Governorship aspirants score Ayade low

Some governorship aspirants in Cross River State have scored Senator Ben Ayade low in his performance as governor.

Among aspirants that have lashed at Ayade’s alleged poor performance are a Lagos-based business mogul, Mr. Essien Brown Robson; former commissioners of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Prof Eyo Etim Nyong and Mr. Paul Adah; former Commissioner for Works in the state, Mr. Venatious Ikem; a business man, Mr. John Odey and former Minister of Culture and Tourism, Chief Edem Duke, all of All Progressives Congress (APC).

Others in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) include former PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi; a businessman, Mr. Paul Udayi and former Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Emmanuel Nsa.

The group also included former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Eyo Ekpo of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).  

Speaking at his declaration, Robson decried the decay in the state’s tourism infrastructure.

He said: “In recent times, the core infrastructure and conditions of life of people in the state have degenerated to a pitiable level.

Our resources have been poorly managed. The entire state is inundated with heartbreaking signs of systems decay and leadership failure.

“Cross River State is no longer the destination of choice for most Nigerians and foreign tourists because of the total breakdown of infrastructure and services for which the state was known.”