Ayade Ruined C’River, We Must Reclaim It -Duke
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Godwin AJOM, Calabar
A former governor of Cross River State, Donald Duke, has pilloried the state governor, Prof Ben Ayade for allegedly destroying whatever legacies that were built by him and Senator Liyel Imoke and has declared that the people must come together to reclaim the state.
He said that before now, Cross River had a plan on ground running but that Ayade’s administration ruined everything and brought the state to its knees. The former governor was speaking in Calabar at the formal inauguration of the PDP Governorship campaign council which he is heading as chairman.
“The psyche of our state has been destroyed, it is worse than it was in 1996. We have to regain the paradise. This is not a time to learn on the job. If we go like these for another four years, we are gone. There was once a state, and we have to reclaim that state.
“I don’t mind having a Chinese man becoming governor of Cross River state, provided Cross River would get it right. Leave all these sentimental things; we have to get it right. I can stake for this man (Sandy Onor, the PDP candidate) because I know who he is. I know his track record, be careful of people you don’t have track record. The Ayade administration has retrogressed our state.”
He charged Cross Riverians to ignore ethnic campaigns and base their search of a good leader on the quality of candidates. Hear him: “A task has been given to us and we must deliver because it’s a victory for the people. Our state is no longer in the ranking at all; so I believe we must deliver.
“It’s nice to have your brother or clan’s man in good positions, but never promote incompetent people for positions they cannot handle. I’m worried, very worried for where we are today, these food on the table generation.”
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On his part, Onor, assured all party members that as governor, he would carry everyone in the state, while also working hard to right the wrongs of the current government. “There is nobody who would work for this party, who will not be rewarded or recognized. Time where the governor will visit every local government has come again. We will put Cross River state first, anyone who will not put Cross River state first, will not be part of our government, even if they enter by mistake, we will send them out.”
On his part, the state party chairman, Venatius Ikem said the people have had to suffer for about eight years now because of the mistake of handing over the state to an unserious person who could only deceive the people.