Hon. Bette Philip Obi’s 1-Year Legislative Journey

Hence every servant is subject to the master, elected officeholders especially are bound by the same moral, logical and contractual obligation to return periodically with a bag full of stewardship for the electorates who entrusted them with their votes to x-ray.

This practice of scorecard presentation is said to enhance accountability, stimulate patriotism, increase access to information, review existing policies and postulate ideas that necessarily position a Constituency in a vintage path of socioeconomic and political transformation.

That said, Hon. Bette Philip Obi, Chairman House Committee on Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, Cross River State House of Assembly representing Boki 1 State Constituency who assumed office on 13 June 2023 is not immune from the tradition of scorecard presentation on the journey thus far.
He assumed office with great expectations from constituents of Boki 1 to ameliorate her plights through sound, effective and people-oriented legislation.
Within these 365 days of his reign as Lawmaker, Hon. Bette Obi has made deliberate efforts to live indelible legacies in the Legislative Organ in Cross River State with Bills, Co-sponsored Bills, Motions, Co-sponsored Motions, Oversight functions, Empowerments, and other Outreaches as would be discussed beneath.

BILLS BY HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI

A Bill by way of introduction is a proposal for a new law, or a proposal to significantly change an existing law considered obsolete or not accommodative of new developments.
A Bill does not become Law until it is debated, voted on, passed by the legislature and in most cases given Executive endorsement.
Given the above, Hon. Bette Philip Obi stands out with thought thought-blazing proposal for new Laws, amendment of old Laws and partnership with colleagues to enthrone good governance in the state.

1. A Bill for a Law to Establish Cross River State Agency on Infrastructure Development, Asset Management, Monitoring of all Telecommunication Operators in the State, Infrastructure Safety in the State, Repeal of Cross River State Infrastructure Regulatory Agency Law, 2015 and other matters connected therewith.
   This Bill seeks to establish the Cross River State Infrastructure Development Agency (referred to in the Law as “the Agency”).

The objectives of this Law when passed are to provide for effective preservation and maintenance of assets owned or controlled by the State Government, provide a uniform management framework for sustainability, efficiency and accountability in the use and management of such assets, ensure proper monitoring and accountability for capital and recurrent works, improving health and safety in the work environment among other noble objectives.

2. A Bill To Establish Cross River State Forestry Research Institute.
   Taking into cognizance the scenography of Boki gifted with tropical rainforest, Hon. Bette Philip Obi
   proposed a Law to establish a state-owned Forestry Research Institute to effectively manage the forests.
   Merits of the Bill include research, experimentation, sample application and patenting, and improvement of the genetic resources of forest trees and ecosystems for economic development.

CO-SPONSORED BILLS BY, HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI.

1. Hon. Bette Philip Obi Co-sponsored a Bill targeted at electricity stability in Cross River State.
   This Bill seeks
   for a Law to provide for the Establishment of the Cross River State Electricity Board and other
   Matters connected therewith.
2. A Bill for a Law to provide for the Cross River State Preservation of Public Peace and other Matters connected therewith.
   The objective of the proposed Law is to foster the preservation of public peace in the state by empowering the Governor and the Local Government Chairmen as Chief Security Officers.

MOTIONS BY, HON. BETTE PHILIP OBO.

1. A Motion calling on the state Government to as a matter of urgency, lift the embargo on logging in the state to usher in sustainable management of our rich tropical rainforest.
   The benefits of lifting the ban on logging include Revenue generation, Medicine, Forest regeneration, Restoration of Forest Management Committees, Development partner support and Watershed management.
2. A Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to Relocate the Anti-cult/kidnapping Squad Station from the Cultural Centre Complex in Calabar to an alternative location in Calabar and to Establish a sub-station at the abandoned Police station at Ikot Edem village of in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
3. A Motion calling on the Cross River State Government to restore Electricity in Akpabuyo and Bakassi Local Government Areas.
4. A Motion calling on Cross River State Government to Reinstate Compulsory Monthly Environmental Sanitation in Cross River State.
5. Motion calling on the State Government to take urgent measures to end incessant cases of cult crisis, bloodshed, Kidnapping, Militancy and destruction of lives and property in Akpabuyo Local Government Area.
6. Motion calling on the Cross River State Government through the State Universal Basic Education Board to urgently embark on renovation of public schools across the state.
7. Motion calling on the State Government to stop the outrageous charges/commission by POS Operators in the state.
8. Motion calling on the Cross River State House of Assembly to investigate and determine the true position of Transcorp Hotel and other Government assets/property.
9. Motion calling on the Cross River State Ministry of Works to liaise with the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FEEMA) to carry out general maintenance on the Ikom-Obudu road.
10. Motion calling on the State Government to Establish a Secondary Health Facility or upgrade the Health Centre in Ikom urban to a Cottage Hospital.

