Thomas Abi Jr|31 August 2015|5:52am
Arriving the ancient village of Kakum, in Obudu Local Government Area, all I saw was the rich, poor, old and young in Saint Theresa's Little Flower Catholic Church coming to thank God over the victory and achievements of the State Governor, Senator Prof. Benedict Ayade.
Seeing the huge cheers I wasn't surprised because Governor Ayade is a man who has won the heart of the People of the State.
Prof. Benedict Ayade is a delightful humanist, seasoned educationist, erudite scholar, pragmatic realist, prodigious legislator and an intelligentsia par excellence whose life has been devoted to serving humanity and eradicating poverty in anyway he can.
Prof. Benedict Ayade was born 2 March 1969. He studied at the prestigious University of Imada and taught at Ambrose Ali University and Delta State University Abraka. He is an environmental consultant who has proffered solution to many environmental problems over the years. He worked on the Underground Remediation in Nigeria and invented a sewage treatment plant based on solar energy. Upon his invention he won an award from the government of Japan for outstanding research into Global Warming in Africa. He was a Member of the Nigeria Association of Petroleum Engineers and the Cross River State Poverty Alleviation Board.
His voyage in the academia saw him becoming a pragmatic realist who is always conscious of the realities around him. Because of his realistic nature he found himself in partisan politics in 2011where he sort to serve his people as a Senator Representing the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State in the 7th National Assembly.
On assumption of office into the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the young vibrant and energetic Obudu born Senator sponsored over a 100 bills as a first timer in the Senate. Due to his astute nature and scholarly background he was appointed the Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Ecology in the 7th National Assembly.
In his illustrious career as a scholar, educationist and philanthropist and politician, Senator Prof. Ben Ayade has immensely impacted the lives of many people. In his first 6 months as a Senator he introduced the Ayade Motors which sort to reduce the transportation Problem of the People of his Constituency. In 2012, he introduced the Ayade Scholarship Scheme. The Scheme afforded young men and women of the 5 Local Government Areas of the North the opportunity to pay their bills in school. He introduced the Ayade Free Medical Health Care, Ayade Food Bank and many others which he does not announced.
This erudite intelligentsia contested the seat of the Office of the Governor of Cross River State under the platform of the PDP where he was picked as the Party's Flagbearer. He flew the Party's flag high in the April 11th Governorship Elections where he had a landslide victory emerging as the Governor of Cross River State, taking over from Senator Liyel Imoke on Friday, May 29.
Taking over office as Governor of the State, he immediately ordered that salaries be paid every 25th of each month. An order he has sustained in the last 3 months of his administration.
On the day of his inauguration, he made a powerful speech in which he promised to embark on a signature projects of constructing a super highway from Calabar to Obudu, a deep sea port and a garment factory. A promise he is doing everything within his power to achieve.
Governor Ayade's passion and love for Cross River State saw him traveling to Spain and Germany to look for investors for his signature projects. A trip that was well thought out and very welcoming.
On returning to the country, a team of investors came into the State promising to invest over € 500 million into the signature projects of the Governor.
Seeing the huge security challenges of the State, Governor Ayade, constituted the Operation Scolombo which he said will wipe a way the problem of insecurity in the State. Weeks after the inauguration of the Operation Scolombo, the State is experiencing relative peace in the State.
As a strategist and a master planner, he schemed his way into the heart of the President. This afforded him the opportunity of traveling to Cameroon with President Buhari. A visit where he discussed a lot of issues affecting the State and the President promised to throw his weight behind the Governor.
In his bid to reshape the State, Prof. Ayade influenced the Bank of Industry into the State. A bank that has never been established in the State even though it was launched in 1964.
In his bid to look into the poverty and unemployment level in the State, he sort out to bring the Green Police. A police which has attracted over 10,000 Cross Riverians registering for the her.
During one of his trips to Ireland, Governor Ayade, was able to attract a tractor manufacturing company in the State. He also promised to build a 5,000 housing scheme for the poor and unemployed in the State.
Born into a poor background in the ancient village of Kakum in Obudu and knowing what it means to experience poverty, he made a step in the right direction by proposing the abolition of taxes for low income earners in the State. An abolition that has been celebrated by people of the State as timely and very welcoming.
In his bid to turning some towns in the north, he promised to dualise the roads in Ogoja and Yala and Obudu.
The enigmatic Governor of the State, as he thanks God, it my prayer that the People of Cross River State will support him by constantly praying for him at all times.
Cross River State is in Save hands with this industrialist, entrepreneur, educationist-cum-politician.
Prof. Ben Ayade is married to a beautiful and intelligent woman who is a voracious reader, in the Person of Dr. Linda Ayade, the union is blessed with Children.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst /Social Commentator