Kelvin Obambon|18 January 2018
The All Progressive Congress, APC's governorship aspirant, Rt. Hon. Paul Adah, has assured Cross Riverians of quality and purposeful leadership if voted in as governor, come 2019. This assurance was given during a media briefing with journalists in Calabar recently.
The former and two term law maker stated that his decision to run for the exalted office in the state is informed by the determination to rescue Cross River from what he described as, '' further destruction'' by the present government, which, according to him, has obviously taken the state backward in terms of development.
Rt. Hon. Adah, who is well-known in the state for his excellent and unmatched performance when he served as a board member in the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, decried the rather snail pace at which development in the state is taking, especially when compared to other states that Cross River is financially better off than. He however pointed out that the position of internally generated revenue is now a thing enshrouded in secrecy, as no one has an idea of how much the state is generating under the current administration.
''Having looked at the events in Cross River, the present government of Ben Ayade has no intention to develop the state. If we don't stand up and rescue Cross River State, by the time this government is done with it, we will not recognize it again. Even if in the next four years I would become governor of Cross River State, I may not achieve much, but the mere fact that I have rescued Cross River State from further destruction, at least, history will not forget me. This task is not one I will do alone. All sincere Cross Riverians, who desire to see a change from the old order must be involved'', He stated.
The governorship aspirant expressed worry over the long removal of Cross River State from the list of oil producing states in the Niger Delta region, noting that it has affected the state economically and otherwise. He promised that if elected as governor, he would undertake major geological studies and evaluations aimed at oil exploration in a bid to return the state to its oil producing status, so that it could enjoy all privileges and benefits accruable to other oil producing states.
While fielding questions from journalists, Rt. Hon. Paul Adah, stated that he is fully in support of local government autonomy. He declared his desire and readiness to work toward any move that would see to the granting of fiscal autonomy to the third tier of government, if elected. He added that, as someone who has had a vast knowledge in local government administration, he perfectly understands the problems and challenges of the local government, and that by granting them autonomy, most of these problems and challenges would be solved. And this, he said, will also take away undue burden and pressure from the state government thereby allowing it more time and resources to addressing developmental needs of the state in general.
Speaking further, the ex-federal legislator, frowned at the shabby handling of issues that pertain to retirees of the state civil service, especially as they concern payment of gratuities, pensions and allowances. He also described the discrimination in the payment of workers salary, where some MDAs are paid while others are not paid, as unjust. He however pledged that if given the mandate, all issues associated with workers welfare would be permanently confined to the annals of history.
In his final submission, he urged Cross Riverians to look beyond the harsh realities in the state and be optimistic of better days ahead which can only come through a change in the state's political leadership.
Kelvin Obambon
Writes from Calabar
