Cross River GUBER Race 2012: Usani lines out program

 

Usani Uguru Usani is a seasoned scholar and astute administrator; he has served in many reputable educational institutions across the globe. Born in Nko, Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State about 50 years ago, Usani has served the Cross River State government in various capacities. He was one time Personal Assistant to the governor in speech writing analysis, Director Urban Nigerian Estate Limited, Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Development, Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources and one time member Governing Board of Nigerian Copy Rights Commission among others.

Still determined to serve, Usani is now bracing up to fly the gubernatorial flag in Cross River under the platform of the Action Congress of Nigeria (CAN). He spoke with newsmen recently in Calabar. Our reporter, Augustina Todo, who attended the session, brings excerpts of the interaction.

 QUESTION: Why are you aspiring to become governor?

ANSWER: I am qualified. I find gaps I can fill in the area of administration and appropriation of values of society. The gaps also exist in the gagging of the political will of the people. There is no facet of social and political lives of Cross Riverians where gaps do not exist. I have the knowledge and skills to dispense what is required to make the society better.

QUESTION: What is your vision for the people?

ANSWER: To initiate and sustain development. When I say initiate it might suggest I am saying there has been no development.  To initiate development will mean to enhance the society in such a way that the people will be equipped enough and given platforms and opportunities to make choices where they want to apply the knowledge and skills they will acquire or have acquired. By this form of development, people are not compelled to take what is available but to apply themselves in the area of choice to their own fulfillment. This is my vision. For every vision, there are objectives and rudiments of how to achieve this which will anchor on sector to sector activities.

QUESTION: You were a commissioner during the military era. How would you compare military regime and democracy?

ANSWER: Lets pick a few areas and objects to scrutiny. First, take security. How many people were murdered during the military and now, how many people were murdered over a given period of time? How many medical doctors were unemployed between then and now? How stable was the educational sector between then and now? Carry out a personal assessment and the judgment is yours. Now is democracy. I expected better services because in democracy, people have more privileges to express themselves.

QUESTION: if given the mandate to lead Cross River, which area will you intervene?

ANSWER: Schools in the state will enroll for NECO Exams. Fees in tertiary institutions will be cut down by at least 70 percent. Social security will be guaranteed, that is, intervention actions in the health sector where the elderly and children will have free medical care and even if you do nothing else, we should guarantee free education at primary and secondary school levels. The civil servants will not only be promoted as at when due but will be trained to acquire skills so that even at retirement, they will not fear because you can use your skills to make earns meet.

We will not temper with local government funds. We will run programmes to aid widows. The youths will be given a pride of place in the administration. They will be supported in the area of bursary, scholarships will be awarded and people trained in vocational skills. Where the need arises, some of these could be trained even outside the country. We will initiate actions that will assuage difficulties encountered by commuters. Provision of infrastructure is a necessity and right of the people. We will focus attention of Cross Riverians to boost enterprises. Tourism will be approached from the perspective of eco-tourism and not just jamborees’. In Cross River, there is no agricultural product that can not be cultivated. Thus agricultural will be given its rightful pride of place. Hold me by my words. If in office and tenure of the state electoral commission expires, I will appoint a chairman we can not control so that the commission will remain independent. I will create a mentality revolution which will make our people come out of fear because it is fear that makes people live a docile and timid life style.

QUESTION: Do you intend to scrap the department of public transportation?

ANSWER: If the objectives of the department are inimical to the good of the people, we will scrap but if not, we will modify.

QUESTION:  Would you increase or reduce forms of taxations?

ANSWER: Taxes are social responsibility but not meant to cripple the people. We will abolish several forms of taxations.

QUESTION:   Owing to the poor financial status of the State which is attributed to the ceding of our oil wells to Akwa Ibom, how will you cope?

ANSWER: First, I will like you to discern whether all the truth has been told to us. One, an ailing economy will not buy an aircraft. From the grape vine, the figure I heard they collect monthly is enough to sustain my administration. The issue here is revenue management. You can’t rely on school fees and taxes for revenue generation. This is docile mentality.

QUESTION:  How bright are your chances considering that ACN has only one member in the state house?

ANSWER:I believe the Honorable members will work according to their oath to serve the people of Cross River. So, if they see the things they know will serve Cross River better, they will be patriotic enough to co-operate. They know that what ever they do, the masses will judge them.

QUESTION: The incumbent governor is from the central senatorial district just like you.  Will you quit office after one term to give room to the northern senatorial district since they feel this is their turn? Is this time auspicious for you to come out?

ANSWER: When I attempted to come out in 2003, I had told my supporters that I will finish four years and hand over. If I am to be assessed by what I am known for and at what point I have said a thing and deviated. The north should not worry about Usani leaving office after four years. I will.

QUESTION:  Presuming you come in to meet an empty treasury, what will you do?

ANSWER: I feel these concerns should come for more prudent management of resources. The present government had said they will let us know what Donald Duke did. If these things eg Tinapa that Duke built are investments, we should be having returns by now. Where are the returns? Let them tell us the whole truth. If we have limited resources, we will reprioritize. Three years ago, internally generated revenue was more than 1billion naira monthly. I am told that those who want to 'suck blood' from Cross Riverians are now targeting 3billion naira monthly. This is taking Cross Riverians too far. The people should not be taken for granted.

QUESTION: What is your take on the removal of subsidy on petroleum products?

ANSWER: Nigerians should not be made to be worse off. You would realize that life expectancy is now lower. Government should put in place institutions to aid social security and alleviate the plight of the masses. Removing the subsidy now is too early.

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