Governor
Ben Ayade yesterday embarked on a 14 kilometer trek across the city of
Calabar, where he interacted freely with residents, assuring them of his
government’s commitment to improve their lives.
Governor Ayade who walked across several streets
inspecting the state of roads in the state capital Calabar and the level
of waste evacuation in the state, terminated his streets tour at
Atimbo.
At every street the the governor passed through, chants
of Obong Owo (Elder) and Obong Ekpe (Chief Priest) rent the air, as
residents trooped out to hail him for what they said has been his
proactive and humanistic approach to governance.
At one of Ayade’s stopovers, a mild drama ensued where an
eight-year old boy stuck out his hand from his father’s car for a
handshake with the governor, hailing “we love you.” The governor who
waved continuously to the cheering bystanders responded with a
handshake. For several others, it was bear hugs, while for some it was
what is referred in common parlance as “chop knuckle”.
In what could be described as a show of empathy, the
governor who was literally swathed by a large throng spotted a young
girl of about 16 years looking dispirited with her drooped face on both
hands. Moved by her sight, Ayade, in his characteristic gesture,
directed that something be immediately done to lift her mood.
The unscheduled street walk which also attracted youths
who besieged Governor Ayade, thanking him for his leadership style,
while expressing their total support for the construction of the
ongoing Bakassi deep seaport and the 260 kilometre superhighway.
In unison, they chorused: “Ayade we love you”, “Ayade we
support you”, “Our digital governor, we are proud of you, the
superhighway must be a reality”, “mischief makers leave our governor
alone”, “Cross River State is safe with Governor Ayade”.
Similarly, the governor who used the opportunity to
mingle, shop and interact freely with hawkers and shop owners, assured
them of his government’s commitment to look into most of their
challenges.
Specifically, a particular groundnut and corn seller saw
fortune smile on her as her stock was boosted by the governor, who
stopped by her little road side stand to buy groundnut and soft drinks.
Some locals who could not believe that the governor could
stop by their shops to buy groundnut and soft drink said the day would
remain forever etched in their memories.
Expressing his excitement, a resident of Atimbo
community, Michael Uduak said: “The governor made my day, he came to our
community to eat with us, joke with us, and most importantly interact
with us and shared our challenges. He has shown he is a man of the
people and we will stand by him to the end.”
In the same vain, an overwhelmed resident, Elizabeth
Ekpeyong, with tears rolling down her cheeks, said: “I left my business
to come and identify with the people’s Governor who came down to see his
people, to speak to us, to advise us and to assure us of the future.”
On his part, Effiom Asuquo said: “I am happy that in my
lifetime I was able to shake hands with a sitting governor, we are happy
that he came to our community to identify with us, we are happy and
proud of him as our governor”.
Sun News
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