By Nsan Ndoma-Neji, Calabar
A cleric and General Overseer of Christian Central Chapel International, CCCI, Bishop Dr Gospel Emmah Isong, on Tuesday described the governor of Cross River State, Benjamin Ayade as a hero of democracy for playing a significant role towards the emergence of the Cross River State governor-elect, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu, during the just concluded governorship and state House of Assembly elections.
Isong named Ayade as Hero of Democracy while reacting to the outcomes of just concluded governorship elections, conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.
Isong, who is the National Publicity Secretary of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, averred that despite losing his senatorial bid during the February 25 National Assembly elections, Ayade still went ahead to fight and ensure that he enthroned his successor and several other beneficiaries in different elective positions across Cross River State.
Isong said, “Governor Ayade has become the Hero of Democracy in Nigeria. A sitting governor, who supposedly, even though he is in court, has failed election, but went back to work for his boys to become lawmakers and governor.
“He did not put down his tool, he worked hard to produce the highest number of proteges politically; look at Asuquo Ekpenyong, the senator-elect, look at Prince Otu, the Cross River State governor-elect, the list is unending; so, even though the man doesn’t go to anywhere tomorrow, when he comes to Cross River State, he becomes the biggest project.”
The financial-expert-turned preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ lauded Governor Ayade for keeping faith with the ‘Back-to-South’ agenda, which produced Otu as governor-elect.
He added, “If Governor Ayade’s only project was ‘Back-to-South’ agenda, we would still see him as a hero.”
