By; VITALIS UGOH, Calabar
As campaign for the 2019 general elections is gathering momentum, elders from the Southern Senatorial zone have scored the state governor, Senator Ben Ayade high for the various developmental projects sited in the area.
Also as a show of appreciation they, have thrown their weight behind him urging him to seek a second term in office.
This decision was reached after evaluating his performance within the three years in office during an enlarged meeting Calabar.
At the enlarged meeting which cut across party lines, the elders unanimously applauded what they described as governor Ayade’s vision to transform the state in spite of its lean resources.
The elders at the meeting includes, former Health Minister, Dr. Emmanuel Nsan, former NDDC chairman, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, Architect Bassey Ndem, former state PDP Chairmen, Chief John Okon and Ntufam Ekpo Okon, Professor Ndem Ayara and Rev. Grace Ekanem.
Others are, Muri-Munene of Calabar South, Prof. Itam Hogan, Barrister Nella Rabbana (SAN) and Prof. Stella Atoe.
“There couldn’t have been another occupier of the Diamond House, Calabar, for now than Governor Ben Ayade,” the elders said.
In his remarks, Nsan said “tzoday, hearing what Ayade has achieved within the limited resources available to us as a state, what he has tried to do to elevate the status of Cross River economically, socially and otherwise, even though, I am not a member of PDP, I will vote for him”.
He further stressed “I now appreciate, support and see him as a man of vision, wisdom, an intellectual per excellence, a true professor and son of the soil who likes us and we like him. We cannot hold back that affection, restoration, faith and love for him”.
In a motion for his endorsement, Dr. Emil Inyang, said: “considering the situation of our state and cognisance of our finances, knowing that Cross River is the poorest state in Nigeria, with your performance on projects, that today you are not owing any salaries, whereas the people of Southern Senatorial District were the ones that ensured that you became governor in 2015 and are patiently waiting for 2023, we hereby move and let it be moved that you go for a second tenure in 2019, with the support of this house, I so move”.
The motion was supported by former Commissioner for Women Affairs, Rev Grace Ekanem. She remarked, “I do hereby rise to second the motion that come 2019, together we go and together we will move,” adding that, “for all that you have done for us, all we want is the superhighway and the deep seaport because these two projects will lift Cross River from where we are”.
Elder Asuquo Ekpenyong affirmed by stating “our governor deserves this motion that has been passed today as we jointly agree that he has performed very well. In spite of limited resources, we have seen his achievement. We, the Southern Senatorial District that brought him to power will give him another mandate in 2019 because we know him as the only one that can give us back power in 2023.”
He extolled Ayade’s humility and doggedness in office, adding “when Ayade took over power, some of us knew the amount of indebtedness that we had as a state, but when confronted, this governor of ours rather told us that he inherited a wealthy state. This, is a sure prove that he got wisdom and has the vision for a better state”.
Earlier while responding governor Ayade said “I am enthused that they have such good records against the background of my performance, my neutrality and fairness, compassion, empathy, emotions, sensibility, my delicate combination focusing on the people of the state against other political considerations”.
Ayade who said the endorsement which came from a senatorial district outside his, was emotional, assuring that it is “a call to service, I am going to rekindle myself and be more focused. I thank God so much for this trust given to me. I accept it with all humility, I shall not fail you”.
