Efio-Ita Nyok|3 February 2016|6:48am
On the 29 of May 2015, Gov. Ben Ayade intimated the Cross River public that he would create jobs. He particularly highlighted the fact that by the 100th day in office, about 1000 jobs would have been created. Again, while flagging off the Carnival Calabar 2015, Ayade said that by the end of his first tenure in office(2016), unemployment will be history in the state.
However, recent trends suggest other wise. Beginning from his failure to provide the 1000 jobs promised by the first 100 days to the hopelessness of ever providing any jobs, the Executive Governor of our dear Cross River, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade is seen to want to fulfill just one promise: 'to appoint 700 Cross Riverians as aides!'
As it stands now, there are about 28 Commissioners, 35 Special Advisers(SAs) and an uncountable retinue of Personal Assistants(PAs) and the legislative thumbs up to appoint 30 more aides, Cross River State may actually be on the verge of history as the poorest state in Nigeria with the largest Executive Council.
This phenomenon compelled one social media user, whose first name is Antigha, to say the following words on his Facebook time line on 21 Oct 2015, 'Unfazzed by their shrinking treasuries and the seething mass of unpaid public sector workers, our state governors have continued to build extra large cabinets and retinue of aides.
To save public governance from collapse, stakeholders should take a firm stand to compel the imprudent governors to behave responsibly and see the need to prune their large armies of political appointees.
Appointing bloated cabinets at this austere time is provocative.'
As if his message was not taken notice of by the establishment, on 29 January 2016, Antigha, reshared the post on his wall.
This present press out fit is beckoning on His Excellency Gov. Ben Ayade to look inward thereby apprehending authentic answers to teething questions coming from Cross Riverians. Recently, it was only the political class that supported a bloated EXCO, the masses whose votes legitimises your election are airing dissenting voices. These are the two basic achievements of Ayade: pay salaries promptly and appoint an unnecessary and bloated EXCO. My candid opinion on these achievement is that 'they are negative'.
I have here used the first name alone for security reasons. I pray the governor gives a listening ear.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroid Haven
