Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has emerged the Champion Newspaper Governor of the Year for 2019.
Ayade’s choice for the award was contained in a letter signed by the newspaper’s Managing Director and Editor-in-chief, Nwadiuto Iheakanwa.
While justifying the choice of the governor, Iheakanwa said: “The award which is a product of painstaking selection of our Board of Editors, is our modest way of recognising leaders who have paid a greater sacrifice in ensuring the objectives and ideals of our nationhood are sustained.”
She said Ayade’s emergence has been corroborated by an independent team of assessors.
“On all scores, our findings, largely corroborated by that of independent assessors, confirmed that Cross River, under your watch, has become a model state in terms of value creation in the art of governance.
“We note with delight, your uncommon zeal and pragmatism with which you have pursued the business of transforming Cross River into a resourceful state.
“Most importantly is the patriotic and noble steps in transforming the state into an industrial hub.
“As a watch dog of the society, it is our duty not only to track and document your sterling performance but also to acknowledge your commitment and love for your state in particular and the country in general,” she said.
The letter of notification, however, fix the award ceremony for February 2020.