HON. BETTE PHILIP OBI HUMAN CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT.

Hon. Bette Philip Obi’s administration is working hard to develop the human capital of his constituents through agro-industrialization. He is distributing palm seedlings for cultivation and providing monthly stipends to over 40 people across the five wards of Boki 1 State Constituency. In this regard, he is navigating towards economic diversification with aggressive distribution of over 60, 000 palm seedlings for cultivation.

Hon. Bette Philip Obi’s administration is working hard to develop the human capital of his constituents through agro-industrialization. He is distributing palm seedlings for cultivation and providing monthly stipends to over 40 people across the five wards of Boki 1 State Constituency. In this regard, he is navigating towards economic diversification with aggressive distribution of over 60, 000 palm seedlings for cultivation.

HON. BETTE OBI EDUCATIONAL INITIATIVES FOR CONSTITUENTS.

Hon. Bette Obi has made education a priority. He is launching a scholarship program that will cater to at least 20 indigent students from each political ward in the Constituency. This program is designed to restore the dwindling hopes of commoners by systematically identifying brilliant kids who lack the financial resources to pursue their academic goals.

This demography includes orphans, children with aged parents, and the physically challenged.T he scholarship program is designed to restore the dwindling hopes of commoners by systematically identifying brilliant kids who lack the financial resources to pursue their academic goals.
This demography includes orphans, children with aged parents and the physically challenged.

HEALTH

Health which is a determinant factor for growth sustainability, Office of the Boki 1 Parliamentarian is in partnership with an American NGO to broaden access to medical services.
Hon. Bette Philip Obi, chairman of the House Committee on Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources in the Cross River State House of Assembly, is a leader who has made a real difference in the Boki 1 State Constituency.

He’s held town hall meetings with chiefs, youth leaders, and other opinion molders, which have had a positive impact on the people, including a big reduction in youth unrest. He recently brokered peace between the Wula-mgbaeshuo, Butatong, and Bukalom communities, and with the help of the Deputy Speaker, RT. Hon. Sylvester Agabi, Obudu State Constituency, He mediated a peaceful resolution to the alleged killings of Obudu indigenes in Kanyang. His peace initiatives also include Boje, Isobendege, and Katabang. His leadership has earned him awards from all over.

SECURITY STRIDE

Hon. Bette Philip Obi, chairman of the House Committee on Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources in the Cross River State House of Assembly, has been a proactive leader in restoring peace to Boki 1 State Constituency.

He has held town hall meetings with chiefs, youth leaders, and other opinion molders, which have had a positive impact on the populace, including a drastic reduction in youth restiveness.

He recently brokered peace between the Wula-mgbaeshuo, Butatong, and Bukalom communities, and mediated a peaceful resolution to the alleged killings of Obudu indigenes in Kanyang, in partnership with the Deputy Speaker, RT. Hon. Sylvester Agabi, Obudu State Constituency. His peace initiatives also include Boje, Isobendege, and Katabang. His pragmatic leadership has earned him numerous awards from all quarters.

SUMMARY

The remaining 1095 days of Hon. Bette Philip Obi’s tenure as Assembly Member promise to be impactful. He has already made great strides in addressing the challenges facing his constituency. While not all the challenges can be addressed overnight, his office remains open to constructive suggestions on how to improve the socioeconomic narrative of Boki 1.