X-raying Ayade’s 14-Point Agenda for 2016

By Effiong Okon,

 One of the distinguishing traits of quality leadership is the uncanny ability to set attainable goals- short, medium and long term.

While some goals may be achievable within a short term, there are those that require medium term attainability as well as others whose attainment are long term.   

In his New Year message to the people, Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, adopted a strategic model that offers him the opportunity to go for what could be regarded as low hanging fruits. That is delivering on those aspect of developmental programmes or projects that do not require long term actualization.

In an inspiring and galvanising message that heralds hope and confidence, Governor Ayade articulated a 14-point agenda that would be the prime focus of his administration in 2016.

Christened “My 14-Point Agenda for 2016”, Ayade is poised to give the necessary push that will ensure the concession of the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway, just as he is equally ready to provide the requisite economic and political backing to prospect for oil and gas deposits in the state.

The governor who charged the people of the state to view 2016 as “another unique opportunity to open up a new chapter filled with captivating elixir of hope” noted that “in the days ahead, we will catalyze the tempo of multi-sectoral turnaround of our dear state in spite of dwindling allocation from the federal coffers.”

Very much in a hurry to accomplish so much within so short a time, Ayade also hinted that the monorail and the garment factory would be completed and commissioned this year. When commissioned, and any moment soon, the Monorail, which would be the first in operation in Nigeria, is expected to trigger a quantum effect in the economy of the state as it will further add to the tourism offerings of the state. In the same vein, the commissioning of the garment factory will significantly address the monstrous army of unemployment.     

Other critical areas which governor Ayade said full attention would be focused on include the completion of the detailed design and preconstruction work of Calas Vegas, a new cosmopolitan city to be berthed out of Calabar as well as two others in the two other senatorial districts of the state. It is also expected that before the end of the year, completion of the de-bushing of the superhighway corridor and the completion of the detailed design and securing of approval from the Federal Executive Council for the construction of the Deep seaport would have been achieved.

Other projects to be executed in 2016 are the creation of new urban forests for climate change, establishing of a State Microfinance Bank to provide soft loans for the youths, ensuring a substantial stabilization of power and water supply in Calabar, and commencement of dredging of the seaport.

Reconstruction of the Health and Education system of the state, activation of the Green Police and the commencement of construction of 5000 housing units for the no-income and the low income earners in Cross River would also be the very important areas that the Ayade-led administration will be given full attention this year.

The creation of new urban forests for climate change, besides its financial value chain in terms of revenue generation, will bring about employment creation for the newly established Green Police.

Urban forests will help in beautifying the city of Calabar and other major towns like Ogoja, Obudu, Ikom and Ugep in a pristine way.

The activation of the Green Police will help to curtail the activities of illegal loggers, thereby ensuring that the state gets a great chunk of the funds set aside by the World Bank and the United Nations for Africa and the third world countries to battle climate change.

There is no doubt that we have many young, vibrant and articulate Cross Riverians with the immense capacity and training to become cutting-edge entrepreneurs, but are incapacitated by paucity of fund and  lack of access to facilities and guarantors. The establishment of Cross River State Microfinance Bank to provide soft loans Cross Riverians would certainly be the panacea to turn things around in this regards.

From Governor Ayade’s  New  Year message, it clear that he fully appreciates the import of a healthy citizenry as wealth-drivers of the economy, which is why he is demonstrating a strong commitment to the task of reconstruction of the health and education system of the state. The benefits of doing so are enormous, just as the consequences of are better imagined than real. Ayade understands this very well and wantsbto be in the right side of history.

A governor whose soul is sold completely on improving the wellbeing of his people he cannot afford to delay the commencement of the construction of the 5000 units of houses for those without income and the low income of the state. Earlier, he had sworn never to see any Cross Riverian live in thatched houses, a scenario he considers subhuman and dehumanizing.

There will be immeasurable benefits that will accrue to Cross River people from the concession for the Calabar-Itu Federal Highway is obtained by Governor Ayade- reduction in the number of man-hour, on the road, boosting of inter-state commerce.  

Despite the plunge in the global oil price, and the focus on alternative source of energy, Governor Ayade sees a future for the state in oil and gas, hence his desire to prospect for the black gold in 2016.

Setting these lofty goals for 2016, Governor Ayade is not “unaware of the huge responsibility, skepticism and downright criticism”, when he decided to embarked on the signature projects.

There is no doubt that Governor Ayade is passionate and committed to pursuing with extreme vigour the 14-point agenda. Over time, he has proven that whatever he sets his mind on, he follows with his heart and head.

It is on this note that the year 2106 promises to be an exhilarating one for Cross Riverians and   one in which dreams will be born, hopes fulfilled and confidence restored in the people that indeed, flowers can bloom among the thorns of life.

Accordingly, he urged his people: “As we raise a toast to the new year with a sparkling in our eyes and the ‘jigida’ dance of hope and triumph, may the dreams we wish all come through and the days abound with richness and contentment”.

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Posted by admin on Jan 21 2016. Filed under Ben Ayade Desk. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry