The Northern Cross River Leadership for Growth and Development Forum held its inaugural meeting on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, with a commitment to drive development and political cohesion in the region.
The body, comprising elders and grassroots leaders, has a mandate to unify, harmonize, harvest and mobilize the leadership and people of the Northern Senatorial District to support regional growth, boost electoral fortunes and identify key development priorities for the area.
Convening at the Silver Maris Hotel in Obudu, the leaders expressed profound gratitude to the Cross River State Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, for establishing a “credible, selfless and responsible leadership coordinating team” tasked with the responsibility of galvanizing the people of the district.
The body pledged its complete and effective support for the coordinating team’s mandate, with all five local government chairmen from the Northern Senatorial District committing their backing to the new structure.
The Forum addressed key challenges and laid out strategic resolutions. Members highlighted significant difficulties in the ongoing voters’ registration exercise, citing transportation as a major hurdle in reaching hard-to-access areas.
To overcome this, the team suggested ways and means to enable council chairmen and local government Community Relations Officers (CROs) to improve mobilization.
Additionally, they resolved to activate local government coordinating teams to engage effectively to strengthen grassroots structures with traditional rulers and stakeholders ahead of a planned visit by His Excellency, Governor Otu in preparation for the 2027 political cycle.
The coordinating team is scheduled to visit all five LGAs for this assignment.
The forum recognized the vital roles of Community Relations Officers (CROs), resolving that CROs across the State Constituencies be provided with necessary tools to become “veritable change agents.”
The leaders acknowledged the determination of chapter chairmen to provide effective leadership at the grassroots, ensuring continuous support for the government at all levels.
Technological challenges related to the voter registration exercise were noted, such as the scarcity of machines stationed only at INEC local government headquarters and poor network connectivity, which hampers progress.
To ensure widespread communication of activities, the forum resolved to synergize with various support groups, including the “Prince is Coming,” Faith Based Organizations, Civil Society Organizations and Non-Governmental Organizations.
The body also encouraged cascading its activities to the wards by creating ward coordinating teams and deploying recently appointed Ward Relations officers as members.
The inaugural meeting was attended by key stakeholders such as Chief Dr. Peter Ojie, High Chief Dr Tony Undiandeye, Honorable Signor Omang Idiege (Ada Bekwarra II), Chief Emma Odo, Hon Maurice Wayas Evey, All Council Chairmen, All Chapter Chairmen, All Community Relations Officers, Five Women Leaders and Five Youth Leaders.
