Former Cross River State Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, has described Governor Bassey Edet Otu’s leadership style as one driven by project completion, continuity of vision and sustainable development rather than the pursuit of personal legacy.

Imoke made the remarks at the 16th Career Day Conference of the Bridge Leadership Foundation held at the University of Calabar Conference Centre, where Governor Otu attended as the special guest of honour.

He commended Otu for demonstrating a leadership style rooted in listening, inclusiveness and service, saying the governor’s participation reflected an administration that identifies with the aspirations of young Cross Riverians.

“Your Excellency, I can’t thank you enough. We have a government that listens and is part of us,” Imoke said.

The former governor said his observation of the Otu administration revealed a leader committed to completing inherited projects, preserving public investments and advancing the state’s development.

“When you enter Government House, the first thing people will tell you is your legacy. But I have observed, in a very quiet manner, that Prince Otu is not about that. He is about completion, understanding the vision and taking that vision to the next level,” he said.

Imoke cited the completion of the Local Government Service Commission headquarters in Calabar, a project initiated during his administration but abandoned for years, as evidence of Otu’s commitment to continuity in governance.

According to him, the governor completed the project beyond expectations, demonstrating that government projects should not be abandoned simply because they were initiated by previous administrations.

He also highlighted the ongoing completion of the Calabar International Conference Centre (CICC), which he said was conceived to strengthen Cross River’s position as a tourism and conference destination.

Imoke noted that several components of the facility remained unfinished when he left office but expressed satisfaction that the Otu administration now regards the project as a state asset rather than the legacy of a previous government.

“Eleven years later, Governor Otu is not looking at the project as a predecessor’s project. He is looking at it as a Cross River State project—an asset that needs to be completed,” he said.

The former governor stressed that development should transcend political affiliations, insisting that governance must remain focused on improving the lives of citizens.

“When it comes to development, we can’t be talking about party lines. We are talking about development and the people. The most important people are the people we serve,” he added.

Imoke further praised Otu’s humility, reconciliatory approach and commitment to unity, particularly his decision to recognise and honour former governors of the state, describing it as a move that would strengthen collective ownership of Cross River’s future.

“The future of Cross River State lies in the collective. Our political differences, if they exist, cannot overshadow our focus on the development and growth of our society,” he said.

He also lauded the governor’s investment in human capital development, noting that leadership extends beyond infrastructure to empowering young people and preparing future generations.

Imoke thanked Otu for attending the Bridge Leadership Foundation conference, describing him as the first sitting governor of the state to participate in the foundation’s annual event.