I was in Abuja when I heard that Sen. Ben Ayade had been primarily elected to be the flag bearer of the PDP in the 2015 gubernatorial elections in Cross River State. I received this breaking information with an open heart because I was heavily engaged in Legacy House Abuja following up activities of the PDP presidential campaign. But one thing was certain on my mind, Ayade is exceptionally qualified for the job.
During the gubernatorial campaigns in the state, I had no
choice but to follow these activities closely. It was clear that Ayade was not
coming in as any other governor, he had this unique opinion about governance.
From his campaign messages, it was clear that he wants an industrialized Cross
River State. Ayade toured the 18 Local Government Areas in the state with
promises of hope and restoration. He was endeared in the hearts of many Cross
Riverians, who saw his visions as what was needed to occupy the hot seat of
Peregrino House. Ayade finally won the election with a wide margin that clearly
showed Cross Riverians wanted him more than he needed the seat.
On May 29 2015, Sen. Ben Ayade was
sworn in as the 6th democratically elected Governor of Cross River State. They
were lots of cheers in the Calabar International Conference Centre. Finally
there is a leader, elected by the people to reshape the economic focus of the
State. His inaugural speech thrilled the listening crowd of veterans from Cross
River State. Ayade knew there was so much work to be done. He knew Cross River
State is not like other states in the South, he knew Cross River State is the only
non-oil producing state in the South-South zone of Nigeria. Ayade knew that no
state has suffered injustice like Cross River State. Of course we all remember
how the state was stripped off her black diamond (Bakassi) by the International
Court of Justice (ICJ). Lest we forget, Akwa Ibom State also succeeded in this
outrageous benevolence of Injustice.
The only sin Ayade committed was to
“Think Big”. Unlike many other governors in the South-South, Ayade didn’t meet
a honeycomb, but he knew what he had to do to make Cross River State a
sustainable honey comb. No Governor in the history of Cross River State have
been able to achieve what Ayade achieved in his first two years in a Cross
River State that once depended on Federal Allocations to pay salaries and
finance projects, until Ayade changed the dynamics. Ayade has created an
economic-independent Cross River from the shackles of Economic Slavery and
helplessness. It is therefore no magic that many media houses rate him as the
best governor in Nigeria.
Who said Tourism alone can survive a Cross River
State that is growing rapidly in population? Ayade has invested in an idea that
will support tourism in the state. The idea is international commerce! Some
have accused him of embarking on business travels that produce written MOUs and
trade agreements. But how do you attract investors without commitment? These
MOUs are clear indications that Ayade has a deep vision for Cross River State.
These MOUs have attracted many from outside Nigeria to build companies in the
much talked about Cross River State. MOUs have manifested into a cotton farm, a
rice city, a pharmaceutical company, a cocoa processing plant, a haulage city,
a banana plant, a tractor fabrication firm, a Canadian high school, and many
more. We must also remember that Nigeria is currently challenged with economic
recession. Then how come Ayade pays salaries and execute revolutionary
projects? That is the deep thinking some might see as “a sin”.
The 260km Superhighway was
initiated out of his passion to harmonize the economic prosperity of Cross
River State. Many have argued on the need for the Superhighway, but the
ultimate bargain shouldn’t be the “need for the superhighway”. But I think,
Cross Riverians should rather be looking at the “benefits of the Superhighway”.
The deep seaport is another project that will ensure that our nature-given deep
territorial waters are fully utilized. These projects will place Cross River
State above any other state in Nigeria. Business and Tourism work together! For
Cross River State to work, these two economic potentials must be interjectory
in the State. Cross Riverians must note that playing politics with the economic
endowments of the state caused us Bakassi and the 76 oil wells that still
threatens our inclusion in the NDDC.
Now, when you see the likes of
Inyang Asibong, Asu Okang, Asuquo Ekpenyong (Jnr) handling key positions in a
state cabinet, what does that tell you? It tells you that Cross River State is
a working project engineered by young energetic hands. When you see the driving
force of his key appointees, it tells you that there is a new face of
leadership in Cross River State.
As a Cross Riverians, I believe
that “the benefits of the prosperous seeds Ayade has planted and still planting
might not be immediate, but the future holds a new Cross River State with a
greater economic focus”.
There is an illuminating light at the end of the dark tunnel.
There is an illuminating light at the end of the dark tunnel.
God bless Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade
God bless Cross River State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
God bless Cross River State
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
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