Privatisation: Ayade asks the Igbo To Bid For Industries In Cross River

By Stanley Ekpenyong, Calabar

The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has asked the Igbo to bid for the industries in the State when their privatisation begin. He said this during a courtesy visit on him by the Igbo Community in the State.

The Igbo leaders  told Ayade that the Igbo community in the state will continue to stand by him.

Visiting under the aegis of Igbo Congress,  tthey stated that wherever the Governor  goes, there the Igbo will go, in reference to the recent political development in the state.

This is as Governor Ayade assured the Igbo community that his administration would continue to provide the enabling environment for every resident of the state to excel irrespective of ethnic affiliations.

He invited them to bid for the plethora of industries his administration has established when their privatisation process begins.

The Group was led by the President of Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo in Cross River state, Barrister Ugoji Nwabueze.

They were on a solidarity visit to the governor and also to thank him for appointing a number of their sons and daughters into his government.

According to Ayade, “We don’t see you as Igbos, we see you as Nigerians, we don’t see you as Igbos, we see you as Cross Riverians.

“Some of you have lived for over 20 years here, you had your kids here, and so, what stops those kids from enjoying the full rights and privilege of Cross Riverians? I am completely against a structure where because you are not from a particular state you cannot run an election in that state even if you were born and bred there and have your investments there. That has to change”

“And that is what is obtainable in the US, you don’t run an election because you are native to a particular place, you run an election because you are resident of the place.

None of us chooses our tribes. We are from a particular ethnic group just because we were born into such a group. You didn’t wish to be born Igbo you were born into an Igbo family. I didn’t wish to be from Obudu I was born into an Obudu family, that’s why I am from Obudu.

So, I think we should come to that understanding that you are one of us”

He noted that the Igbo in Cross River have massive investment in the state and urged them to further participate in the economy of the state by keying into the industries his administration has established.

“Just note that the factories we have built so far are open to you, we will be advertising very soon for concessioning for privatization, for long term operations and maintenance, please feel free to come and indicate your interest”, the governor stated.

On his recent change of political party, the Cross River state governor said the visit of the Igbo leaders meant so much to him, “because it means that outside of Cross Riverians, somebody else has validated the decision”

He emphasized that as a poor state at the bar of federal allocation, “Cross River can’t afford to be in opposition”

Earlier, Barrister Nwabueze who is also Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Non-Indigene  Affairs( Igbo), pledged Igbos’ unalloyed support for to him saying “We want to assure you, Your Excellency, that wherever you go the Igbos will follow you, we will swim with you, we will come out victorious with you. “Rest assured, Your Excellency, that we are here on a solidarity visit. The Igbos in Cross River State are with you”

Speaking further, Nwabueze said: “Igbos have come to see Cross River State not just as a state to eke out a living but a home. This is because with our population of about 800,000 people and with an investment of over 450m Naira, we contribute to driving the economy of this state”

“We thank you for finding some of our sons and daughters worthy of appointment into your government, the first of such move in Cross River.

“We assure you Your Excellency that the Igbos will continue to be loyal to our host communities and we will continue to promote peace and do all we can to engender peace”

In his remark, one of the Igbo appointees, Imo state born Chidi Onyemaizu who is the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Print Media described his principal as detribalized, urbane, cerebral and a rare breed of leader Nigeria needed to consolidate gains of nationhood.

On her part, Dr Nancy Irek, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Information who is also from Imo state called on political leaders to come to Cross River and receive tutorials from the governor on good governance.