Governor Ben Ayade says he should be held responsible should his successor fail to enthrone good governance in Cross River.

Mr Ayade made the declaration during a thanksgiving mass held at Saint Charles Wanga Catholic Church, Essien Town, Calabar, on Sunday.

The outgoing governor, however, expressed confidence in the personality and capacity of the incoming governor, Bassey Otu, to perform.

“If Bassey Otu does very well, glory to God; if Bassey Otu performs very well, after praising God, praise him for his goodness,” Mr Ayade said.

“But, if Bassey Otu does not do well, hold me responsible because this alliance and this commitment to hand over power to Bassey Otu was signed and sealed since 2014.”

He stressed that the people would soon understand why he supported Mr Otu to succeed him in office.

“That is the kind of governor you are expecting. A man who is ready to sacrifice, a man who is ready to surrender his comfort to ensure that the citizens of Cross River State sleep well.

“No wonder all the enemies started to ensure that today doesn’t happen, but God said, devil, you are a liar.

“If it were somebody else, by now, arrangements would have been in place on how to demolish streets, demolish houses, but here we have a man of God who has compassion. A man with character, a man with integrity, a man with honour and the fear of God.”

Admonishing the outgoing and incoming governor, the officiating Minister, Malachi Ephraim, lauded Mr Ayade for his love for the church.

The cleric who preached from the book of Genesis 11:1 to 9, where he drew lessons from the ancient story of the Tower of Babel, urged the people to be united to move the state forward.

(NAN)