By Jonathan Ugbal
The onus to define a philosophy simple enough that will be beneficial to the populace direction lies on the government says Cross River’s Governor, Benedict Ayade, while pledging that no Cross Riverian will be unemployed at the end of his tenure.
The rise of one from a poor heritage and background to mount the saddle of power according to him is an opportunity in history to change the course of mankind for the better which can be achieved if one knows the heritage of his people.
Ayade said this Monday, at the city lighting event to herald the beginning of the “super week” of activities in this years’ Calabar festival where he reiterated his resolve to ensure that only policies which will create jobs for the people are formulated in his administration’s lifetime.
He said that “Today we the great people of Cross River State are having great reasons to come together and celebrate our annual festival. Today marks a turning point in the philosophical theory of the people of Cross River State and once we redesign our philosophy and concept to create a new horizon of opportunity for the young people.
“Young people who by no fault of theirs, have challenges in their own time. And as a young man who grew from those challenges now handling the saddle of leadership, I want to commit and challenge, and to tell every Cross Riverian that the new theory behind the carnival this time is that we want to return power to the youths.
“We want the young men to have opportunity and so switching on these lights today is a luminescence of the celestial path to the growth, to the future, the prosperity of the young. We make commitment, for those who do not know the theory that no matter how challenging this may be, just understand the fact that this state has to grow.
“I make it very clear today; my government is focused on the poor because that is my heritage, that is my background.”
On the new philosophical concept and job creation, he averred that “As sophisticated as this carnival looks, there is a simplicity that I am bringing into it, bringing it back to nature, climate change as our new focus. I will create jobs for all the young men, that is why I am focusing on the green police and the green carnival and the climate marshals are going to come. As far as I know, by the end of my tenure, we are not going to have any young man who is Cross Riverian, unemployed.
“I give this commitment because I understand the challenges of our people. I know our heritage and God, bringing all of you here means I have an opportunity in history to change the course of mankind” he said, also adding that he will be coming out anew at the dawn of 2016.
“You are going to see a man who will come with so much verve, so much energy, and more jantabulas. No challenges will dare us, we are going to take them down. Cross River state must rise above all the challenges which is the reason why I said we should come here and as we are switching on this light, we are switching on the prosperity of Cross River State.”
The colourful event which held at the millennium park in Calabar attracted people in their thousands with the presence of the political leadership not unnoticed.
The arena was adorned with decorations to depict the season, giving vitality to the Christmas spirit with the people thrilled with performances by dance acts before the actual lighting ceremony.
The feeling of Christmas was electrified by an aesthetic display of fireworks which brightened the traditionally dimly lit venue with cameras and eyes focused on the luminance of the city by the fireworks.