Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has said he is determined and
committed to alleviate the suffering of the masses by providing good and
purposeful governance to the people of the state.
The Governor who embarked on a 14-kilometer trek across the city of
Calabar, where he interacted freely with residents, acknowledged cheers
from the people who showed appreciations for his leadership style.
Ayade walked across several streets inspecting the state of roads in the
state capital Calabar and the level of waste evacuation in the state,
terminated his streets tour at Atimbo.
At every street the Governor passed through, chants of Obong Owo (Elder)
and Obong Ekpe (Chief Priest) rent the air, as residents trooped out to
hail him for what they said has been his proactive and humanistic approach
to governance.
At one of Ayade’s stopovers, a mild drama ensued where an eight-year old
boy stuck out his hand from his father’s car for a handshake with the
governor, hailing “we love you.” The governor who waved continuously to
the cheering bystanders responded with a handshake. For several others, it
was bear hugs, while for some it was what is referred in common parlance
as “chop knuckle”.
In what could be described as a show of empathy, the governor who was
literally swathed by a large throng spotted a young girl of about 16 years
looking dispirited with her drooped face on both hands. Moved by her
sight, Ayade, in his characteristic gesture, directed that something be
immediately done to lift her mood.
The unscheduled street walk which also attracted youths who besieged
Governor Ayade, thanking him for his leadership style, while expressing
their total support for the construction of the ongoing Bakassi deep
seaport and the 260 kilometer superhighway.
In unison, they chorused: “Ayade we love you”, “Ayade we support you”,
“Our digital governor, we are proud of you, the superhighway must be a
reality”, “mischief makers leave our governor alone”, “Cross River State
is safe with Governor Ayade”.
Similarly, the governor who used the opportunity to mingle, shop and
interact freely with hawkers and shop owners, assured them of his
government’s commitment to look into most of their challenges.
Specifically, a particular groundnut and corn seller saw fortune smile on
her as her stock was boosted by the governor, who stopped by her little
road side stand to buy groundnut and soft drinks.
Some locals who could not believe that the governor could stop by their
shops to buy groundnut and soft drink said the day would remain forever
etched in their memories.
Expressing his excitement, a resident of Atimbo community, Michael Uduak
said: “The governor made my day, he came to our community to eat with us,
joke with us, and most importantly interact with us and shared our
challenges. He has shown he is a man of the people and we will stand by
him to the end.”
In the same vain, an overwhelmed resident, Elizabeth Ekpeyong, with tears
rolling down her cheeks, said: “I left my business to come and identify
with the people’s Governor who came down to see his people, to speak to
us, to advise us and to assure us of the future.”
On his part, Effiom Asuquo said: “I am happy that in my lifetime I was
able to shake hands with a sitting governor, we are happy that he came to
our community to identify with us, we are happy and proud of him as our
governor”.