Ayade begs youths not to judge him wrongly

Police Attempt To Stop PDP Rally

Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, has appealed to youths in the state not to judge him with bad situations, as he promised to established youth social welfare scheme.

He made the promise yesterday at the All Progressives Congress (APC) youths’ summit/rally, at the U.J Essuene Stadium in Calabar, an event organised by the Cross River State lobby group.

Ayade, who pleaded with the youths that cheered him up at the stadium, said they should not judge him by the bad things in the state, but should judge him by the good things he has been able to do for the state.

“Do not judge me by the situation that is so bad, please judge me by the good things I have done, judge me by the commissioners, judge me by the street lights that are working from 6pm to 6am daily.”

Charging the youths to make something out of nothing, the governor said: “I was once in your shoes so you should not think about your family challenges. Nobody can change your destiny; believe in yourselves. I can see some future governor’s here,” the governor stated.

Speaking earlier, the APC National Youth Leader, Alhaji Ismaeel Ahmed, commended the governor for investing in the youths, urging Ayade to work with the national body to see that youths obtain leadership positions across the country.

On his part, the state chairman, Cross River State lobby group lauded the governor for his great achievement and support for youths.

Describing him as a youth friendly governor, the Commissioner for Finance, Asuqwo Ekpeyong and the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Betta Edu thanked the governor for giving them and other youths the opportunity to serve in his cabinet.

Meanwhile, the Police tried stopping the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from holding its rally yesterday. As early as 7:00am, heavily armed security personnel numbering about 100 comprising the army, civil defence and police stormed Calabar Sports Club, the venue of the campaign flag off, in 25 Hiliux Vans and one Armoured Personnel Carrier.

The leader of the team on arrival ordered PDP members who were already at the venue to vacate or face the wrath of the law, but they resisted on the grounds that they received approval from the Police to hold the rally.

Hundreds of PDP supporters who ignored the order were seen trooping into the venue through the emergency gates while some erected banners and pasted posters of the various candidates for the by-election.

Last week the State Working Committee of PDP constituted a campaign committee for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Akpabuyo State Assembly by-election scheduled for Saturday, February 26, 2022.

The campaign committee, made up of over 1, 000 members, were officially to be inaugurated yesterday were to move to their various wards and polling units for aggressive campaigns to sell their candidates, Chief Mike Usibe for Ogoja/Yala federal constituency and Dr  Effiom Ekeng Edet for Akpabuyo State House of Assembly. When contacted on phone, the State Police Commissioner, Aminu Alhassan, said he directed his men to the venue to avert any security crisis.