By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
10 days after the Supreme Court of Justice ruled a case of perjury in favor of Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade, he said on Monday in Calabar that he feels a sense of relieve as his administration will be more focused now.
Ayade disclosed this while speaking with journalists shortly after his arrival from Abuja where he had lost his phones during the initial celebrations which were later recovered by a security outfit with thousands of supporters lined up to receive him at the Margaret Ekpo international Airport.
“I feel very relieved” said Ayade. “I feel the spirit, the movement, the fear, the energy and everything that God represents in my life. It’s a reflection of when you live and leave everything in the hands and submit to God, he definitely takes control.
“Because of this believe, I strongly believe that the great vision we have for the state, God will surely provide for them”.
Earlier, he said the tension that enveloped the polity prior to the ruling of the Supreme Court has been doused, hence the need for all hands to be on deck to ensure a smooth sail as the administration will be more focused now.
“We are putting the political tension behind us because we are done with the courts. It’s time for us to come together as a state and as one big family united by the challenges of our circumstance to move forward with verve and vitality to reconstruct a new Cross River State that will protect and take care of the younger generations.
“It is the duty of my administration headed by a seasoned business man who is now in government to bring the desired change, a change that will put Cross River State on a road map and direction for proper prosperity.
“We our thriving to put an end to federal allocation and completely decouple our self and so, putting an end to this political tension therefore means that we are creating a new focus, a new direction and indeed a new commitment with renewed vigor believing that God who has delivered us throughout these processes will be with us so that will can ultimately provide the Eldorado for our people.”
Ayade who said the distraction of the case was “minimal because God was on my side”, later joined supporters in a motorcade to the Udoakaha Jacob Esuene stadium where an interdenominational thanksgiving was held in his honor with Pop Artiste, MC Galaxy performing briefly, a new song written for the Governor and a new dance step ‘Shupe’.
Different groups and troupes later took turns to perform in front of the Governor who doled out NGN50 million to the state chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria.