TheCable

Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River state, says his administration inherited “great potentials” rather than an “empty treasury” from Liyel Imoke, his predecessor.

Ayade made this known to reporters in Calabar, capital of the state, on the side-lines of speculation that the state is allegedly indebted to the tune of about N403 billion.

“I did not meet an empty treasury. Rather I inherited a state with great potentials; not an empty treasury,” he said.

Ayade said the state may not host the Obudu International Mountain race in 2015, because it lacked the resources to sustain this year’s edition which would have been the 11th in the series inaugurated in 2005.

He told tourists and residents of the state to be prepared for a treat at this year’s edition of Carnival Calabar, saying creative concepts have been included as part of the milieu.

“We will see a completely different carnival with more creativity this year. There will be a `green march’ to terminate at the `green forest’,” he said.

“Five hundred youths will be engaged. Each of them will be expected to plant a tree.”

Ayade said his administration would reconstitute the state forestry commission which was dissolved following the discovery of sharp practices in forest resources’ management.

He said his administration had introduced a new dimension to forest conservation and management that would curb leakages and bring revenue to Cross River and discourage sharp practices and corruption.

The governor said new trees would be planted to boost depleted forest resources such that in about four years the result would be manifested.

He said that his administration also has a proposal for the establishment of “Food Bank” in each of the 188 local government areas of Cross River “to take government to the farmers and give them value for their efforts”.