By Our Reporter
Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade has described his re- election as a reward for his achievements in office during his first term.
The Governor who spoke to journalists at the Cala Chicka chicken processing plant in Calabar during an inspection tour of the factory, explained that he felt challenged by his victory, saying it was the reason he hit the ground running by embarking on project inspections few hours after being declared winner.
“Election has come and gone and the task of rebuilding Cross River must continue; it must not be paused by election victory.That is why a few hours after being declared winner, I am here, under the blazing sun inspecting on going projects. Of course, this is Calachika chicken processing plant,” the Governor said.
Thanking the people of Cross River for re-electing him on the basis of his achievements in office, the State number one citizen, said it would have been strange if he had lost the election. “A Governor that does not owe salaries, that lifted embargo on employment, expanded Government by appointing 8, 000 people into office; a governor that has industrialised the State, why wouldn’t such a Governor be re-elected? I won in all polling units. It has never happened in the history of Cross River,” he further stated.
Governor Ayade urged Cross Riverians to unite and join him in fixing the state, saying his philosophy of politics with ethics abhors making or keeping political enemies. “I don’t have a friend in PDP and an enemy in APC or any other party. It’s against my politics with ethics philosophy. I see all Cross Riverians as one.”
On the Super highway and the Bakassi Deep Seaport, the re-elected Governor described the two as key economic projects of his administration that must be realised and called on the Federal Government to show keen interest in them.
According to him, the Bakassi Deep Seaport is key to the economic growth of Northern Nigeria as the Port, when completed will bring the North closer to the Atlantic ocean than Lagos does. Governor Ayade disclosed that the five South East states have already keyed into the project by agreeing to sign a memorandy of understanding for its realisation with his Government.