S-Court verdict: Calabar stand still for Gov Ayade
Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, Celebrating
his Supreme Court victory with a dance during a special interdenominational
thanksgiving service held at the U.J. Esuene International Stadium in Calabar.
(Nigeria) Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, on Monday, made what could be described as a triumphant entry into the state, following the December 9, Supreme Court verdict which affirmed his victory as the lawfully elected governor.
In what was clearly a further reaffirmation of his
popularity and acceptability by the people, over 20, 000 people drawn from the
18 local government areas, including Hausa and Yoruba communities had taken
over the airport and major streets of Calabar to welcome the governor.
Bearing different solidarity messages, the crowd carried
banners with inscriptions such as
'welcome back home after the conquest', 'you came, you dared and you
excelled', among others.
Governor Ayade who arrived the Margaret Ekpo International
Airport, Calabar, at exactly 12.30 p.m., was received by a large crowd of Cross
Riverians, traditional rulers, party faithful, House of Assembly members as
well as members of the state executive council, who had thronged the airport as
early as 7.30 a.m.
Addressing journalists at the airport tarmac, shortly on his arrival, Professor Ayade
disclosed that, "we have put the political tension occasioned by the
litigation behind us because we are now
done with the courts.”
Governor Ayade who said it was time for Cross Riverians to
come together as a people and move the state to the next level, appealed: “It is time for us to come together
as a state and as one big family, united by the challenges of our circumstance
to march forward with verve and vitality to reconstruct a new Cross River State
that will protect and take care of the younger generations. I call on my
brother, Joe Agi to join me so that together we can make our dear state, one
that we can all be proud of. Please send any of your best eleven to join my
team. What we both went through was a normal test of our democracy and the
strengthening of our judicial process. It was nothing personal.”
He noted that “It is the duty of this administration headed
by a seasoned business man who is now in government as the governor to bring
the desired change, a change that will put Cross River State on a direction for
prosperity.”
He further stressed that God who has delivered him and his
administration throughout those anxious moments at the various courts would
ultimately provide the Eldorado for his people.
Asked whether he was distracted while the court case
lasted, Ayade said: ”The distraction was
minimal because God was on my side," adding that “I feel very relieved. I
feel the spirit, the movement, the energy and everything that God represents in
my life. It is a reflection of when you live and leave everything in the hands
and submit to God, He definitely takes control.”
The governor maintained that "because of this belief, I
strongly believe that the great vision we have for the state, God will surely
provide for their actualization."
With Calabar literaly shut down, the governor was driven in
a motorcade to the capacity filled U.J. Esuene Stadium, where youths chanted
his name and sang different victory songs in celebration of his Supreme Court
victory.
A thanksgiving service jointly organized by the Cross River
State government and the Christians Association of Nigeria, CAN, Cross River
chapter where prayers and thanksgiving were offered to God for the victory of
the governo and for the prosperity of the state.
Governor Ayade was later honoured with a chieftaincy title
by the state council of traditional rulers.
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