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Ukorebi Esien | June 1, 2026
CALABAR – As Governor Bassey Edet Otu marks three years in office, public discourse in Cross River State appears to be shifting from how the administration has fared in terms of projects, policies and human capital development to growing concerns over the effectiveness of its media and communication machinery to effectively communicate it's programs and achievements to Cross Riverians.
Over the past week, social media platforms have been flooded with comments from residents, political observers, and stakeholders who argue that while the administration may have recorded notable achievements in infrastructure and governance, its media team has struggled to effectively communicate those accomplishments to the public.
The debate gained momentum following widespread criticism of the administration's perceived underperformance, prompting government officials and supporters to begin circulating project updates, road construction reports, and development initiatives across various media channels.
Many commentators, however, believe the response came rather late.
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Paul Ndik, one of several social media users who weighed in on the issue, argued that the Governor's information management structure had not adequately projected ongoing projects despite visible work being done across the state.
According to him, recent presentations by government officials, particularly in the area of road construction, revealed significant achievements that many citizens were unaware of.
"The governor has done exceptionally well in three years, but the media department has done him no good," he stated, calling for greater visibility of government projects through photographs, videos, and regular public engagement.
Similar sentiments were echoed by Marculey Avenue, who blamed what he described as a weak communication culture within the ruling establishment for allowing critics to dominate public conversations surrounding the administration's performance.
For Daniel Onen, the problem goes beyond visibility. He accused government media aides of abandoning their primary responsibility of projecting governance activities in favour of political engagements and online confrontations.
According to him, many Cross Riverians only became aware of several development projects after critics challenged the administration's performance record.
"The Governor does not need to go on television to advertise his work. That is the responsibility of his media aides," he argued.
Another commentator, Ededem Henshaw, maintained that members of the Governor's media team spent more time analysing political actors and electoral calculations than promoting government achievements.
He warned that such an approach contributed to the recent wave of criticism that greeted the administration ahead of the next political cycle.
Etim Alex also questioned the overall effectiveness of the communication structure, suggesting that some appointees appeared more interested in defending political interests than providing strategic public information.
While acknowledging Governor Otu's efforts in stabilising governance and addressing inherited challenges, he argued that the administration's achievements had not been adequately documented or communicated to citizens.
"The people appointed to showcase government achievements are busy creating tensions in the media space instead of engaging constructively and informing the public," he noted.
The growing debate has also reignited conversations about merit, competence, and performance within government communication offices.
Henry Alomi described the situation as a consequence of appointments allegedly driven by compensation rather than professional competence, while other contributors called for a comprehensive review of the state's information management structure.
Questions have also emerged regarding the visibility of ongoing infrastructure projects.
George Odok, a communication expert and veteran Journalist, called on government media officials to provide updated visual evidence of major projects, including the Boki East-West Road, arguing that citizens deserve clear and verifiable information regarding project implementation.
The concerns come despite Governor Otu's recent efforts to strengthen his communication team through a series of appointments, promotions, and restructuring initiatives aimed at improving government-citizen engagement.
Available records show that the administration has recorded three Chief Press Secretaries in three years. Which strengthens the argument of hiring for compensation instead of professionalism. Records also shows that Otu currently maintains an extensive communication architecture that includes the offices of Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Special Adviser on Public Affairs, Special Adviser on Electronic Media, Senior Special Assistants on New Media, Strategic Communications, Broadcast Media, Media Advocacy, Communication, Data Analytics, and several Special Assistants responsible for content development, social media management, photography, cinematography, public orientation, and brand management.
In June 2025, Governor Otu appointed veteran journalist Linus Obogo as Chief Press Secretary and Special Adviser on Media and Publicity while reassigning former Chief Press Secretary, Nsa Gill, as Special Adviser on Public Affairs as part of efforts to strengthen the state's communication strategy.
Further restructuring followed in July 2025 with the elevation and appointment of several media aides across electronic media, new media, content development, strategic communications, public affairs, photography, cinematography, media research, and digital advocacy roles.
Despite these efforts, the ongoing public conversation suggests that many citizens remain concerned about the visibility of government achievements and the effectiveness of the administration's information dissemination strategy.
Political analysts believe the debate highlights an increasingly important aspect of modern governance where performance alone may not be sufficient without an equally effective communication structure capable of documenting, explaining, and projecting government activities to the public.
As Governor Otu enters the last lap of his first tenure, the growing calls for a more proactive and professional communication strategy may prove as significant as discussions surrounding the administration's development projects themselves.
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