….assure Cross River’ll become independent of FG by 2021
Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has lamented the neglect the state is suffering from the Federal Government as he restated his avowed commitment towards decoupling the state from dependence on the Federal Government.
Governor Ayade stated this in a chat with journalists on Thursday, while taking delivery of four out of 32 World-class agro-industrial equipments supplied by a United States company, John Deere, in Calabar the state’s capital.
The digital governor stated further that he sees the state become fully independent from the Federal Government by the close of 2021, adding that his government is introducing sophistry and new thinking in agro-industry along agricultural value chain and in line with best global practice.
According to him, “I see Cross River State become fully independent and perfectly decoupled from Federal Government dependence by the close of 2021, which is the original target I had set. Before I became a governor I said I was going to decouple Cross River State from the dependence on the Federal Government.”
He said, “And of course, the indications are very clear that Cross River State is already suffering from neglect by the Federal Government. If I don’t take these decisions now with the activities and the energy I have got, if I don’t create this wealth and if I don’t create this alternative income, I am sure the person who will take over from me would have a very big task.
“Our people love good life. I must support them and I must help them. So if you have to sweat in Cross River, you don’t sweat because you are tilling the soil, you sweat because of pleasure, because machines will be doing the job. And that’s why Ayade is there. That is why I am digital.
“And so Cross River State government is introducing a new sophistry, a new thinking that is consistent with first world practice.
“And however, you look at it, agro-industrial revolution which started in 1876 in the UK is just about to start in Nigeria and Cross River State is leading Africa indeed towards her own self sustenance in terms of the entire agric value-chain. And to achieve this and to have sufficient raw materials to feed the industries I have set up, I have to partner with a world number one company known for agric equipment, John Deere of United States. So we have just taken delivery of four major equipments out of a total number of 32.
“And so Cross River State Government is introducing a new sophistry, a new thinking that is consistent with first world practice. That farmers don’t have a responsibility for agricultural infrastructures, so for every single value chain, I have provided an alternate industry for the benefisation. And so Cross River State is now going to come in to fill the gap where there is a challenge.”
