A few months back the visionary governor of Cross River State Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade had given a hint to the world that "A New Cross River State" is set to come forth.
Speaking in Calabar during the visit of Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state to him, Ayade said "I know you are somebody that doesn’t take injustice. One single injustice they will see a new Cross River State.”
The governor had spoken in reference to the injustice meted upon him as the leader of his erstwhile party the Peoples Democratic Party in Cross River State by some stakeholders in the party.
Recently, Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade made real his threat of birthing a "New Cross River State" by defecting from the Peoples Democratic Party PDP to the ruling All Progressive Congress APC.
In doing this, the industrialist governor has not only broken away from those who had held the state ransom from the inception of the 4th Republic in 1999 but has also opened a vista of opportunities for younger leaders to take the state to new heights.
The old echelon of leaders who have had a grip on the state and its resources and have bled it almost to its death for over two decades are however not going down without a fight.
They have chosen to regroup under the Peoples Democratic Party which is now in opposition in the state, to fight to keep their hands on the till and also continue deceiving the gullible among the citizens, promising them a change of the old order.
Speaking recently in a press conference in the state capital, Calabar, the former governor of the state Sen. Liyel Imoke said we will hand over power to the younger generation in 2023. Nothing could be further from truth.
The Peoples Democratic Party parades some of oldest people who have perpetuated themselves in office for years with no hope for the younger generation taste power.
Indeed some leaders of that party are doing their fourth or fifth term as elected representatives and hoping to return in 2023 while some of their governorship hopefuls will be in their sixties by 2023.
On the other hand, the youth loving governor has given great opportunities to young people by appointing them into his government and thus giving them opportunity to grow politically and economically.
His defection to the ruling All Prgressive Congress to say the least gives room for these young people to realise their dreams and aspirations to hold political office and serve the people.
This brings to life the dream of the "New Cross River State" away from the oppression of sit tight leaders and those who have looted our collective wwlfare in the past twenty years
The governor and the new crop of leaders in his team thus have a clean break from the past years eaten by the Peoples Democratic Party canker worms and are set to deliver an industrial revolution in the state going forward as already begun by the Ayade led administration.
Some leaders in this team are Senator Representing the Northern Senatorial District Sen. Dr. Stephen Odey, the Member Representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo and his colleague Representing Etung/Obubra Federal Constituency Rt. Hon. Mike Etaba.
Others include the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams and two term Member of the Cross River State House of Assembly and commissioner in the Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade Administration Rt. Hon. George O'ben-Etchi.
As we head for the general elections in 2023, and the governorship position rotates back to the Southern Senatorial District, we stand with Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, his team and the All Progressive Congress to keep the New Cross River State going forward.
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