Mixed reactions greet Ayade’s Supreme Court victory

Mixed reactions on Friday trailed the Supreme Court ruling, which declared Prof. Ben Ayade as the duly elected governor of Cross River State.

While some residents in Calabar, the state capital, expressed happiness over the development, a few others were indifferent over the ruling.

A motorist, Ken Idagbo, who heard the breaking news on a radio station being aired at the filling station along Murtala Mohammed Highway, jumped up in ecstasy and caused a stir.

He expressed joy that the case, which had dragged on for so long, has finally been concluded in favour of the governor.

“This matter has dragged on for too long and I believe it has been distracting the governor from working.

“It is a welcome development; and I think the government will now have time to do its work,” Idagbo said.

A former presidential adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, said she was happy over the ruling.

“I think Governor Ayade should be allowed to settle down to do his work. We should all join hands to work with him. I am happy,” she said.

However, activities at the governor’s office and the state House of Assembly were at its lowest ebb, as the bulk of top government officials had traveled to Abuja for the ruling.

An elated Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Mr. Christian Ita, said, “We have put behind us the distractions that this matter has caused.

“We knew we would still win at the Supreme Court because gone are the days when someone would want to win election matters on technical grounds.

“The Supreme Court has just affirmed the people’s will and everybody should join hands to work with the governor.”

But a Calabar resident, Mr. Isaiah Nsa, felt indifferent over the judgment; saying the governor has not fulfilled any electoral promise since he assumed office.

“I do not see anything new that he will do, because it has all been so many promises no fulfillment,” he said.