Ayade Told Us He Wont Celebrate 50th Birthday Because… KJ Agba

By Elijah Ugani Follow @Elijah_ugani

Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade did not celebrate his 50th birthday because he feels enough has not been done to ensure Cross Riverians wear a smile says New Cities Development Board Chairman, KJ Agba.

“The Governor said that he is not happy because, there are no smiles on the faces of Cross Riverians; there isn’t enough food on their tables yet as he dreamt,” Mr. Agba told CrossRiverWatch.

Agba, Mr. Ayade; his wife, Dr. Linda Ayade and the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly were the only notable visitors at the Mississippi street residence of the Governor in Maitaima, Abuja.

And, according to Mr. Agba: “He is very worried and thinking daily of what to do to change the status quo.

“Throughout yesterday, he decided to switch off his phones, he did not want to talk with anyone, a development which may have not gone down well with some people who may have wanted to talk with the Governor to wish him a happy birthday.

“He said for him, there is nothing to celebrate, Cross Riverians celebration is the Governor’s celebration, the speaker and I made every effort to cheer him up,” Mr. Agba said.

This is the second birthday Mr. Ayade is celebrating out of Cross River State since he became Governor in May 2015.

In 2016, he was out of the country; in 2017, he celebrated with internally displaced persons at Bakassi and in 2018, his over 4000 appointees celebrated in his absentia across the state with several parties thrown to that effect including those who are yet to complete documentation after their appointments.

And, Mr. Agba when asked to react to the complains by appointees whom are yet to receive salaries, pointed out that issues of documentation were cumbersome.

“Some of these appointees have not done proper documentation, some are yet to do the biometric registration, some expect that as soon as their names are published, they should receive salary the following month, but that is not the case.

“Even in the civil service, when you are given appointment, it takes a little while for government to commence payment of salary. I wonder why some of these appointees have decided to be ungrateful to the Governor, once they do their proper documentation, I am sure they will be paid their salary,” said Agba who is believed by many to be a stronghold in the Ayade’s government.