‘Governor Ayade’s Leadership Style has changed the face of Cross River Politics’ — Rt. Hon. Eteng

 

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By Beatrice Akpala, Calabar 

The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams, has said that the leadership style of the Cross River State Governor, His Excellency, Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade, has completely changed the face of Cross River State politics for ever. He said this in an exclusive interview in Calabar as part of an assessment measure of the bright chances open to the All Progressives Congress (APC) gubernatorial candidate, Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu in the 2023 general elections.

    The Honourable Speaker was emphatic that with the array of bright minds assembled by the All Progressives Congress (APC) at various stages of the elections, one cannot but expect very resounding victories for the ruling All Progressives Congress in the state.

    The Speaker, who also doubles as the All Progressives Congress Senatorial Candidate for Cross River Central in the 2023 general elections, traced the chequered history of the Cross River State House of Assembly Service Commission and how it has evolved over the past 20 years to the well established service commission it has become today. He commended members of the Assembly for their forthrightness and sense of legislative duties adding that in the 9th assembly the House was in cordial harmony with the executive branch and it plays its assigned roles in the making and implementation of all government policies resulting in the relative peace and good working relationship experienced in the state. The Speaker expressed delight at the total elimination of all forms of discrimination in the State, adding that the governor has succeeded in enthroning a just and egalitarian society for which Cross Riverians should be grateful and give him some accolades. 

    He reiterated the need for continuous personal and collective vigilance in order to maintain the peace His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade has endeavoured to bestow in Cross River State. Adding also that security should be seen as everyone's business.

    On the federal government policy regarding gracing, the Speaker noted that gracing is not only for cattles or for a particular group of people but for other animals and people alike.

    On the preparedness of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to make a headway in the 2023 general elections, the Speaker stated emphatically that the party is ready to carry the day in all the elections as the electorates are being effectively mobilized for the exercise. He noted with satisfaction that all APC candidates running for the various elective positions at both the state and federal levels are well prepared for the elections as they are all aware of what it takes to be in the State and National Assemblies. He affirmed the party's victory in the elections as the ruling All Progressives Congress will be assuredly going into the elections with a whole lot of tangible achievements recorded within the very short time of joining the All Progressives Congress.

   Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams drew attention to the completion of the Ikom Bridge, good federal road network in the state, appointment of many Cross Riverians into positions of authority and the many more areas of possible intervention by the Buhari led administration. 

    The  head of the legislative arm discarded the notion of failure in the 2023 general elections, adding that the very many successes so far recorded in the state by the high achieving  present administration were great signposts of electoral victory.

    Furthermore according to him, the Ben Ayade led administration has empowered and improved the livelihood of thousands of Cross Riverians using the Food-on-the-Table approach, whereby otherwise neglected folks in their thousands earn between N30,000 to N154,000 monthly. He praised the governor's ability to keep the state afloat in spite of limited resources with equally gargantuan problems. He drew attention to the fact that APC's chances in the state are not limited by any stretch of the imagination, noting that even if only the governor and his wife remain in the party, the state will still be regarded as an APC State regardless.

   Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams said that the southern senatorial district of the state brought out its best hands to gun for the governorship position adding that Senator (Prince) Bassey Edet Otu is sellable, credible and trustworthy. The governorship candidate, he noted, had over the years distinguished himself, built formidable friendships across the length and breadth of the state and his popularity is second to none. He also noted that even the APC presidential candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, made references to Cross River State in his post primary election acceptance speech at the Eagle Square in Abuja last month and that indicates the place of Cross River State in the heart of the incoming federal administration. 

    He called on all and sundry to go out in their numbers to obtain their Permanent Voters Card (PVC) and to support the APC by embracing the change that has come to be. The Speaker was optimistic that the 2023 general elections would indicate a different voting pattern in Cross River State as it was traditionally PDP but has now been very effectively transformed to an APC enclave adding that it will be most beneficial for the state to stick to the ruling All Progressives Congress in the years ahead.