Over the years, numerous narratives have been disseminated regarding Senator Professor Ben Ayade’s tenure in government, both as Senator representing Cross River North and as Governor of Cross River State. Regrettably, much of the prevailing discourse has been skewed toward criticism, often marginalizing the significant, quantifiable, and enduring contributions he made across a spectrum of sectors.
This analytical piece endeavors to present a verifiable, evidence-based, and objective assessment of the transformational legacy of Ayade’s administration, accentuating the audacious, visionary, and multidimensional initiatives that have profoundly reshaped Cross River State. It is imperative to note the following:
Ayade Operated with one of the Lowest Fiscal Allocation in the Country:
It is paramount to contextualize the macroeconomic realities under which the Ayade administration operated. His government assumed power at a juncture when the state was ranked among the lowest receivers of federal allocation. The strategic dexterity with which his administration navigated this financially austere environment remains enigmatic to many analysts.
Expansion of Government and Inclusive Appointments:
Despite the paucity of resources, Ayade significantly expanded the administrative architecture of government by appointing an unprecedented number of Cross Riverians. This move was emblematic of his empathetic, human-centric, and pro-poor approach to governance. His sensitivity to socioeconomic disenfranchisement and communal hunger fueled this inclusive governance paradigm.
Timely and Consistent Salary Disbursement:
Ayade’s administration successfully eradicated the entrenched syndrome of unpaid salaries, which had historically plagued the state’s civil service. Beyond merely disbursing salaries, his administration did so with commendable promptitude, reflecting fiscal prudence and administrative discipline. He remains the only governor in the history of Cross River State to leave office without accruing salary arrears.
COVID-19 Management Amid Fiscal Constraints:
In the face of a cataclysmic global health crisis, Ayade’s leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was both innovative and resolute. Despite an almost close to zero allocation during the pandemic’s peak years, his administration achieved noteworthy containment and mitigation outcomes. This achievement stands as a testament to his proactive public health strategy.
Pension Payments:
Ayade institutionalized a structured mechanism for the payment of pensions, thereby enhancing the welfare and livelihoods of retirees who had long been marginalized by systemic neglect. His approach reinforced the dignity of labor.
Cally Air:
Ayade’s establishment of Cally Air was a pioneering move, positioning Cross River as a regional aviation nexus. The airline, which remains operational post-administration, exemplifies sustainability, viability, and infrastructural foresight.
Obudu Cargo and Passenger Airport:
This strategically conceived infrastructural project was designed to facilitate economic integration by linking agrarian zones with transnational markets. It encapsulated Ayade’s aspiration for logistical optimization and geoeconomic relevance.
Obudu German Hospital:
The establishment of the Obudu German Hospital, with its state-of-the-art medical equipment and diagnostic sophistication, dramatically improved healthcare accessibility in underserved rural areas. It was an interventionist strategy aimed at curbing medical tourism and fostering medical retention.
Scholarship Programs:
Through well-articulated and targeted scholarship schemes, Ayade invested heavily in human capital development, particularly among youths. These educational interventions have yielded a new cadre of globally competent professionals serving both within and beyond Nigeria.
Ayade Food Bank:
The Ayade Food Bank was a humanitarian innovation designed to mitigate food insecurity. Its systematic distribution framework provided subsistence relief to thousands, reflecting a compassionate governance ideology.
Subsidized Transport Scheme:
Ayade Motors facilitated an accessible transportation matrix, significantly reducing intra-state travel costs. This pro-poor intervention enhanced access to education, healthcare, and commerce, promoting socioeconomic inclusivity.
Rural Transformation:
The rural development initiatives led to strategic connectivity, bridging communities previously isolated from the state’s developmental mainstream. The infrastructural revitalization of areas such as Bishiri Road, Ipong, and Kakum not only improved logistics but also catalyzed rural commerce.
Youth Inclusion in Governance:
Ayade’s administration institutionalized generational equity by integrating youth into governance at an unprecedented scale. This move was not merely symbolic; it was a deliberate recalibration of the political economy to accommodate the intellectual vitality and civic energy of the youth.
Sankwala–Bekwarra Dualization:
The dualization of this corridor ameliorated long-standing transportation bottlenecks and facilitated the efficient translocation of people and goods, thereby stimulating regional commerce and interconnectivity.
Odukpani Flyover:
Ayade’s urban planning ingenuity manifested in the construction of the Odukpani Flyover and road dualization. These projects ameliorated traffic gridlocks, improved urban mobility dynamics, and enhanced road safety.
Teachers’ Continuous Training Institute:
To uplift public education, Ayade inaugurated a dedicated training institute for educators, focusing on pedagogical innovation, curricular reform, and educator professionalization. This significantly bolstered learning outcomes across public institutions.
Strategic Federal Collaboration:
Ayade’s diplomatic intergovernmental alignment with the Buhari-led Federal Government yielded infrastructural dividends such as the Rice Seedling Factory, federal road rehabilitations, and the Ikom Bridge, all outcomes of his collaborative astuteness.
Industrialization:
Ayade spearheaded a multisectoral industrialization drive, introducing:
* Calabar Garment Factory, aimed at fostering textile sector dynamism.
* Bekwarra Groundnut Oil Plant: Enhancing agro-processing and value chain optimization.
* Calachika Chicken Plant: Promoting food security and nutritional accessibility.
* Noodles Factory, with the vision of localizing production, reducing imports, and creating employment.
Other key industrial milestones included:
* Ultra-modern Rice Mill in Ogoja
* Poles and Pylon Manufacturing Facility in Akamkpa
* Cocoa Processing Plant in Ikom
* Pharmaceutical Production Facility in Calabar
These establishments contributed to economic diversification, job creation, and import substitution.
Conclusion
Senator Professor Ben Ayade’s administration exemplified transformational leadership, strategic governance, and fiscal responsibility. His tenure delivered measurable impacts across aviation, healthcare, infrastructure, education, agriculture, and youth empowerment.
He:
* Launched and sustained Cally Air
* Constructed critical infrastructure (airport, hospitals, roads)
* Strengthened rural and urban integration
* Institutionalized teacher training and youth engagement
* Paid all salaries and pensions to his last day
* Managed a pandemic with no federal support
Ayade’s legacy is one of visionary pragmatism, resilient governance, and developmental foresight. His governance model offers a template for sustainable leadership in Nigeria.
