The Drums of Independent National Electoral Commission Cross River State were rolled out yesterday in celebration as INEC CRS commissioned its 500 seater ultra modern hall which was built by Barr. Mike Igini ( Resident Electoral Commissioner of the state) as well as his send forth to Edo state. Barr Igini is a man who has built a new name for himself as MR. INTEGRITY and has shown all and sundry that with lean resources, you can achieve much if your mind is set to achieve it.
In his speech, Barr. Igini stated that, the hall became necessary because a lot of money was spent on hotels for renting of their halls for electoral activities such as trainings, stakeholders meetings, workshops, Election Result Collation, etc thus, the need for a comfortable place for such activities.
He also stated that, the resources for the project were leftover from the 2012 Governorship Election security vote and management from the monthly subventions and overhead.
Aside from the edifice, Barr Igini introduce examination to staff of the commission every six month which made the staff of the commission to try as much as possible to get informed on the nitty gritty of their jobs as well as renovation of the the office block which was in shambles when he first arrived and building of additional well furnished 10 office blocks to accommodate staff who were using a 40 feet container as office.
When Igini was first posted to the state, the staff of INEC CRS were all very angry because the trend which was known with INEC then would be stopped but little did they know that, they had greater things to enjoy than the immediate monies they got from politicians.
No wonder, the former Governor of the State, Mr Donald Duke went on AIT sometime ago and said that the electoral process in the country can never be sanitized because, virtually all the RECs that were ever posted to the states depended on the state Government for financing of election activities.
Barr. Igini who made known to the public that most of the resources required for electoral processes were already provided by the commission and there was no need requesting assistance from the state governments.

The hall was commissioned by the Chairman of the commission Prof Attahiru Jega who was represented by the VC, University of Calabar. Prof James Ekpoke.
High point of the occasion was the unavailing of a publication by the INEC CRS "THE BALLOT"

As appreciation to these giant strides, a magnanimous send forth party was thrown and a feather added to his cap with a traditional title as Obong Barr. Mike Igini.
Obong Barr. Igini beckoned on the staff to maintain the high spirit and moral he inculcated in them , stressing that, the future of our children and grand children yt unborn is in our hands and prayed that God will always direct their hearts to do what is right.

more pictures

Nice post. It's really been long we've seen public officials exit their offices with heads held up high. I'm particularly impressed with his mgt abilities. Electioneering activities however, hasn't been much of a challenge esp wit CRS being a one party state over the years but wit d current state of matters in the state politics, I wish he was allowed to champion affairs with his Mr Integrity tag.. I wish him well in his new assignment and I hope for more positive feedback from Edo state