“In This My Second Tenure, I Will No Longer Be Cross River Governor” – Ben Ayade Declares

The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade has declared that his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, will run the state as Acting Governor throughout his second term.

Ayade said he will be at the sidelines playing the role of ‘Project Manager’ as he will relocate out of Calabar, the state capital.

According to him, Cross River will become an industrialized state under his watch.

The governor stated this while delivering his inaugural address after he was sworn in on Wednesday for the second time as governor by the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Michael Edem at the U.J Esuene stadium. He said:

“Be committed and steadfast Cross River state will be an industrialised state under my watch. In this my second tenure, I will no longer be the governor. My Deputy will be the acting governor while I will become the project manager of Cross River state as I will relocate to Ikom LGA.

“This tenure will be food on the table ,hands on the plough, no amount of investment in infrastructure will be equivalent to taking care of the well being of the people ,paying salaries and employing them.

“We must understand that anytime our problems can only be solved by money then our intellect has failed us.”