He said the road when completed would help boost development. “Since he assumed office in the state, he has worked tirelessly to improve the living condition of our people and make the state a pride of all its citizens The superhighway will reduce, significantly, the number of deaths that have become a regular occurrence on that highway. It will also create new towns, cities and also improve on the economy of indegenes. It will nevertheless reduce youth restiveness because young men will be enganged in productive ventures, knowing that they can now export their farm yields through the access road,” he said. According to him, Professionals such as engineers, surveyors environmentalists or architects will find jobs. “There will also be jobs for casual workers, farmers and women, who will sell foodstuff to workers,” he added. Other artisans such as mechanics, vulcanizers, restaurant operators, Ena,he said, will be engaged “Crime will reduce because security will not be too difficult and there will definitely be serious security patrols to guarantee the safety of lives and property on the road,” the lawyer said. According to him, the road will ease movements and enable new market to open. “People can then live in Ogoja and come to work in Calabar and avoid paying heavy rents, thereby decongesting the state capital. Many people will have alternative roads to choose from whenever there is need for it,” he said. On how the people feel about the President’s visit, Enamhe said: “Cross River State has not been lucky with Presidential visits. This is more apparent and noteworthy when viewed from the perspective of an All Progressives Congress (APC) president that is yet to go to many APC states. So, embarking on this visit to a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) controlled state goes to show the seriousness of the governor, the importance he attaches to the programme and his gift of national networking.” He continued: “Taking cognisance of the President’s love for change, he must have been highly impressed by the Governor, who himself had used the road and had promised to do something about it in 1996 when he as the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) chairman and Senator Banabas Gemade as Secretary of Works were conferred with Doctoral Degrees by University of Calabar. The determination and humility of not giving up must have endeared Mr. President to Gov Ayade to take the groundbreaking programme very seriously.” On the governor’s achievements since May 29, Enamhe said: “He has been able to consolidate on the already existing peaceful enviroment and made citizens and investors to have more confidence in the state. He has been able to clear all outstanding salaries that he met. He ensures that workers get their salaries on the 25th of each month. He has been able to bring back confidence in the workers so much so that his negotiating skills helped in resolving the judicial workers’ strike that had been lingering for a very long time and only recently resolved the issue of local government workers and pensioners. According to Enamhe, Prof Ayade has been able to show courage and humility in convincing Mr. President to accept to come back and perform the groudbreaking after the initial cancellation and the political and technical issues raised in the botched visit. “His personal attitude to work has changed the way and manner civil servants now show seriousness to work by resuming early. There is no more loitering about. They now stay till the official close of work. His appointments has clearly shown his sensitivity to gender balance,” the lawyer said.]]>