Ayade is PDP best performing governor-Sheriff

National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Senator Ali Modu Sheriff has described Cross River State governor, Prof Ben Ayade as his party's best performing governor.

Sheriff made the remarks when he led the leadership of the party on a courtesy call on the governor at Government House in Calabar Wednesday.

Sheriff, who said he had earlier paid similar visits to Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi before arriving Calabar, said from every indices of governance, "if I am asked who is the number one governor, I will say Ben Ayade.

"You (Ayade) have worked and your people have attested to that. Nigerians outside your state have also attested to that. Vanguard is a first generation newspaper and if it gives you an award, you will know that it is an award purely on merit. Therefore, I am very proud that our digital governor is not only digital but number one governor in terms of performance."

He urged the governor not to rest on his oars, saying, "I want to encourage you to continue to do more for the people of Cross River. For in so doing, 2019 will be an easy ride for you. The party will be with you and there will be no challenge and no vacancy in Cross River State."

He also lauded the governor for appointing an indigene of Kano State as his Special Adviser on Non-indigenes Matters.

According to him, Ayade by the appointment, has set the pace which is pleasing to the entire Hausa people in the country.

"The whole of the Hausa community in Nigeria will know and hear that in Cross River, the governor appointed a Hausa man as Special Adviser on Non-indigenes Affairs. We want to thank you on behalf of the people. I am happy and the party is happy too, hoping that other states will emulate as only this will bring unity among the ethnic divides in the country."

Responding, Governor Ayade commended Sheriff for embarking on a peace mission across the country.

He said peace within the party and Nigeria as a whole is a prerequisite for growth.

"There is indeed, no ideological difference whether you are in PDP, APC or belong to one faction or the other. If truly you put people above your person, you must allow peace to reign. You must recognise that there is a process and procedure, you must recognise that the challenges of the society has created in itself a structure that allows you to resolve conflict and that is why there is law," he stated.

Culled from Emmanuel Ulayi, Ayade's social media aide's Facebook wall.