We Must Show Patriotism If Cross River State Must Move Forward

I greet you all in this season of Christmas which ushers in the Africa’s biggest street party, the Carnival Calabar. I salute you all for constantly believing that Cross River State can be great again. And I urge us to be of good conduct and show patriotism for our State and nation especially as we play host to many of our friends and well wishers expected to join us for the Carnival Calabar.

My people, we must thank God for his constant support  on our dear State in-spite of the challenges that have been occasioned by the economic crunch in the country as a result of the dwindling price of oil in the international market. We have remained steadfast and kept hope alive that at the end of the tunnel there is bright light.

As we celebrate the the Carnival Calabar and the festive season, I urge us to show patriotism, love, compasion and commitment towards the growth of CRS. I urge every citizen in the State to display a high level of commitment and show of trust. Let us have it at the back of our mind that our attitude will determine if our visitors will like to visit our State again. We have the responsibility of portraying our State in good light. From the market woman, hotel attendant, taxi driver, sales girl, airport cleaner, security men at the airport, recharge card seller, I urge every one to display sincerity and trust. We must show the world that we are a people of style, trust and class.

We all have a task of building CRS, and that we must do with total commitment. We must work as a team, we must work towards the good of our State and having it in mind that our people need us to proffer solutions to the many problems confronting the State. Our State needs big and bold ideas. We have to work together in order to make Cross River State great again. We have the responsibility of criticizing government constructively, where and when necessary. That we must do without being malicious or biased. We must shun the pull him down syndrome and work as one big family for the good of our State.

Fellow citizens, I speak today with a heavy heart, I weep for our State. From the southern to the northern part of the State, poverty is written all over the faces of our people. I call on the newly appointed Commissioners of Governor Ayade to bring ideas that can bring in money for our State. CRS, is in dire of need money. Our State needs human capital development. Proper man power, empowerment of the youths in skills and also empowering our women in technical and vocational education. My Hon Commissioners, in your various ministries, you all have the task of diversifying our economy and look beyond the over reliance on the federal government. We must industrialize CRS. For that is the only foward, if we must win the war against poverty. I urge you all to open your windows in order to usher in big ideas. I want you all to know that if Governor Ben Ayade fails it is you all that have failed. And so as his engineers, that will redesign CRS, I call on you all to show great zeal, in your new State assignments. We need you all to make CRS great again.

We must cooperate with Governor Ayade, I am optimistic that with your cooperation, our State will move from the analog days to a more digitalized era.

We must not promote sectionalism, hate, character assassination, and other forms of malicious tendencies capable of destroying our common unity.  We must speak from our hearts and march Cross River State forward.

Let’s march as one big family, let’s  keep our hope and dream alive. Let’s continue to put Cross River first and shun over zealousness. For our local people need us to speak for them. That we must do with all sincerity.

I urge us all to remain patriotic and steadfast as we celebrate this year’s Carnival Calabar. Let’s usher in the season with peace, love and commitment towards a better Cross River State.

God bless!

Prince Thomas Abi Jr.