Former envoy to South Korea, Ambassador Apang Obi Odu, has praised Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade for what he described as his impactful style of governance.
Odu noted that the governor is Godsend to Cross River, and that his leadership style is delivering anticipated benefits for the overall development of the state.
The former commended the governor when he visited him in Calabar, where he said the industrialisation drive of the Ayade led-administration is unprecedented, since the advent of democratic rule in the state.
His words: “I have watched three successive governments, but, I must say Ayade is laying a great foundation that will transform the socio-economic landscape of our state for our children yet unborn.
“I like you for one thing; you are proactive and I totally believe in people who are proactive and make pronouncements for things to happen because, if you don’t speak out what you nurse in your heart, you may never actualise them.
“If we have the same mindset that you have, I can assure you we will be the gateway to Nigeria and I am happy that we are able to articulate with you to develop this state.”
Praising the governor for initiating the 275 kilometre superhighway and the Bakassi deep seaport, the former ambassador maintained that “even the president has put his foot down, to support our deep seaport and the superhighway.
“So, you can imagine if we have all these investments fully in place by the government, no one will say I am poor again because of what the governor has agreed to do, coupled with the ones that are still coming to our state.”
On security, Odu thanked Ayade for still maintaining a peaceful state, in spite of daunting challenges and noted that “issues of security are being contained well by the governor even though there are various stories to slander the image of the state but we have consistently remained the most peaceful state in the country.”
He stressed the need for the introduction of more offerings in the tourism circle of the state, and added that “our carnival can also run longer by including our New Yam festivals, which will make people to start visiting from January until December.”
He called on Cross River people to rally round the governor, who, he noted, has the interest of everyone at heart. “So, let us not discourage him or form an attitude of discouragement because, under his leadership, we will achieve a whole lot than we ever expected.”