while the Akpabuyo axis and environs also experienced security concerns. Even areas around the University of Calabar and Arthur Jarvis University were not insulated from the wider insecurity affecting the state.
The waterways, once regarded as part of Cross River’s serene tourism appeal and economic lifeline, had become increasingly vulnerable. Communal conflicts erupted in different communities, while cult-related violence and militia activities affected parts of Calabar South, Bakassi, Boki and other areas. The cumulative effect was an unsettling climate of insecurity that threatened lives, livelihoods, investment and the state’s reputation.
In more than three years at the helm, however, Governor Otu’s administration has substantially altered that trajectory. Kidnapping incidents have reduced considerably along previously vulnerable corridors, communal tensions have eased in several areas, cult-related violence and militia activities have been significantly curtailed, and the waterways have become relatively safer.
These gains may not always generate the kind of headlines that new roads, buildings or other physical infrastructure attract, but their impact is profound. A farmer can travel to a farm, a trader can move goods, a student can attend lectures, a business can operate and an investor can consider Cross River with greater confidence when the environment is secure.
Unfortunately, when people discuss the achievements of the Otu administration or ask what it has accomplished, security rarely features prominently in the conversation. This is a curious omission because the restoration of peace is one of the most consequential achievements any government can deliver.
Security is the foundation upon which virtually every other aspect of development rests. Infrastructure cannot deliver its full value where people are afraid to travel; economic activity cannot thrive where businesses operate under constant threat; and tourism cannot flourish where visitors are uncertain about their safety.
It is therefore important to acknowledge the security gains recorded under Governor Otu without suggesting that Cross River has become completely crime-free. No society can make such a claim. Isolated incidents will inevitably occur, and emerging security threats will continue to require vigilance, intelligence-led policing and sustained collaboration among security agencies, communities and government.
What is undeniable, however, is the broader change in the security atmosphere across the state. Cross River has regained much of its reputation for peace and relative safety, creating a more conducive environment for residents, businesses, investors and visitors.
Governor Otu therefore deserves credit for restoring an invaluable commodity that is often taken for granted once it is secured: peace. In governance, some of the most important achievements are not always the most visible. Sometimes, the greatest evidence of success is simply that people can live, work, travel and sleep with greater confidence.
Cross River’s improved security climate is one such achievement, and one that deserves far more recognition in any honest assessment of the Otu administration.
Inyali Peter, Ph.D., writes from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
