Ayade Is Insensitive, He Speaks Before He Thinks – Odey Ochicha

By Ushang Ewa

The Cross River gubernatorial candidate for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2015 general elections has slammed governor Ben Ayade for acting contrary to what is required in the face of economic strain.

In a statement signed by Ochicha, he berated Ayade for enlarging his cabinet when he is supposed to reduce it and acting in a way that suggests he either speaks before he thinks properly or says what he does not intend to do.

The former NNPC top gun said, while other states and the federal government have decided to shrink the size of cabinets, Ayade’s 28 man cabinet indicates that “The PDP led government in the state is insensitive to the prevailing economic situation in the country.”

However, he said it was not too late to make amends but warned that if continued, “His big government will surely have a deleterious effect on the welfare of the people and development of the state”.

He alleged that Ayade’s failure in delivering the monorail initiated by former governor Liyel Imoke which he described as “a great asset” as promised in December 2015, showed one of two things; “Governor Ayade speaks before he properly thinks or he talks without meaning to do what he has said he will do.”

Also, Ochicha accused Ayade of focusing more on the superhighway while other roads suffered neglect. He, however admitted the state needs a superhighway but pointed out that the governor is yet to show concrete evidence that the project was “carefully conceived and will be steadfastly carried through to fruition.”

The Bekwarra born politician also berated Ayade for his long convoy saying it does not enhance the status and prestige of the office of the governor but will rather incur the people’s wrath, advising him to cut down the number of vehicles and “totally do away with the power bikes if really he is out to serve the people.”

Ochicha called on Cross Riverians to key into the change agenda of the APC. He promised his party’s style of opposition will be constructive and issue based, even as he hoped their expectations of 2016 will be met after overcoming what he termed “the challenges of 2015.”