“I have 13 wards in my LGA and have executed projects in more than nine of them. I can provide evidence of visible achievements across my council,” he said.
By TheInvestigator
A Senior Special Assistant on Media Research to Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Otu, Ms Phylo Odu, has accused local government chairmen in the state of poor governance practices, ranging from mismanagement of resources to nepotism and abandonment of grassroots responsibilities.
In a statement shared on her social media handle titled “Cross River’s LGA Chairmen Are Not Helping Otu’s Administration,” Odu alleged that several council bosses frequently lament poor allocations while simultaneously acquiring new properties, running their councils from Calabar or Abuja, and sidelining qualified locals in favour of close associates.
She claimed that some chairmen have converted their councils into “family empires,” installing unqualified relatives in key positions even as infrastructure decays and community needs remain unmet. Odu also criticised those who complain of inadequate funding yet travel regularly to Abuja to receive “awards of excellence,” describing the practice as contradictory and misleading.
According to her, Governor Otu has set a clear direction for development at the grassroots, but the performance of certain local government heads falls short of the administration’s expectations. She called for reforms that would ensure that competent, vibrant, and community-oriented individuals, not retirees or political placeholders, are elected as chairmen.
ALGON Chair Responds
Reacting swiftly, the Chairman of Yakurr Local Government and head of the Cross River chapter of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Mr Yibala Inyang, dismissed Odu’s claims as baseless.
In an interview, Inyang explained that all councils in the state operate under the Joint Account Committee (JAC), which regulates financial decisions in conjunction with the state government. He stressed that Governor Otu’s administration has not withheld local government funds.
He accused Odu of failing to carry out proper fact-finding, arguing that her general criticisms distort the realities of work being done at the grassroots level.
“I have 13 wards in my LGA and have executed projects in more than nine of them. I can provide evidence of visible achievements across my council,” he said.
Inyang urged government appointees to verify information before making public statements, warning that baseless accusations could create unnecessary tension within the administration. “Local government chairmen are part of the same political family. We should not wash our dirty linen in public,” he cautioned.
He further challenged the governor’s aide to provide specific, verifiable examples rather than sweeping allegations, stressing that performance should be assessed individually across the 18 local government areas.