Abdullahi Yuguda|20 May 2016|7:04am
After taking a cursory look at the administrative models adopted by various state governors after the 2015 general election, most especially, judging from their individual signature projects, one will not hesitate to press a botton of endorsement for Governor Ayade's model.
This is because his government is chiefly aligned toward entrepreneurship development, human capacity development, general empowerment, aggressive infrastructural expansion with the intention of ensuring sustainability and value chain benefits.
Far from the above, the governor also refused to join the committee of governors who harbour the notion, that states can only be economically viable through oil based income. Having got ejected from huge oil derivation quata under the oil producing states, efforts to adopt tourism as the main stay of the state's economy, suffered some setbacks during and after the Imoke led administration.
Today, with the doctrine of Ayadeism, the people of Cross River State have discovered that there are multiplicity of options available to move the state to enviable height. From agro based economy, technology based economy, knowledge based economy and even integrity based economy as is the case with our president. All these, became open, largely under the present governor.
Also, it is common knowledge that Prof. Ayade has stepped further to market the state through the nation and the nation through the state in the eye of the international community. This is evident in his effective synergy with key partners across national and international fronts. For instance, the governor was fast enough to subscribe to the fact that environmental degradation and deterioration which affects Africa, Nigeria and Cross river state could best be fought if he takes it personal. This led to his emergence as climate change governor for Africa, enabled him expand the Carnival Calabar content for 2015 to include climate change as the primary theme. With such feat, it is hoped that a larger portion of international fund being canvassed to fight problems of climate change will see the state or the nation as the best bride.
If Ayade moves towards claiming the name given to him as an action Governor is to stand, he must practically justify it beyond rhetorics. Many observers and writers have agreed that there are indications in some quarters that exhibited his distinctive approach against previous practices.
As soon as he came on board, he systematically isolated himself from the use of propaganda to psychologize people, the use of PR apparatus and self advertising. It was common during the Imoke led administration to see the smoothness of newly tarred roads only on mega bill boards, while in practical reality, the so called newly constructed roads usually start breaking even before contractor's evacuated their equipments from construction site. The worst is the fact that most of the roads were mere scam whereby they don't get constructed beyond the sight of passers by at the highways. A walk through Ukpe -Ubang in Obudu, The Mbarakon road in Akamkpa, the Iyamoyong-Iyamitet road in Obubra, the Goodluck Jonathan's Bye pass in Calabar Municipality, the old Odukpani road along Ikot Omin, just to mention a few, will reveal much.
Looking at Ayade's government from the smokes screen, it seems the era of abandoning or minimising interests of the public is over. His government is in consonance with the view of a world popular authority, Plato who was quoted by Udokan (2000) as saying "A state arises out of the need for mandkind". His firm standing, proved him as the main force behind the conceptualisation and hybridization of ideas that are beggining to lift the state out of bondage.
It has never been the culture of both federal and state governments in Nigeria to lay out projects and programs that will give lasting effects. Our Politicians are only interested in initiating and commissioning projects even if they weren't completed. With the way foundations are laid by the present governor, people with critical mind for measurement will agree that Ayade doesn't care whether the mega legacies he is putting in place would hatch under his watch or not. To him, what is important is for the people to understand, that a key is provided to make life easy for generations unborn.
In actual sense, Professor Ayade is out to leave a mark of excellence, by deploying different tactics and going beyond party affairs to drive home the much needed goodwill. He is a direct opposite of Ekiti state governor, Ayodele Fayose, who sees the central government as enemy, instead of a partner. In no distant past, we all saw the fight between former governor of Rivers state, Hon Chubuike Ameachi and ex-president Goodluck Jonathan whose devastating effects still defines insecurity, distrust and disunity amongst their people. It is even healthier that it was the president who was fighting the governor as opposed to the Ekiti system where the governor assumed he is fighting the president, not minding whether or not, the end result may spell doom to the poor relationship that is still yarning for organised PR.
However, both the Ekiti and Rivers approach are bad examples for any leadership model. Although, Ekiti and Cross River States belongs to the same political party, they can't be on the same page or share notes on the area of effective lobbying or navigation Skills. Ayade portrayed the qualities of a servant-governor when he told those accusing him of romance with the ruling government, that he was ready to connect to every avenue that would generate favour to the state. As it stands, now, Ayade is one of the few governors in the south that earned bigger respect from the presidency. Many noise makers said it was due to his intellectual disposition, others attributed it to integrity while some others saw him as a team player. Which ever is correct, is their businesses but the summary, is that he knows his onions.
Also, because of sincerity of purpose, even within same political party, he overhauled the entire old stock politicians under his predecessor and injected new breed, who were ready to adopt the new dimension which is at variance with neighbouring Akwa Ibom state. In Akwa Ibom for instance, over 70% of ex-governor Goodswill Akpabio commissioners have retained their offices, including former council chairmen also returned as care taker chiarmen.
Interestingly too, the people of Cross River State are beginning to understand that the coming of Ayade is truely divine just as their thanks giving services after court cases revealed. Everybody's concern at this point is how the promises of the governor would be fulfilled to minimise doubts. Already, critics have raised so many questions on the govt. While I see mega projects like the Super highway, Sea port, Garment factory, Tai Rice duplicate, New city project etc, as directional and purposeful, others are simply saying Ayade is biting more than he could chew, not even when most of my governors up north doesn't even have the eye to see what to bite.
If the truth must be said, the mystery about Ayade is that he wears the regalia of a President of the Federal Republic. Whether it will be possible or not, his brain is needed to add to presidential think thank for development master plan. If this is done, the rest will build history
My analysis on the focus of Ayade's government is not based on completed projects as others may assume. It is based on available pointers, indicators, foundations that fundamentally provided the much needed cloud of expectations.
The present governor of Abia state, Okezie Ikpeazu, recently discribed Ayade as a path finder, a Mirrow through which Nigeria should be seen by other countries. Conscious of what he saw in the governor, Ikpeazu further called on other governors to take Ayade's footstep. So far, available facts on the governors map of intentions shows that he is bent on turning cross river state human capacity deficiency for good. His understanding of entrepreneurial impact, his firm belief in domestication of technology, his resolve to minimise pains associated with high cost of housing, the dream to have a feed mills and organised dairy farm, the need to exploit the abundant mineral deposits in the state, amongst others, proved him right.
To cap it up, the application of due process and entrusting such key office to an intelligent, corrupt free DG, Barr Alphonsus Ogar spelt brighter future towards standard and strict regulation of public contracts, including but not limited to providing value for every kobo spent.
All these strategic thinking by a single critical thinker, provided him the requisite endorsement nationally and internationally . intact, there is every need to say thank you to a Governor who insisted on eradication of the notion that ceded oil Wells have left the state economically barrel. With the passage of the budget by the national assembly, it is hoped that Ayade's multi dimensional programs will replace the use of double, multiple or illegal taxations by govt bodies or tugs.
Abdullahi Yuguda
Is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Calabar.
08032232370, yugudajo@gmail.com
