(By Judex Okoro – CALABAR)
Basking in the euphoria of Superme Court victory, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has promised to create 50, 000 jobs to alleviate employment problem in the state.
He also promised to appoint additional 6, 000 aides into his admiration.
Ayade, who disclosed this while thanking a large crowd tht turned up at Calabar’s U.J Esuene Stadium for the thanksgiving service to welcome him back to the state barely 10 days after the Supreme Court affirmed him governor, attributed his victory to God’s doing, insisting that he was innocent of what he was accused of.
“I thank all the groups who turned up today to receive me back to the state and for having confidence in me. I recommit myself to God…”
“Today, I have known the benefit of being a child of God. I enjoined the detractors to sheathe their sword. From January you will see a different Ayade as I will be wearing T-Shirts and jeans to work for the state. And by 2019, you will not recognise the state. From January 2017, I will create 50, 000 jobs,” the governor promised.
From the airport to stadium, over 100 support groups from the 18 local governments areas of the southeastern state turned up to welcome Ayade following his victory at the Dec. 9 Supreme Court judgement in Abuja.
His supporters carried different placards in solidarity with Ayade including ‘Ayade is the man for today and tomorrow,’ and ‘We love Ayade for prompt payment of civil servants salaries.’
The mood at the airport was that of celebration as the entire state executive council and other government appointees were in attendance at the airport to welcome the embattled governor.
Some of the support groups included the Yoruba and Hausa communities, religious bodies, ‘Think Ayade, Think Cross River’ and ‘Calabar South Elders Forum for Ayade’.