By Our Correspondent
For as many times as members of the Cross River State Executive Council members have been sworn in since the beginning of Liyel Imoke’s administration, new Commissioners on Friday, also took the oath of denunciation of membership of any criminal/cult gang.
This was followed by the administration of the Oath of Allegiance and Oath of Office as the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Ben Ayade swore in 29 Commissioners including himself as the Commissioner of Culture and Tourism.
The Governor speaking shortly after the swearing in charged the new commissioners to be creative and industrious while revealing that the essence of enlarging his cabinet, in spite of the global financial crisis, is due to his vision and mission to Cross Riverians.
“I inherited 13 Ministries, Departments and Agencies from my predecessor and increased it to 29 based on deep vision” the Governor said.
He told the Commissioners that the state is presently on ‘stand still’, but described the moment as “the best time to be innovative, creative and productive”.
The governor disclosed that he has been under tremendous stress running the government in the past six months without Commissioners and charged them to think outside the box and be self-reliant.
He admonished them to always remember that, “It is not by your political might but by the will of God, give us a sense of hope, spend your money in the State, no money coming into the State should cross over the river. I will not interfere in your business but will watch with birds’ eyes, I trust all of you will make our State proud”.
Responding on behalf of his colleagues, Chris Njar, Commissioner for Gas Resources, pledged their unalloyed allegiance to the Ayade led administration.
He said they will synergize and work in unison for the interest of the State, stating that the dwindling allocation to the State will not be an impediment to fulfilling the plans of the government as every commissioner will strive to be enterprising as mandated by the governor.
Njar on behalf of his colleagues vowed that “We will make sure the State becomes commercial”.
The occasion was graced by Permanent Secretaries of the various Ministries, Department and Agencies, MDAs, top government officials and family members as well as supporters of the Commissioners.