Mrs Imah Adegoke, a governorship aspirant of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River, has said the state does not need oil wells to be economically viable.

Adegoke said this on Thursday at the party’s Secretariat in Calabar, while declaring to run for the governor in 2023.

She said that she had travelled round the 18 Local Government Areas of the state.

She said that she discovered from the tour that the state was rich in all kinds of mineral deposits, that could remove it from poverty and debt.

“We don’t need oil wells in Cross River, we have all it takes to lift us out of poverty.

“But it takes a determined people with a strong conviction to make this happen. I am that person.

“It has been proven that the intangible infrastructure is key to the wealth of nations, but this depends on the rule of law and functional institutions to thrive.

“So, as a lawyer, one of the first things my administration would do, when I become the governor, is to set up the first forensic laboratory in the South-South zone.

“It takes forensic evidence to actually convict people and this will make it easy for our youths to walk the streets freely, without fear of police harassment.
“This is because finger prints and DNA will reveal culprits.

“This will reduce insecurity and when it does, tourism and other industries will thrive in the state,” Adegoke said.

According to her, as governor, my administration will see to the end of communal clashes in the state.

She said that she would achieve the feat by making warring communities joint owners of government infrastructure on the properties in contention if mediation failed.

Adegoke said that technology would dominate her programs, especially in education and health.

She said that patients in rural communities would not need to travel to the cities, when telemedicine would be available.

She said that she had no time to talk about gender but capacity.

According to her, men are not averse to a woman that had capacity and could deliver.

In a speech, the state Chairman of PDP, Mr. Venatius Ikem, commended the aspirant for her courage to join the race.

Nkem said that whoever would become the party’s flag bearer would be based on their capacity.

He assured her that the party would provide a level playing field for all the aspirants.

He said that capacity would be the main criteria for choosing candidates.

The 76 oil wells were taken from Cross River and handed over to Akwa Ibom, after a Supreme Court judgment in 2012.

This was after the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular to Cameroon in 2008.

The development cost the state its status as an oil-producing state and the accompanying benefits.