Princewill Ogban
Canada-based consultant backs Ayade’s decision on state-owned industries
[From ANIEKAN ANIEKAN, Calabar]
Canada-based indigene of Cross River State, Princewill Ogban has thrown his weight behind Governor Ben Ayade’s decision to throw open the decision on future of state-owned industries.
Ogban who bared his mind in Calabar while assessing the 6 years administration of Governor Ayade, insisted that the move is in line with what obtains in the western world.
Governor Ayade recently issued a questionnaire urging the people to give feedback on how state-owned industries should be managed.
The affected industries largely comprise the new ones established by the government as well as older industries.
This, the governor said, will help the state decide the future of these industries.
Eaacting, Ogban said: “The good thing is that today they have sent out questionnaires, I think that is a very good thing to do sending out questionnaires to seek citizens opinion about a particular thing.
“It is something that is common in the western world to see it happening in the state I was really impressed.
“When I heard they have sent out questionnaires for cross Riverians to send in their input do they want privatization, or do they want a shared ownership where the government and private owner will jointly own these companies if they don’t want the government to own.
‘So by the fact that he decided to consult cross Riverians to get their feedback about the decisions he hopes to make I think it is a positive one and I believe he would respect those feedbacks”, he said.
On 2023, he said Ayade’s defection to the APC is a good thing as it will afford the state the opportunity of seeing new faces.
He said he does not expect anyone older than the governor to take over in 2023 and stressed that the governor should abide by the existing zoning formula in the state.
He called on the people not to elect a hostile governor come 2023 but continue the tradition of electing governors who are tolerant.
