The youth wing of the All Progressives Congress, APC, have held a solidarity rally in support of the leader of the party in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.
The youths, numbering more than one thousand, embarked on a road show across the metropolis that terminated at the governor’s office, Calabar, where they were received by Governor Ben Ayade in company of Senator John Owan-Eno and other stalwarts of the APC.
Some of the youths, who took turns to speak, praised the governor for appointing and empowering thousands of young people through his “food-on-the-table” policy.
Show of loyalty
The Chairman, Central Planning Committee of the Five thousand youths decamping to join the APC, Michael Abuo Wellington said, “the essence of the rally is to show solidarity, loyalty, and support to the governor, Professor Ben Ayade, who has defected from the failed PDP (Peoples Democratic Party) to the successful and progressive APC.
“In as much as we are concerned, as his core supporters, in collaboration with the Coalition of APC Support Group, we are showing the world that the youths are with Governor Ayade totally. We, the young men and women of Cross River State support his move to the APC. PDP has always held people in bondage, recycling leaders. But, Governor Ayade is proposing a populist governance,” he said.
Another youth, the leader of the Coalition of APC Support Group, Iso Edim expressed appreciation to the governor for running a youth focused administration, which has created employment opportunities for thousands in the industrial and agricultural sectors.
He urged the governor to continue in his vision to decouple Cross River State from its dependence on oil revenue.
Re-socketing government
Responding to the gesture, Governor Ayade thanked the thousands of young people including women for the solidarity and belief in his administration.
Ayade, who was overwhelmed by the crowd of young supporters, stated, “I inherited a government plagued by the challenge of low revenue allocation from the centre and not a beneficiary of the 13 percentage derivatives due to the loss of the 36 oil wells formerly allocated to the State.
“I decided to expand government to ensure that more people can fend for themselves and their families. There are testimonials to the effect that more people have improved standard of living and can afford three square meals daily. My crime however is that I have brought more people to government, I have scandalized government,” said Ayade.
According to him, “I have two years to leave office, I am not running for re-election, I decamped because as a state, we stand to benefit more from the centre than in opposition. We needed to re-socket to the centre to bring value to our state.”
He noted that Cross River State has large depots of untapped mineral resources such as crude oil and gas in Bakassi, Biase, Odukpani, Ikom and Ogoja as well as Yala council areas, which are capable of creating more jobs for young people.
Ayade noted, “a party is a vehicle. The appropriate vehicle that would bring the full economic benefit of being a governor is the APC. We have a President that has a listening ear, he understands the situation and yearnings of Cross River State. I know that the best thing that can happen is to create a generational shift and allow opportunities for young people.”
He promised to absorb more young people into his government.
Emmanuel Ukoh
