By Bassey LOUIS Bassey
For the people of Cross River State, the election of Professor Ben Ayade in 2015 and re-election in 2019 as governor of the state marked the beginning of a new lease of life for them. This is primarily as a result of the industrialization projects of the Ayade administration spread across the three senatorial districts of the state as well as the agricultural revolution going on which has made Cross River State a model.
But in a manner characteristic of detractors who are turning a blind eye on his shinning legacies of the erudite professor, the order is to engage in futile efforts of trying to pull him down through spread of falsehood. A case in point is the activities of a self acclaimed journalist, Agba Jalingo, who using an unregistered online platform finds it convenient to malign the integrity of the governor who has demonstrated uncommon commitment to the development of the state.
Criticism no doubt is a powerful tool that keeps public office holders on their toes to get better. However, there is need to draw the line between criticism and blackmail. Although, the Governor like every other human being is not perfect, but sponsoring outright falsehood about his person and administration leave so much to be desired.
As a youth leader and politician, I find it necessary to add a voice to the many lashes Agba Jalingo is receiving over his unpatriotic acts in the state. My aspiration as a politician is to ensure development and well being of the people, state and the nation in general. Therefore, it behoves on me to support any leader that is focused and committed and in the same vein offer advice/criticism as the case maybe rather than insisting on things that benefit me as an individual.
It is disheartening that Agba Jalingo would allege that Gov. Ayade approved and diverted N500 million for Cross River Micro-Finance Bank when everything about the bank is in the public domain for all to verify. The Governor had during the commissioning of the bank in Calabar November 2018, said amongst other things that the bank would provide for those who ordinarily are technically challenged in terms of accessing to loans as a way of bringing value to humanity and giving dignity to mankind.
“The interest regime ranges from zero to five percent, this bank is not for interest or intended to make money but targeted at having women, the vulnerable and the physically challenged to encourage them that there is always a banking sector that can provide for them.
“This newly commissioned bank will ensure you become stable while creating an alternative income rather than depending on the State Government.
“For all young men, as we offer you appointments and create jobs for you in this regime, you will now put food on the table and with hands on the plough as the microfinance bank will be available to give you loan for you to do that 30,000 hectares of cocoa, to give us over 60,000 hectares of rice farm that we are looking for, or organic bamboo plantation to feed our toothpick factory”, these were some of the promises the governor was quoted to have said at the commissioning.
Considering the promises the governor made, it is not difficult verifying if the promises are met or not as the Micro Finance Bank is not located in Pluto but Calabar. A visit to the bank would have revealed to Agba Jalingo that people have been employed and working in the bank, that loans have been given and the beneficiaries are within the state engaged in various entrepreneurial ventures. But if Agba is privy to shoddy deals as alleged, he should take a step further by making public the payback and withdrawal slips of illegal withdrawals from the bank. This way, all doubting Thomas’ would queue behind him in calling on the governor to come clean.
But, standing afar and making allegations of diversion of funds gives Agba away as not only being ignorant but mischievously trying to dent the image of a governor that has been praised across party lines. Every profession has code of ethics guiding its operation, if indeed interested in pursuing a career in journalism, Agba should submit himself to learn the rudiments of the profession. Taking advantage of the loosely regulated social media space to spread unfounded information smacks the ethics of the profession he lays claim to.
Much as I admire the peaceful posture of Gov Ayade, he must realise that he has a duty to protect the integrity of the state. There is no gain saying that such false publications by Agba using unauthorised name ‘Cross River Watch’ which many believe is state owned online news blog could deter intending investors from coming to the state. Forensic analysis should be done on Facebook, google and and social media platforms with the aim to bringing an end to the deliberate falsehood and punishing the culprits. The state must take advantage of the cyber crime act of 2015 by pressing charges of libel as this will also serve as deterrent to others who may wish to toe such inglorious path in the future.
Like the Cross River Volunteer Force had cautioned, Jalingo should not mistake journalism for show business which he was known for in Lagos before Ayade won election in 2015. A cursory inquest into the operations of the media should have revealed to him that you cannot use the name of a state or nation as your business name without expressly obtaining permission from the relevant authorities.
That Agba finds it fitting to obtain money from prominent personalities and turn back to malign them when he is not given money is to say the least unfortunate. Agba should be told that Gov. Ayade is not in the trade of sharing state funds but judiciously applying it for the good of all. That is why he has won the heart of civil servants, youths and women who are prepared to earn a decent living.
For Governor Ayade, he must not allow himself to be distracted in delivering good governance to the people of the state who are appreciative. In the words of the American author, Jim Collins who once wrote, “The real path to greatness, it turns out, requires simplicity and diligence. … It demands each of us to focus on what is vital—and to eliminate all of the extraneous distractions”.
Bassey Louis Bassey, is of the Coalition of Integrity Political Parties (CIPP),
Cross River State chapter.
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