BY FREEDOM OJAH OTEI
In Nigerian anal of history, His Excellency, Senator Benedict Ayade, the Governor of Cross River State will forever be remembered as the most senseless if not the most foolish governor the state in particular and Nigeria in general has ever produced.
The only legacy Ayade he will be remembered for, is the creation of 20,000 illegal road blocks manned by his thugs in Cross River State.
This is not politics, but a call for concern on the hostile economic climate created by the clueless governor.
In 1999 when Donald Duke became the governor, him with his then deputy, Chief John Oyom Okpa from Obubra expanded tourism frontier, explored tourism and other economic opportunities in Ayade's hometown, Obudu and established the globally recognised Obudu Cattle Ranch that has hosted world leaders and international conferences.
Governor Duke's ingenuity has endured till this date. You remember the Calabar Carnival? 8 years later, another focused leader, Senator Liyel Imoke consolidated on Duke's ingenuity and turned the state to what it is.
Sectorally, Agriculture, Industrialisation, Urban Renewal and Education fared better. Imoke established the Management Institute of Technology, MIT, Ugep and all others signature projects too numerous to mention here.
Taken over from the latter is Senator Benedict Ayade, whose foolery, inability to engage the youths in a productive venture, breeding of thugs for political activities has made ease of doing business in Cross River hellish.
The pillaging and rapping of the state's resources has further alienated the people from the governor. To seek national cover, Ayade was left with no option than to exit the party that brought him from sociopolitical and economic obscurity to limelight.
Now, he has found a political cover in the All Progressives Congress, APC. It is difficult to enter Cross River State from any part thereof without being molested or embarrassed by the thugs in all these illegal checkpoints.
All the gateway to the state has at least,100 checkpoints.
Take for instance, from Abaomege to Ugep, a distance of about 15kilometers has illegal 50 checkpoints with the godforsaken men of the Vehicle Inspection Officers and the Federal Road Safety Corps with one T.A Bisong as a patrol team leader in the Itigidi axis of the state.
One wonders what Road Safety will be doing in such location of Itigidi. The result is subjection of the Okada Riders to heavy and inhuman treatment and extortion, whose only crime because they choose to ride motorcycle.
After Itigidi is Ugep where touts does not allow anyone buy bread when returning from the state around the Ugep- Itigidi junction. This is the case of Abi and Yakurr Council Area where VIO, Federal Road Safety Corps, men of DOPT (Department of Public Transportation created by Cross River State Government) does not give commutters and road users, any breathing space.
In Biase and Akamkpa, coming from Olumba, Olumba Obu's village, Biakpan, through Ugbem, Akpet Central to Ibogo, Umai, Akparavoni, Ehom, Betem, Okomita, Awi are hellish experiences for road users.
Coming from Ikom to Obubra from 4Corners, to Okuni, Ochon and Obubra junctions Ayade's thugs does not allow commuters to use the road. Ogoja to Abakaliki is a nightmare for agro-produce traders which is why there's an increase in food commodities.
Each Ayade's thugs in the roughly 142 checkpoints collect #500 per bag from the buyer. Multiply it by the total number of bags purchased and the 145 illegal road blocks between Ogoja to Izzi, in Ebonyi State.
You will now hold the Cross River State Governor responsible for the current hike in price of food commodities. Bekwara, Etung, Obanliku, Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Local Government Areas are dangerous theatres to walk-in given the the dangerous mass of thugs in these locations with police collusion.
Posterity will deal generously with Ayade should he dismantle these checkpoints and allow innocent road users to go about their normal businesses.
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