Gov Ben Ayade
Inyali Peter|23 September 2016
The story by CrossRiverwatch that Cross River State Government has sealed off Prince Cody Jedy Agba's radio station is not just a very bad commentary about Ayade's maturity in handling opposition but a sad development that has left me wondering where we're really heading to as a state under Governor Ayade's watch.
This is not really the best approach to attract investors to the state. It is really a bad omen and a classical departure from Ayade's promise of making Cross River an industrial hub in Nigeria.
How can a governor who upon his assumption of office been junketing from one country to another signing MOUs and Pacts with what can be best described as ghost investors now chase local investors away? What a sad situation.
The way Ayade has managed opposition especially those from his own local government is so pathetic and pitiful. Almost all the political juggernauts who left PDP for the APC from his LGA has in one way or the other been harassed by Ayade.
If the government cannot create enabling environment for local investors, how much more the so called foreign investors he claimed to be wooing?
Besides, was Jedy's radio station not granted license to operate by government? Is the state government responsible for the granting of license for the operation of media outfits? Why has the ministry of lands and housing refused to talk to the media about the rationale behind their action? Is this how to encourage people to invest in the state? Absolutely no!
At a time where young graduates are roaming the street looking for jobs which are not available, responsible and reasonable governments encourage investors across political parties. But regrettably, Ayade has continued to chide and biker every local investor who doesn't belong to his political family.
The situation of the state and the nation's economy calls for a holistic and collective approach to governance. Hateful partisanship won't take us anywhere. The state government should understand that the task to build a new Cross River where justice and equity will prevail against selfish interest is a collective one. Ayade should and must understand that politics has never and will never be part of executive function.
Rather than play politics with investment that will have overwhelming impact on the general public for whatever reason, Ayade must embrace everybody with positive ideas for the betterment of the state.
Inyali Peter
Writes from Calabar
