Gov Otu Vows To Recover Illegally Acquired C-River Govt Properties
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Inundated with complaints of organised sharp practices within its official circles, the Cross River State Government has vowed to recover all public properties illegally acquired by individuals and organisations in the State.
Consequently, those caught in the web of taking possession of such property unlawfully would not be spared the government’s wrath for their misdemeanor.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Emmanuel Ironbar, made the declaration on Monday during an inspection tour of all government-owned properties within Calabar, the State capital.
He described as ‘quite pathetic’ the situation where government properties have been commandeered or brazenly sold by those given public trust, noting if previous administrations had travel on such ignoble path it would have been difficult for any incoming government to inherit anything to start off.
According to statement by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Ogbeche, the ongoing inspection became necessary given the urgent need to ensure all government properties being occupied by private individuals and unauthorised organisations are immediately recovered in the overall public good.
The statement quoted Hon Ironbar as saying; “Normally at the expiration of one tenure, it is expected that public officials who served in that administration should leave and allow those in the new administration to take over and use the facilities allocated to them for the period of time they will serve in the new government.
“But what I have gone around to see is very pathetic that government properties have been sold out. It is not right because if other administrations before now had done same, then successive governments would not have had any property to inherit”.
However, the Chief of Staff expressed confidence that the Special Committee currently reviewing the transition report as well as that of recovery of government properties will work towards realising their objectives.
The inspection was led by some senior officials of the Cross River State Ministry of Lands and Housing.
