Ayade Sworn-in for Second Term Amid Cheers

……Says He Will be Project Manager

Chidiebere Onyemaizu

The UJ Esune stadium, Calabar was agog Wednesday May 29, 2019 as Cross River state governor Professor Ben Ayade took oath of office for his second term before thousands of Cross Riverians. At exactly 11.40 am, the re-elected governor, adorning a blue Jean trousser over a ash coloured T-shirt and a bowler hart, was sworn-in by the state’s Chief Judge,Justice Michael  Edem amid thunderous cheers from the ecstatic crowd.

His deputy, Professor Ivara Esu had earlier been sworn in.

The colourful ceremony was graced by Professor Ayade’s predecessors-Senator Liyel Imoke and Donald Duke-whose arrival sent the crowd into frenzy.

In his inaugural address, Professor Ayade said he will dedicate his second term to ensuring the completion of his industrial and signature projects.

“I will be project Manager in my second term, I will see to the completion of Industrialization of Cross River state, and of all my signature projects”, the governor said.

Appealing to the federal government to assist the state to overcome the loss of its oil wells to Akwa Ibom, the governor expressed regret that the aspect of the Supreme Court’s ruling in the oil wells dispute which mandated the federal government to mitigate Cross River’s loss by setting aside certain sum for the state as compensation following the apex court’s ceding of the wells to Calabar has not been implemented.