Leaders and
traditional rulers of Akpabuyo Local Government Area of Cross River State have
declared their support for Governor Ben Ayade’s re-election bid, insisting that
their decision was based on equity as well as the governor’s industrialization
drive.
Speaking during a consultation meeting Ayade held with
opinion leaders at the council headquarters, Ikot Nakanda, before the
flag-off of the state wide campaign, Architect Bassey Eyo Ndem said Akpabuyo
people are known for justice and equity, and would therefore do what is
equitable.
He lauded the giant strides the governor has recorded in his
first term in office, describing him as one of the best products Cross River
has had in recent times.
While assuring the governor of their unalloyed support
throughout the electioneering, Ndem stated: “Your Excellency, when you first
came four years ago, Akpabuyo took a decision to score you 100 percent and
since then, we have been steadfast.”
Continuing, he said: “Four years after, we have decided to
climb the political tree of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and searched
with the aid of our political binoculars throughout the land and we must
confess that at the end of the day, the scintillating light that we saw is
non-other than Senator Professor Ben Ayade and his amiable deputy.”
Insisting that the people of Akpabuyo do not go with people
with vain and empty promises, Ndem said: “We do not follow for the sake of
following in Akpabuyo, rather, we took this decision based on an
empirical evidence. Some of us have been in government since the early 1990s
and so, we know that for the first time someone came and laid a solid
foundation to industrialize the length and breadth of the state and it is very
obvious that it is in the second term that those things will be actualized as a
fulfilment of your promises, hence, we stand firm to support you 100 percent.”
He disclosed that “Akpabuyo is a land of justice, equity and
fair play which is why we are at the forefront of the zoning principle that
will allow every component of the whole have its fair share at the centre as
well as provide them the opportunity to showcase their best. So, when people
come with strange theories other than what we ascribe to, we simply show them
the door because we are not interested in any other principle than the one on
ground.”
While assuring the governor and PDP of an overwhelming
support in the February 16 and March 2, 2019 elections respectively, Ndem said:
“To ensure that our 100 percent support is intact, we are launching a door
to door and person to person campaign across the local government area.”
He, however, appealed to Ayade to extend his laudable
industrialization programme to the area to take the teeming unemployed youth
off the streets, while thanking the governor for the recent amnesty
granted some restive youths in the area which he noted has restored peace and
security in the area.
Responding, Governor Ayade said he was deeply humbled by the
recognition and acknowledgement of his achievements by the people achievements.
The governor told the leaders that Akpabuyo occupied a
special place in life of his administration, which informed his decision to
site a social hospital in the area. “We are bringing the biggest and the best social
hospital in Cross River to Akpabuyo. The hospital will not take the form of the
traditional hospital. Of course, we know that the characteristics of a
typical hospital entail that you visit the facility and pay for your diagnoses
and the treatments, but this social hospital is designed to provide a referral
support system for people who don’t have money.”
Continuing he said: “So, this is the first time we are
providing a hospital that you walk in and get treated without paying a dime and
the implication is that, very soon, we will be seeing exodus of people trooping
to Akpabuyo to get themselves treated in the facility, once we commence
operation because it will be for free.”
Ayade reminded the leaders that Akpabuyo will always remain
special, which was why “In my fist three and a half years, I have brought a lot
of young people on board my government, we have decided to bring this hospital
as a showpiece to demonstrate the hospitality, meekness and warmth of the
people.”
On plans to make the facility a world class one, Ayade hinted
that: “We have concluded an arrangement to bring expatriates from America,
Italy and Canada including our home-grown professionals under the auspices of
doctors with borders who will man the facility for optimal service delivery
particularly to the no income earners.”
Justifying the siting of the facility in the area, the
governor explained that “We made the choice of Akpabuyo because of the peace,
tranquility and character of the people, and because you have the
patience to accommodate the Bakassi returnees, you will be patient enough to
accommodate the entire Southern Senatorial District when they come for
medicare. It is in recognition of the character of the people that we decided
that the hospital be sited here in Akpabuyo for the Southern Senatorial
District.”
Earlier, while interacting with the Paramount Ruler and his
cabinet members at their chamber, governor Ayade assured them that all elected
clan and village heads would soon be presented with their certificates as they
had all been signed by him, even as he promised an upward review of their
monthly stipend. The governor also promised to build the royal father a
befitting palace.