By Kingsley Agim/Blessing Usang
The people of
Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South Federal Constituency have unanimously adopted
Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade for a second term come 2019.
The adoption was made
during a town hall meeting organized by the people of Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar
South Federal Constituency, held Tuesday, 23rd January, 2018, at the
Akpabuo Local Government Secretariat.
In his remarks, the
Deputy Governor, Elder (Prof.) Ivara Ejemot Esu expressed gratitude to the
people in their assessment of Governor Ben Ayade’s giant strides which have
culminated in their nod for another term in 2019.
Prof. Esu who described
the Federal Constituency as an embodiment of Governor Ayade’s development
agenda and recipient to some of the juiciest appointments in the State, noted
that the endorsement guarantees Prof. Ayade continuity to complete the gigantic
projects already started and actualize the monumental vision he has for the
State.
Esu promised the people
of the constituency that for every ward that has been under-represented in
terms of appointments; the State Government is liaising with stakeholders in
order to remedy the situation, adding that despite the government concentration
on the signature projects, smaller ones in the area such as impassable roads
and blown power transformers will be fixed as soon as possible to improve the
living standard of the people.
In his usual fashion,
Prof. Esu made donation of N50, 000.00
(fifty thousand naira) each to 64 final year students across the Federal
Constituency to aid completion of their projects and N100, 000.00 (one hundred thousand naira) to Victoria McQueen
Peters, who made a First Class (Honours) Degree in Law at the University of
Ibadan, for making the constituency and indeed Cross River State proud and to
continue with her Law School Project.
Earlier, the Deputy
Governor, Elder (Prof.) Ivara Ejemot Esu also commissioned a market project
built by the Head of Local Government Administration (HOLGA) in Akpabuyo, Mrs.
Theresa J. Ezima.
In his speech, the
State Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim
expressed delight in the massive turnout of the people of
Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South for the event, describing it as “a manifestation
of support for Governor Ben Ayade.”
Ntufam Edim thanked the
people for keeping faith in Governor Ben Ayade, assuring them that for their
solidarity, the government shall continue to do more to ensure that the dividends
of democracy are seen and felt by every Cross Riverian and beyond.
Earlier in his remarks,
the Chairman of the Occasion, Hon. Patrick E. Okon revealed that the essence of
the town hall meeting was for the people of the constituency to call on Governor
Ben Ayade to re-contest for governor come 2019.
Hon. Okon argued that
considering the appointments, projects and programmes the constituency has
enjoyed from the Ayade-led administration, it behooves on the
Bakassi/Akpabuyo/Calabar South people to repose their trust in Governor Ben
Ayade in order for him to continue the good work in the area and the State at
large.
“We have to accept to
work with him. He has deepened the political landscape and given many of us the
opportunity of serving in one position or the other. We are happy and have
called you all here to be witnesses to this endorsement event,” Okon added.
The Chairman, Cross
River State Traditional Rulers Council and Paramount Ruler of Bakassi, Eteyin
(Dr.) Etim Okon Edet said the Traditional Rulers Council is fully in support of
a second term for Prof. Ben Ayade. The Royal Father charged Governor Ayade to
continue with the good work he started in 2015 onto 2019.
The event also
witnessed an outpouring of goodwill messages from the Deputy Speaker of the
Cross River State House of Assembly and Member representing Calabar South I
State Constituency, Hon. Joseph Bassey, Member representing Calabar South II
State Constituency, Rt. Hon Edem O. Ephraim, Member representing Akpabuyo State
Constituency, Lady Hon. Elizabeth Ironbar, Member representing Bakassi State Constituency,
Hon (Dr.) Ekpo Ekpo Bassey.
Others were the
Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barr (Mrs.) RoseMary Effiom
Archibong. Commissioner for Transport and Marine Services, Hon. Saviour Nyong,
Commissioner for Sustainable Development and Social Welfaare, Mr. Oliver Orok,
Commissioner for Health, Dr. Inyang Asibong, Commissioner for Social Housing,
Mr. Edem Effiom Okokon, Royal Fathers, among others.
The motion for
endorsement of re-elction of Governor Ben Ayade for 2019 was moved by the
Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. Joseph Bassey
and seconded by Chief Ene Cobham.
The occasion, agog in
the grandeur of sunrise, was notably attended also by the Senior Special
Advisers to the Governor, Chief Peter Ojie and Chief Tony Undiandeye, the Chief
of Protocol, Mr. Emmanuel Asikpo Okon, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor,
Hon. Emmanuel O. Bassey, Members of the State Traditional Rulers Council, among
other dignitaries.
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