The Chief Executive Officer, Rain Forest Research and Development Centre, Odey Oyama, has pushed for the reelection of Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade, citing his industrialization drive as some of the feats that must earn him a second term. The renowned environmentalist and social critic also reappraised his earlier contrary stance on the construction of the superhighway and the deep seaport, insisting now that they are necessary for the economy of the state.
Oyama who made his position known to newsmen after an on-the-spot visit to the Ayade industrial park maintained that his earlier position against the projects, especially the superhighway was from a misinformed narrative.
“The superhighway and deep seaport are all interwoven because if you remove them, these things may not work fine. If we are going to do export, it will not work if we exclude these two projects. If you want to hit the market in the north without a good road network, these projects will not work, so, we need to work them out,” the environmentalist enthused.
While voicing his support for Governor Ayade, Oyama lauded: “The present administration led by Prof Ben Ayade has surpassed others since 1999.
“We all need to be involved in encouraging the governor to make all these projects work. What is lacking is information as people don’t have the correct information, this is what we need to work on.”
Continuing, the environmentalist who hitherto had a contrary position with regard to the superhighway, pointed out that “we need to connect with the people to understand what is going on here because when they don’t understand, they pass on wrong information.”
Recalling the negative perspective to Ayade’s industrialization efforts, Oyama said: “I was told that machines were just kept here in the factory (rice seedlings factory ) for the president to come and see and after which they took them back to their owners. Today, I have seen them myself, they are still here. I have also seen the factories, they are being built, it is interesting that even when the factories are yet to be completed, the machines are on ground.”
Commending Ayade for his industrialisation drive, the environmentalist disclosed: “I have been to Calapharm and Garment factory where I saw about 3000 workers, that is so much. I can’t remember any government here employing 3000 workers in three years, let’s face the fact. I have also seen the rice, I saw it on wattsapp and Facebook, I thought it was artificial, so I say I must come and touch it myself and take photographs here.”
An entrepreneur, Blessing Egbara, who was on the entourage said of Ayade: “I have carried out a lot of research on these factories and I must say the governor has done a lot. I am an entrepreneur, the governor is not just a governor but knows how to create jobs for his people and he has done more added to what I saw before now.”
Continuing, Egbara intimated that “we are here to see more, take shots and tell the world what he has done because information is key,” adding that, “we will put these on social media to educate our people on the need to support our governor to come back and do more, this is industrial revolution.”
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