The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has extended the privatization referendum by two months to ensure greater participation by Cross Riverians. The referendum seeks to evaluate the opinion of indigenes of the state on whether or not industries built by his administration should be privatized.
Ayade issued the extension order on Thursday after the Technical Team of the Privatization Council presented a list of about 34 industries that the council planned to privatize to maximize output.
Speaking after the presentation, Ayade said there was no place for mistakes or lapses, stressing that his goal for being there was to help people.
” You must return to the streets, local government areas, creeks and riverine communities; our people must be properly carried along. If we truly need their contributions, then we must do it with all sincerity and professionalism.
“I cannot make a decision based on what you have given me because the opinion is based on that of a few people, more Cross Riverians must be given the opportunity, more field responses must be taken, more people must participate in the referendum exercise.
Ayade further stressed his readiness to approve more funds for a wider campaign and awareness of the majority of the people in the state on the issue.
“I am not playing politics with this. We should not be in a haste to get it right. I need to hear what the people want. If they say they don’t want privatization, after my tenure I will pack my bags and walk away.”
According to Ayade, “The 2001 privatization law gives me the authority to call up private investors myself but I said no and I decided that we do the right thing which is to actively involve the people and get their opinion. That is what we must do.
“I want to see you in the market places, I want to hear and see sensitisation, I want to see the real participation as our people are filling the questionnaires so that history will know that we consulted the people,” he said.
Earlier in his remarks, the Chairman of the Privatization Council, Mr John Odo, stated that this was the first time the people of Cross River would be consulted in this manner in the history of privatization.
He went on to say that the move was in line with the governor’s ethics of transparency, and accountability.
The Chairman also commended the governor for his determination to finish strong with a clear focus on increasing the state’s revenue base rather than complete dependence on the federal government allocation.
