When Governor Ayade visited the displaced people of Bakassi in August 2016, few expected the kind of emotional reaction they got from the Governor. Ayade broke down in tears, weeping uncontrollably at the squalid and subhuman living conditions of the IDPs.

For the displaced people of Bakassi, that was the day their messiah arrived, the day they saw a genuine light at the end of tunnel, the day a renewed hope for a better living was born and a sense of belonging in the entity called Nigeria reassured.

Over the years, it may seem as if the Bakassi people have been short –changed with the people accusing the Cameroonian authorities of violating the terms of agreement In the treaty and denying them economic rights whilst also imposing enormous ridiculous taxes.

The Nigerian government also shares in this blame as the treaty provided that the country must ensure that the inhabitants of the peninsula who opt to settle in Nigeria must be adequately assisted and provided measures to do so.

Predictably, none of these were done and the Bakassi returnees continued to suffer and live in unfavourable conditions until Ayade visited.

During a recent visit to the displaced persons camp, the Director General Cross River State Primary Health Care Agency (CRPHCDA) Betta Edu wrote on her facebook wall ” I have not been myself since yesterday. I was taken through 10 fresh graves of mothers and children at the camp… honestly the simple question that came to mind was ‘where did this people go wrong?’ Do they deserve this? They took their oil, their source of livelihood(fishing) their identity their pride.

This neglect led to insecurity in the area as youths took up arms, militant groups emerged and looting and killing became the order of the day. A particular militant group “ The Bakassi Strike Force” only promised to lay down their arms after their demands have been met. Stating clearly such demands which included a complete resettlement of the returnees.

Of a truth, all the people of Bakassi were asking for is for their chosen country to show them love and give them a sense of belonging. And that is exactly what Governor Ayade is doing.

With a full economic empowerment/resettlement plan in place, Governor Ayade is ready to wipe out the sufferings and years of neglect the Bakassi people have endured.

Top on the list of projects earmarked By Ayade include the construction of a 5000 2-bedroom housing units scheme which the Governor has already flagged off in conjunction with the African Nations Development program (ANDP) a project the Governor has already supported with N500m.

Speaking during the occasion “ Ayade reminded us of his open weeping in August 2016 and said this project is a result of that days visit. He observed that the Bakassi people have been disconnected from their ancestral homes, denied places of worship and decent accommodation.”

Ayade personally served food during his 49th birthday celebrations which he took all the way to Bakassi all in a bid to make his people feel at home and have a sense of belonging. Speaking during the celebrations, Ayade said “Spending my time with them as i join to serve them is to reassure them that there is hope in the horizon and at the fullness of time they shall overcome because God is with the downtrodden and the oppressed.”

We will reduce your pain by providing basic water,housing and opportunity to go to school in order for you to realise your potential.

Indeed, the people of Bakassi should be proud as Ayade has demonstrated the necessary commitment and zeal to take them out of their present predicament .

Attracting ANDP to Bakassi also shows Ayade’s deep contacts within and outside Nigeria.For as he so rightly put it during his inaugural speech, ” As a people we have come to a point in history of possibilities and propsperity for i have the right ingredients to drive the State away from backwardness to greatness and the people from poverty to being economically viable.”

With so much love and attention being shown to IDP’S by Ayade, he has shown that he is indeed a man of his word, playing politics with ethics and leading Cross River with the fear of God. Nigeria will be a better place with more politicians like Ayade…

Austin Ugbaji Writes from Calabar…