Simon Utsu|17 July 2017
Governor Ayade seems to have been checkmated from all angles. Politically, going by the ruling of earlier today, he has been (further and dangerously) cornered politically.
Governance wise, the below standard governance he has dished out over the last couple of years has also checkmated him —asides the spate of cult killings and jungle justice which had spiked to an unprecedented level in the last one year, the shooting/murder-attempt on the son-in-law of former President Jonathan, to me, was the last straw. It exposed more than ever(to the world) how lawless Calabar(and cross river) under him had become.
Of a truth, these wounds(on Ayade) were self-inflicted —he has no one but himself to blame. His only lifeline between now and the end of next year, will be to improve tremendously by delivering VERY good governance to all and sundry. Good governance will endear him to the people and this COULD help him wriggle out of the several political booby traps he has gotten himself caught in.
The first step towards achieving this, will be by cutting down his overbloated cabinet and surrounding himself with eggheads. Though I doubt if he'll toe such a path —sounds more or less like wishful thinking.
My only fear is that come 2019, they'll be a political 'coup' that will end his career abruptly and unceremoniously and also, see the zoning formula being scuttled in the process, with power shifting to the south. I see the southern and central senatorial districts coming together to execute this. The only thing that can make this last paragraph of mine wishful thinking is if Governor Ayade sits up before the end of this year.
Simon Utsu
Is a public affairs analyst
