After a closed-door meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House, Abuja on Thursday October 8, Ayade told journalists that it was wrong for the government to sell off public assets to a privileged few.
He said that this was why he supported a closer look at these processes, as may be done by the current administration as well as a reduction of taxes being paid by low-income earners.
His words: “It is important to emphasize that privatisation which has characterised the Nigerian economy for a long period is totally unacceptable, where government takes public asset and sell into the hand of few people.
“That is why I am very proud of Mr. President. Our President understands this very well and I’m sure that in the course of time, we will understand what he is doing.
“And when the results of his actions begin to manifest, Nigerians will know that he has come prepared and committed to take us to the path of glory. I must confess he is a very humble president.”
He pointed out that “Cross Rivers State is the first state that has passed dissenting bills into law within our first one hundred days in office. It has the highest in any state in this country and some of the bills are very essential.
“Social housing that is providing housing for the poor and the needy because there is no government that calls itself a government, if you don’t respond to the needs of the vulnerable, you cannot call yourself a government. That is when you will bring transformation to government.
“It is also the same me that signed into law a bill that I originated to exempt the poor people from tax. Government’s profit is social harmony, government’s profit is provision of jobs for her people.”
The Governor further disclosed that he was in the Villa in connection with the postponed presidential groundbreaking ceremony of the Super highway project in Cross River State, as outstanding issues have been resolved for Buhari to perform the ceremony soon.
He dismissed reports that the delay was caused by political considerations, saying instead that environmental impact assessment issues were responsible.
“There were wrong speculations in the press linking the shift in the visit to politics, linking the shift to so many other considerations other than was real.
“Basically, what happened was that there were environmental issues, which was dully raised by the Ministry of Environment; and all those issues and concerns that were expressed have been addressed.
“There was a misconception that the purpose of a super-highway was criss crossing through the national park, which is the greatest habitation for our biodiversity in Africa.
“Therefore, from the perspective of the environment concerns, it was totally impossible for Mr. President that we know for his high level of integrity and morality to come and do the ground-breaking if the project had such kind of stress”, he said.
Ayade explained further: “The National Conservation (Fund) participated with us and now with Ministry of Environment getting involved and ensuring that the route is indeed so designed that it will not have any impact on the communities, no impact on the national forest.
“So, it is against that background that the President asked that let us wait for all of those bits and pieces to be tidied up before he can come. It has no link with politics, it has no connectivity with the issues concerning funding.
“It was basically a technical issue that needed to be resolved and it has been resolved and I am happy to announce that the discussion with Mr. President this morning it is obvious that very soon a new date will be communicated”.
He said that this was why he supported a closer look at these processes, as may be done by the current administration as well as a reduction of taxes being paid by low-income earners.
His words: “It is important to emphasize that privatisation which has characterised the Nigerian economy for a long period is totally unacceptable, where government takes public asset and sell into the hand of few people.
“That is why I am very proud of Mr. President. Our President understands this very well and I’m sure that in the course of time, we will understand what he is doing.
“And when the results of his actions begin to manifest, Nigerians will know that he has come prepared and committed to take us to the path of glory. I must confess he is a very humble president.”
He pointed out that “Cross Rivers State is the first state that has passed dissenting bills into law within our first one hundred days in office. It has the highest in any state in this country and some of the bills are very essential.
“Social housing that is providing housing for the poor and the needy because there is no government that calls itself a government, if you don’t respond to the needs of the vulnerable, you cannot call yourself a government. That is when you will bring transformation to government.
“It is also the same me that signed into law a bill that I originated to exempt the poor people from tax. Government’s profit is social harmony, government’s profit is provision of jobs for her people.”
The Governor further disclosed that he was in the Villa in connection with the postponed presidential groundbreaking ceremony of the Super highway project in Cross River State, as outstanding issues have been resolved for Buhari to perform the ceremony soon.
He dismissed reports that the delay was caused by political considerations, saying instead that environmental impact assessment issues were responsible.
“There were wrong speculations in the press linking the shift in the visit to politics, linking the shift to so many other considerations other than was real.
“Basically, what happened was that there were environmental issues, which was dully raised by the Ministry of Environment; and all those issues and concerns that were expressed have been addressed.
“There was a misconception that the purpose of a super-highway was criss crossing through the national park, which is the greatest habitation for our biodiversity in Africa.
“Therefore, from the perspective of the environment concerns, it was totally impossible for Mr. President that we know for his high level of integrity and morality to come and do the ground-breaking if the project had such kind of stress”, he said.
Ayade explained further: “The National Conservation (Fund) participated with us and now with Ministry of Environment getting involved and ensuring that the route is indeed so designed that it will not have any impact on the communities, no impact on the national forest.
“So, it is against that background that the President asked that let us wait for all of those bits and pieces to be tidied up before he can come. It has no link with politics, it has no connectivity with the issues concerning funding.
“It was basically a technical issue that needed to be resolved and it has been resolved and I am happy to announce that the discussion with Mr. President this morning it is obvious that very soon a new date will be communicated”.
Daily Independent
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