By Abasi Ita
Political leaders, stakeholders and residents on Wednesday joined in celebrating the Mayor of Calabar, Apostle James Anam, as he marked his 58th birthday, applauding his leadership style and the steady transformation of Calabar Municipality under his administration.
Goodwill messages described the Mayor as a committed and visionary leader whose people centred governance approach has improved efficiency and restored confidence in the administration of the local council.
A former councillor of Ward Seven, Hon. Chief Etim Archibong, said Apostle Anam’s tenure has been defined by reforms and visible impact. He highlighted the extensive facelift of the Calabar Municipal Council Secretariat, noting that the renovation and construction of a landmark office complex have enhanced the aesthetics of the facility and addressed long standing office accommodation challenges for political appointees.
Also speaking, the Supervisor for Finance in the municipality, Hon. Henry Okon Archibong, praised the Mayor for introducing a modern and transparent internal revenue generation system. According to him, the reforms have blocked revenue leakages, reduced wastages and ended the practice of engaging political jobbers as revenue contractors under the guise of political settlement.
An APC chieftain in Calabar, Chief Bassey Effiom Basol, drew attention to the administration’s focus on youth empowerment, disclosing that 150 youths have been engaged as non statutory staff with salaries ranging from eighty thousand to one hundred and fifty thousand naira, paid directly from the council’s internally generated revenue.
Basol further commended the ongoing renovation of the Marian and Ikot Ishie markets, describing the projects as unprecedented and in line with Calabar Municipality’s status as the state capital. He also cited the installation of solar powered boreholes across the ten wards, beginning from Abang Asang in Ward One, to address challenges of potable water supply.
A party stalwart, Princess Grace Okon Both, attributed the prevailing peace and safety of lives and property in the municipality to the Mayor’s strong collaboration with security agencies, which she said has boosted commercial activities and public confidence.
In his contribution, the Supervisor for Humanitarian Affairs, Frank Effiom, described the Mayor’s humane leadership posture as the driving force behind the people oriented projects executed by the administration, adding that they have improved livelihoods and fostered a sense of belonging among residents.
Responding during a surprise birthday celebration at Ward Seven, Apostle Anam expressed gratitude to God for His faithfulness, mercy and compassion, noting that divine guidance has shaped his journey in public service.
He thanked the people of Calabar Municipality for their support and prayers, assuring them of inclusive leadership that would continue to carry all segments of the municipality along. He reaffirmed his unalloyed cooperation with the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, and pledged to align council policies and programmes with the state government’s Season of Sweetness agenda.
The Mayor vowed to extend the dividends of governance to every part of Calabar metropolis.
As Apostle James Anam marks his 58th birthday, stakeholders expressed optimism that the ongoing reforms and projects would further deepen development and good governance in Calabar Municipality.