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INAUGURATION: ‘I’m coming as a Project Manager,’ Ayade spoils for war with Nigerian govt over 76 oil wells

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The governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, on Wednesday told the people of the state that his deputy, Professor Ivara Esu, will act as governor in his second term while he superintendents over projects.

He said though he was being sworn-in May 29 as the governor of the state, he would only serve as a project manager so that he government would be able to accomplish signature projects such as the Super Highway, Calachika, Bakassi Deep Seaport, among others.

He said, “In order to see to the actualization of our signature projects this term, though I have been sworn in as governor, I will assume duties as a project manager while my deputy will be the governor.

“Don’t expect to see me in office but in the field to see to it that these projects are actualized.”

The governor, who was sworn-in for a second term along with his deputy at the main bowl of the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar, also urged Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SANs) from the state to get prepared to fight the Federal Government over alleged illegal seizure of 76 oil wells from the state.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government had taken the oil wells and given them to Akwa Ibom State.

But the governor charged SANs from the state to get ready to battle Nigerian Government over the oil well in order to get compensated.

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Ayade said, “You (Nigerian Government) Illegally seized our oil wells. You illegally seized our lands. You brought in EPZ. You took our waterways and left us stranded. Even the ceding of Bakassi was illegal.

“In 2016, I issued a report on the oil deposits in Cross River State. We have not asked for money, we are only asking for our constitutional right to explore our natural resources. Three years down the line, we are waiting.

“Cross River has been abused and reduced to nothing in body and spirit and soul. I call on President Muhammadu Buhari to please hearken to the prayer of the people of Cross River State that we know our value, we know our worth, we know our heritage.

“We have shown so much understanding with the absolute belief that in the fullness of time, justice will be done. All Cross River SANs, you better be ready because the Federal Government has to tell us what crimes we have committed.”

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