Public commentators, Radio phone-in callers and ordinary people on the streets of Calabar are still berating Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State over his reported presidential ambition as well as mountains of Waste in the state capital and other towns.
They said even though the governor has the right under the federal Constitution to declare his interest in the presidency yet, his performance in Cross River should have propelled his aspiration.
They pointed to the many factories he personally initiated but only a couple of such are seen to have taken off the ground, and said they doubted the genuineness of his aspiration.
Others expressed displeasure over the mounting refuse dumps blocking many major roads and streets in the state capital for nearly two months and scored him very low.
Yet those on the streets claimed that the governor was only playing on the minds of the people.
Ayara Amos, 37, who bared his mind over an early morning radio phone-in programme said, “our governor should concentrate on local politics. The presidency is not a place to go and speak flamboyant grammar. Let him evacuate the heaps of wastes that have dented the beautiful image of Calabar and other major towns.”
Another discussant, Magdalene Imoh of Positive Gender Initiative encouraged the governor to continue but should, first, make his government impactful instead of going to waste money at the initial stage of aspiration.
“I would like to call on the governor to raise the governance level in Cross River State. All parts of the state is now filthy; everywhere you turn, heaps of Waste and flies and stench salute you. This is not the famous Calabar we knew, where people trooped in to behold its serenity, cleanliness and peace.”
Chief press secretary to the governor, Christian Ita defended his principal’s decision to aspire. “I have travelled widely. The impact of governance in Cross River is far better and appreciated compared with others in the country given our own peculiarities.
Credit: dailypost.ng
