By Our Correspondent
With barely a few weeks to the flag off of the proposed dual carriage super highway linking Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja-Obudu Local Government Areas, elders from the three senatorial zones have expressed excitement over the multiple billion naira road infrastructure.
Lauding Governor Ben Ayade for what he described as his courage and vision, Governing Council Chairman of Federal College of Education, Technical, Omoku, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Chief Linus Okom, said: “Governor Ayade is demonstrating that he is not one given to frivolities as he keeps reminding all of us that he means business as he is not only serious but passionate about the dual carriage super highway.
“He has been to Germany to sign the necessary papers preparatory to flagging off the project. It has never happened before for a governor who was just being sworn in to make such a bold announcement.”
According to Chief Okom, “The seriousness and precision he is going about it shows a committed statement of intent. For me, the governor has endeared himself so much to the people and the governance of the state. I am excited about the idea of the project. I cannot quantify the multiplier effect and the economic benefits of having a dual carriage super highway.
“The ease of movement of people in and out of the state capital will increase, the inter and intra- economic relationship among people will also increase, the movements of goods within and out of the state will increase, there will also be less man hour on that road in and out of the state capital.”
Continuing, he reminded: “In the 80s, it used to take about three to four hours commuting from Ogoja to Calabar, but now it takes roughly eight hours. It has been a great burden to every one of us traveling on that road. The wear and tear of vehicles will reduce as soon as the road is dualized. The benefits are too numerous to mention. So, all things considered, we cannot but collectively say to Governor Ayade, thank you for the intelligence, brilliance and the initiative for the dual carriage way.”
Also commending Governor Ayade, former Commissioner for Local Governments, Ntufam Peter Ojie, said: “The governor’s idea of a dual super highway could not have come at a better time than now, especially given the challenge that road has posed to the people of Northern and Central Senatorial districts over the years.
Lamenting the challenges encountered by commuters, Chief Ojie noted: “Cross River is the only state in Nigeria that has one end of the state bordering the Atlantic and the other end bordering the northern part of Nigeria. Yet we cannot move freely without the difficulties associated with the road. So, we of the Northern and Central zones of the state received the news of a super highway with great excitement and relief.
“The governor is showing greater commitment towards the project and it has given us hope that the entire people of the state can indeed, move freely and unencumbered from one part of the state to the other.
“Indeed, we are very expectant, very hopeful and very confident that the commitment and passion His Excellency has shown towards the project is one that registers deeply in the hearts of the people. It is a noble idea. We must collectively salute his courage.”
Similarly, Elder Oqua Iyadim said: “Cross River State has never had it so good in terms of the choice of a successor and governor. Indeed, Governor Ayade has demonstrated that he is a man of ideas and vision. We cannot quantify the benefits that will accrue from the dualization of the Calabar-Ikom-Ogoja road. He has shown that he was prepared for the job of administering the state. We were excited from the very first day he made the announcement at his inauguration.”