Thomas Abi Jr|28 October 2015|7:00am
I listened to the budget presentation by Governor Ben Ayade with so much joy in my heart. Getting up to present his 2016 budget, I saw a man who had so much confidence and who was grounded in all areas of the budget. His presentation of the budget was scholarly: he was practically lecturing the members of the House of Assembly and the general public present at the function.
The clause: "deep vision" means a lot, he took time to christened his budget, and for some of us who have taken time to study the budget, it's the best in the history of Cross River State. The economy of Cross River State in no distant time is going to be one of the best in Nigeria. What thrilled me the most about Governor Ayade; was the fact that he presented his over 45 minutes speech on the budget without reading from any paper. He is erudite and scholarly. Ayade can best be likened with President Barack Obama for his intellectual prowess, and Martin Luther King Jr., for his bravery, confidence and oratory nature.
It takes only a man who is intelligent and brave to say he inherited a rich State even when the State is crying for help. It takes an Ayade to say he inherited a State with so much potentials. "I understood the financial challenges of the State, it therefore became imperative that I have to reconstruct and create a new horizon of hope, in order to usher in prosperity, where we as Cross Riverians will live at peace with each other. It is to that extent that I conceived a budget, which I classified the budget of deep vision".
I have come to understand the man Ayade, he is not just an intelligent man, but he is a man destined to salvage his people and emancipate his people from hunger, thirst and poverty. The budget of deep vision is not just a budget, but it is a creation that has the backing of God, because Governor Ayade, out of his magnanimity he decided to create 12 more ministries. He understands that in doing these, there is the challenge of funds, but he believes can never be shaken because he is a man who believes in God. He is a man who understands the principles of leadership and success and in anything he focuses his on, he succeeds. In one of Prof. Ayade's speeches, he said, " When I put my soul above any problem, my body will follow". It comes to show that he understand that God is the greatest and that only in God you can trust and your hope in.
In Governor Ayade's budget presentation, he knows that his projects require a lot of funding, time and energy. He said, "Great ambition, little resources, but what really matters therefore is not how much you have but how much ideas". Men like Prof. Ayade, are rare gift to mankind, they are God's gift to humanity. And with a man embedded with so much ideas, energy, vigor and youthful nature, I make bold to say with his speed and versatility, Cross River State is going to become the next Singapore of Africa. Many persons will doubt Governor Ayade just like they doubted the Super highway until they saw President Muhammadu Buhari in the ground breaking in flesh and blood. My Governor, Sir, please, what I want to tell you is that you have brought so much to Cross River, you have restored the lost glory of our people and with a man like you I have nothing to fear as a young man. I know, God brought you to liberate our people. I am optimistic that with the new budget of deep vision, Cross River State shall succeed, we shall move from third world to first world and shall become the Singapore of Africa.
With the concept that Governor Ayade is bringing, we shall consolidate. He has created 12 new ministries and I must say it is a good development. It may bring a lot of burden on the State but with the ideas on the table and how he intends to run them I do not see any reason why we should worry ourselves. All the ministries are backed with ideas and with the kind of ideas the Governor presented during his budget presentation, I make bold to say that he is going to succeed.
In Governor Ayade's budget, he made mention that in the area of forestry and biodiversity, his government had succeeded in reducing the activities of poachers and illegal loggers; I think that it a huge achievement . As an environmentalist, he has worked round the clock to see that the State benefits from UN REED Carbon Crédit fund. And as we all know Cross River State has hydrocarbon deposit. So, with the funds coming in we are on the right path to protecting our biodiversity.
In Agriculture, he laid emphasis on rice, maize farming and yellow maize, which he said by the time the State gives priority to maize, CRS would become one of the major producers of cornflakes. He also spoke about cocoa and the poultry farm that is to commence soon, it will create revenue for government. Eggs and other protein intake would be gotten from CRS, because the protein intake in Nigeria is very low but with the poultry farm the State is going to have huge revenue. Looking at the lofty ideas of the Governor I know that the State is in safe hands.
Education is not a luxury but a necessity and for Cross River State to gain civil liberty, we must educate our people, we must continue to put in the needed structure in place to win the war against illiteracy. In the words of the Governor, he said State has the responsibility of providing educational facility and scholarship to students studying professional courses.
On Roads and Bridges
The present administration has taken it upon herself to construct a 260km super highway from Calabar to Obudu and the repairs and maintenance of roads in the State. I must say choice of Governor Ayade's super highway is a plus to his administration. It is now on record that on the 20th October, 2015, Cross River State was the first State to invite the President for a State visit outside Abuja. That is a huge achievement and I give the Governor credit for briging President Buhari to Cross River State.
CRS is blessed with rich natural resources, the State is endowed with numerous solid mineral and gas deposit. The present administration is so passionate about exploring the mineral potentials and also keying into producing ceramic in the State.
The budget is timely, apt, and it has captured all sectors of the State, from Information to Health to Education, Security, Agriculture and Tourism. I must commend Governor Ayade for the erudite presentation and urge him to do everything within his powers to make the State great again.
Prince Thomas Abi Jr.
Is a Public Affairs Analyst/Social Commentator
