As politicians begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, one thing is becoming clear in Boki 1 State Constituency;many residents are no longer interested in campaign slogans alone. They want leaders who can point to clear plans, practical ideas, and measurable results.
It was against this backdrop that Boki 1 State House of Assembly aspirant under the Nigerian Democratic Congress (NDC), Dr. Njama Paul Asu, spoke with Boki Blog Africa to share his vision for the constituency and his thoughts on the state of governance in Cross River.
While many opposition politicians have been critical of Governor Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu's administration, Dr. Njama took a different approach. Rather than dismissing the government entirely, he acknowledged that Governor Otu has made some progress compared to the previous administration, but insisted that ordinary Cross Riverians are yet to feel the level of improvement they expected.
"Let me be fair. Compared to his predecessor, there is a bit of positive difference. We must give credit where it is due. But if we critically look at the last three years, the truth is that not much has changed for the average Cross Riverian," he said.
The academian, researcher, entrepreneur and farmer also turned his attention to Boki 1 State Constituency, where he is seeking to replace the current lawmaker in the 2027 elections.
According to him, the constituency has suffered from poor representation for more than three years, arguing that the people deserve a representative who will do more than wait for government allocations.
Dr. Njama said effective representation should include building partnerships with development agencies, non-governmental organisations and the private sector to attract projects, scholarships, training opportunities and other interventions that will directly benefit the people.
He said if elected, one of his first assignments would be to conduct a constituency-wide needs assessment within his first 100 days in office.
According to him, every village in Boki 1 has different challenges, and understanding those needs will help him attract the right projects and sponsor laws that truly reflect the priorities of the people.
Beyond legislation, the NDC aspirant promised to focus heavily on youth development and entrepreneurship.
He said his administration would introduce skill acquisition programmes, ICT training, grants, scholarships and low-interest loans to help young people start and grow businesses.
He also pledged to provide free Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) registration for small businesses, establish mentorship programmes that connect young entrepreneurs with successful Boki business owners, and organise regular business clinics to help local entrepreneurs build sustainable businesses.
"Our goal is to move Boki 1 from unemployment to self-employment," he said.
On agriculture, Dr. Njama said farmers would not be left behind, promising to link them with agencies and programmes that support mechanised farming and improve access to agricultural inputs.
Speaking on reports of alleged constituency project funds allocated to members of the Cross River State House of Assembly, he said he became aware of the issue through public discussions like many other Nigerians.
He, however, expressed the belief that the funds had not been judiciously utilised in Boki 1.
The House of Assembly hopeful also assessed the performance of the current representative of Boki 1, Hon. Bette Obi.
Although he described the lawmaker as a respected friend and elder brother, Dr. Njama maintained that public office should be judged by performance rather than personal relationships.
He said Boki 1 deserves stronger representation and rated the current performance at no more than two out of ten.
Dr. Njama, who is contesting under the platform of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), dismissed concerns that his party may not be strong enough to win the election.
He argued that voters are now looking beyond political parties and are searching for leaders they can trust.
According to him, the people of Boki 1 have become politically conscious and are determined not to repeat what he described as the mistakes of the past.
Although he has never occupied public office, Dr. Njama said his experience in private practice, academics, research, entrepreneurship and farming has equipped him with the leadership capacity needed to serve the constituency effectively.
He described himself as a published author, researcher, entrepreneur, committed farmer and family man whose decision to join politics is driven by a genuine desire to improve the lives of his people.
He also used the opportunity to call on Nigerians, especially the people of Boki 1, to think carefully before casting their votes in 2027.
According to him, elections have direct consequences on the lives of citizens, urging voters to choose competence, credibility and character over empty promises.
Dr. Njama expressed confidence that if given the opportunity to serve, he would deliver people-centred representation focused on human capital development, youth empowerment, agriculture, entrepreneurship and laws that address the real needs of Boki 1 communities.
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