Quick Reminder of Governor Ayade’s December Promises —By Inyali Peter

Inyali Peter|20 December 2016

Few months ago, Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade signed a pact with a Germany firm to construct a beach resort which was to play host to boat competition in this year’s Carnival. 

I have read through the this year’s carnival time table and have not seen a boat competition billed to hold in the beach resort.

The real street party will start from tomorrow 20th. I want to remind our dear governor that many of us are still waiting for the beach resort or even the boat competition. Some of our friends whom we invited from other states to participate in the competition are asking us questions. So can we know if the beach resort is ready?

Again, last year when the governor held the carnival press briefing with journalists in Lagos, he promised that the contentious Cross River Garment Factory (Tailoring shop actually) was going to make the costumes for the 2015 carnival. But, this never happened as the shop sorry factory was nothing to write home about then.

Now, it is widely speculated in the media that the place is in full operation (my investigation however reveals otherwise) and the governor has employed about 3000 people (not true as only 300 people were given verbal employment). Governor Ayade even stated sometime this year that all the costumes for this year’s carnival will be produced in the garment factory.

My investigation has revealed that the state has still budgeted a huge amount of money for costumes to be imported from South Africa. How can we continue to import what Governor Ayade has promised repeatedly for two carnivals now that we will produce? The Governor said the garment factory which ownership is still in doubt is the biggest in the world. How then do continue to go to a country with smaller factory to import costumes?

Last month, the governor flagged off N31.5 billion road project in the northern senatorial district of the state. During the flagging off ceremony, he promised that the road will be half completed before the end of the year. Today is 19 but information reaching me from there indicates that the construction has not gone beyond the level that it was during the groundbreaking ceremony. Can we get satisfactory explanation to this?

When Governor Ayade took oath of office on the 29th of May, 2015, he promised that some of his signature projects especially the Deep seaport will be ready in 18 months. This is the 19 months of his administration. Is the seaport ready?

May be the governor has delivered on some of these projects and we don’t know. This is an opportunity to clear the air on the insinuations that he (Ayade) has not worked his talk but rather his 19 months has been characterized by unimaginable unbridled lip services.

Let me also advice that, if some of the time limits are not met, as the Governor is crossing to another year, he should do more of working than talking. He should avoid giving unrealistic datelines because Cross Riverians will hold him accountable.

My Pastor Rev. Victor Agor said yesterday that “when you are criticised, don’t fight for yourself but let your works fight for you”. Over to the governor and his battalion of appointees.

There are more questions but for now, I will wait to get explanation for these four projects before asking of other December and end the year promises.

Inyali Peter
Is a Journalist