Following a review of security challenges faced across the country during the 2019 elections, elections in Cross River have been adjudged the most peaceful.
Governor Ben Ayade, made this disclosure after the state security meeting held at the governor’s office conference room, Calabar and attended by service commanders in the state.
Speaking with newsmen after the meeting, the governor said the state was ranked the most peaceful during the conduct of the elections.
“I am just rising from the state security meeting to have a little review of the elections and all the issues, and I am happy to announce that Cross River was adjudged the most peaceful state in terms of this last election,” the governor said.
Ayade attributed the calm security situation to his brand of politics which abhors malice and mudslinging.
“This development (peaceful conduct of the elections) is creditably so because we focus on politics with ethics and this political philosophy, morality, integrity, character and honour come above every other consideration,” he said.
The governor said his instruction to his supporters and aides in the run up to elections was to maintain decorum and civility in their conduct.
“When I was charging all our supporters to go back home and vote, I instructed them that at any point in time where their lives comes in danger as a result of trying to protect our votes, they should let me lose as I will rather lose my election than lose a citizen of this state,” he said.
He linked his victory at the polls to the philosophy of ‘politics with ethics’ which he introduced, the overwhelming state-wide endorsements for his second term and his achievements, including the engagement of over 2,500 teachers and 1,000 nurses, expansion of government via appointment of about 8,000 people into government, as well as his industrialisation drive and prompt payment of salaries and pensions in spite of earning less than N2.7 billion from federal allocation, among others.