By Kingsley Agim
Cross River State Governor, Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade has called on African leaders to re-appraise their stewardship, reflect on impact made on their citizens and make concerted effort towards charting a common course for the continent's development.
Governor Ben Ayade, who was represented by the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mrs. RoseMary Archibong, made the call during the 50th Independence Anniversary celebration of Equatorial Guinea, held at the Chancery of Equatorial Guinea, MCC Road, Calabar.
Governor Ayade stated that with the enormous natural resources that Africa is endowed with, Africans have no reason to be poor; but the regrettable predicament of the continent is predicted on non-proactive dynamics of leadership.
"My administration is particularly interested in the leadership problem in Africa. I am is concerned about the exploitation that the African continent has been subjected to in the past and even now. That is why since my ascendancy on the saddle of leadership in the State, I, through the instrumentality of the internationally-acclaimed Carnival Calabar Festival, have dwelled on themes that depict the plight of Africa, ranging from Climate Change, Migration and now AFRICANISM," he remarked.
The proactive governor said Afrinanism, being the theme of this year's Carnival Calabar, underscores the need for Africa to have an introspective assessment of her leadership, the pertinence of her leaders to unite and have the boldness to correct one another, adding that until that is achieved, Africa will continue to be under-developed.
Conveying warm felicitations on behalf of Nigeria's President, His Excellency, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, to the President of Equarial Guinea, His Excellency, Obiang Nguema Mbasogo on his nation's anniversary, Governor Ayade described it as "a massive feat for the Nigerian neighbour nation.
"You have demonstrated always that we have a common humanity; and the government of Nigeria appreciates your peaceful neighbourliness and relationship with Nigeria, through Cross River State," the Governor concluded.
In his remarks, the Equatorial Guinean Consul-General to Nigeria, Salvador Mangue Edjang, on behalf of the Equatorial Guinean Government, thanked Nigeria for the bonds of brotherhood, friendship, good neighbourliness and cooperation existing between the two countries.
The Consul-General promised to keep working hard with the Nigerian government towards strengthening the ties of friendship and cooperation that unite the two nations.
The diplomat further restated his commitment to working with the Cross River State Government as a host of the Equatorial Guinean Consulate in Nigeria in order to translate into practical terms the aspirations of the both governments.
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