…lauds
industrialization drive
The Chief Executive
Officer, Rain Forest Research and Development Centre, Mr. Odey Oyama, has
pushed for the re-election of Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade,
citing his industrialization drive as some of the feats that must earn him a
second term. The renowned environmentalist and social critic also re-appraised
his earlier contrary stance on the construction of the superhighway and the
deep seaport, insisting that they are necessary to grow the economy of
the State.
Oyama who made his position known to newsmen after an on-the-spot visit to the
Ayade industrial park maintained that his earlier position against the
projects, especially the superhighway was from a misinformed narrative.
“The superhighway and deep seaport are all interwoven because if you
remove them, these things may not work fine. If we are going to do export, it
will not work if we exclude these two projects. If you want to hit the market
in the north without a good road network, these projects will not work, so, we
need to work them out,” the environmentalist enthused.
While voicing his support for Governor Ayade, Oyama lauded: “The
present administration led by Prof Ben Ayade has surpassed others since 1999.
“We all need to be involved in encouraging the governor to make all these
projects work. What is lacking is information as people don’t have the correct
information, this is what we need to work on.”
Continuing, the environmentalist who hitherto had a contrary position with
regard to the superhighway, pointed out that “we need to connect with the
people to understand what is going on here because when they don’t understand,
they pass on wrong information.”
Recalling the negative perspective to Ayade’s industrialization efforts, Oyama
said: “I was told that machines were just kept here in the factory (rice
seedlings factory ) for the president to come and see and after which they took
them back to their owners. Today, I have seen them myself, they are still here.
I have also seen the factories, they are being built, it is interesting that
even when the factories are yet to be completed, the machines are on
ground.”
Commending Ayade for his industrialisation drive, the environmentalist
disclosed: “I have been to Calapharm and Garment factory where I saw about
3000 workers, that is so much. I can’t remember any government here employing
3000 workers in three years, let’s face the fact. I have also seen the rice, I
saw it on wattsapp and Facebook, I thought it was artificial, so I say I must
come and touch it myself and take photographs here.”
An entrepreneur, Blessing Egbara, who was on the entourage said of Ayade:
“I have carried out a lot of research on these factories and I must say
the governor has done a lot. I am an entrepreneur, the governor is not just a
governor but knows how to create jobs for his people and he has done more added
to what I saw before now.”
Continuing, Egbara intimated that “we are here to see more, take shots and
tell the world what he has done because information is key,” adding that,
“we will put these on social media to educate our people on the need to
support our governor to come back and do more, this is industrial
revolution.”