₦airaland Forum

Ayade commissions upscale housing estate for Bakassi IDPs, decries 18 years neglect


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXqTuqIhZfI

Succour For Bakassi IDPs

Ayade Hands Over Ultramodern Housing Estate To IDPs, Decries Many Years Of Neglect

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aQKgxWfrOPY

Chairman CRS Community & Social Development Agency unveils the Agency’s New vision / direction.

Following the Governor’s approval of the constitution of the new board of the CRS Community & Social Development Agency after the dissolution of the former board on May 29th 2019,
Sir Toni Ikpeme alongside 16 others were inaugurated as Board Chairman and members of the Agency by Dr. (Mrs) . Inyang Asibong - the Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Corporation who represented His Excellency Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade on Friday May 22nd 2020 at the Agency's board room.

The Commissioner while inaugurating the board expressed her confidence in the caliber of personalities and institutions that make up the composition of the agency's board which is led by a seasoned banker, Sir Toni Ikpeme as the chairman.
According to her, she has no doubt that, the Chairman and members of the board will not bring their expertise to bear in delivering their mandate.

In his remark, the chairman of the Agency, commended the Governor of the state Prof. Ben Ayade for his well articulated vision of ensuring continuous inclusion of rural communities and by extension rural developments in all government developmental projects with a view to improving their living standards and Sustainability of the projects.
Sir Ikpeme said this sustainability, to a large extent informed His Excellency's constitution / inauguration of the board to cater for the poor and vulnerable which is part of his policy trust.

Sir Ikpeme while noting that, though the World Bank has over the years been the sole
development partner of the agency also stated that the law with which the board derives her powers, empowers the agency to explore funding from other private and public sector institutions as well as provide direction and guidance vis a vis the interpretation of government sectoral policies as the case may arise.
Accordingly, he unveiled the board’s new mission to include sourcing of funds from other development partners-private and public institutions including local content and time tested corporate multinational bodies, local government councils and high net worth individuals inline with the model already enshrined by the world bank which has developed the needed capacity in the agency.
According to him, the idea is to ensure that, a multi-faceted solution post Coronavirus stimulus model is put in place as part of His Excellency's novel vision and response to tackling the Coronavirus pandemic, rather than limit the agency's reach to one funding basket.
The Chairman confirmed that he will be closing discussions with some multinational corporates that have indicated interest in this regards including bringing in the likes of Mtn and Lafarge of this world whose impact needs to be felt in all the 18 Local Government areas of the State in a bid to improving the living standard of the rural communities.
The composition of the newly inaugurated Board includes the Permanent Secretaries from the Ministries of
Finance ,
Women Affairs, International Development Corporation,
Social Welfare,
Humanity,
Works,
State Planning Commission and Local Government Affairs,
four representatives from Civil Society Organisations and four non statutory appointees of His Excellency.
The Chairman reiterated the agency's resolve in sustaining the demand driven projects approach where projects are conceived and adopted by the community based on their needs assessment scale of reference.
Areas of the agency's intervention is basically in the areas of social and natural infrastructure which covers, Education, Environment, Transport, Rural Electrification, Socio Economic, Water and Health, all of which are very basic necessities required in developing, empowering, sustaining and improving our rural communities, the poorest of the poor and the vulnerable persons within our society.

Press Release



Gov Ayade suspends activities of CTRA

It has been observed that in spite of His Excellency, the governor, Sir Ben Ayade’s directives as well as the provisions of the Cross River State Tax Exemption Law, agents of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) were still engaged in the sale of tickets to bus, taxi, okada and tricycle operators in the state.

Consequently, His Excellency has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the agency in the state.

In addition, His Excellency has directed security agents to arrest anybody found selling tickets or collecting any form of tax from those exempted from paying tax in the state.

His Excellency will henceforth, not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the tax exemption law which has been in place for over three years now .

On no account will any criminal and mischievous attempt to undermine and short circuit the noble effort of the governor, be allowed.


Signed
Christian Ita
Special Adviser
Media and Publicity to governor

Monarchs laud Ayade over C’River COVID-19 free status

The Cross River State Traditional Rulers Council has commended the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade for his proactive efforts, which have kept the state free of coronavirus.

The council in a statement signed by its Chairman, His Royal Majesty, Etinyin Etim Okon Edet, described the success as unprecedented asserting that, “the outbreak of COVID-19 has not only been revelatory but has indeed separated boys from men, "professors of science from professors of science.”

According the council, “The recent visit of the Presidential task Team from Abuja through the Nigerian Centre Disease Control (NCDC) led by Dr. Omobolanle Olowu has not only confirmed the COVID-19 free status of the state but has scored the State first in all indices.”

While lauding the Governor for the feat, Etinyin Edet maintained that, “The Traditional Rulers in the state therefore, commend the ingenuity and pragmatic efforts of the State Governor, Senator Prof Ben Ayade and the entire COVID-19 team, in preventing the spread of the virus through early closure of borders, provision of nose masks and adequate monitoring which has landed the state "a COVID-19 free status by the Presidential Task Team.”

He hinted that “while other States, including the federal government were locking down all means of livelihood, our dear Governor only locked out and allowed economic activities but with the enforcement of "no masks, no movement.”

The traditional rulers through its chairman therefore, appealed to the federal government and other international organisations to lend their hands of support to the State as a moral booster considering its state of finances so as to enable it maintain the feat.

“We assure our amiable Governor of our continued support as prevention is indeed better and cheaper than cure,” he added.

Ayade inaugurates anti-tax agency, says it’s injustice to tax poor, low income earners


As part of COVID-19 palliatives and in furtherance of the State tax exemption law, the Cross River state governor Sir Ben Ayade Wednesday inaugurated the anti-tax Agency with a charge to ensure that small scale businesses and peasant farmers enjoy tax holiday.

He insisted that the poor must be protected.

Members of the Agency include Bishop Emma Isong who is the chairman.Rev.Fr Julius Ada as the Secretary.Others are Pastor John Ekpenyong and Rev.Sister Patricia Olom

The governor frowned at the activities of illegal tax consultants who he said impose unnecessary tax on the poor and vulnerable in the state and urged members of the Agency to immediately swing into action.

"I charge you that this responsibility comes with it's own troubles, you have a choice to do that which is good and the selection of this team is based on your history, it's based on your profile ,the understanding of your closeness to God and that you will do that which is fair to all manners of people equally and fairly.

"We charge you to ensure that the poor masses of Cross River State and the small business owners do not come under the harsh hands of the desperate search for money by tax consultants", Ayade told members of the Agency which is comprised of Christian clerics.

Continuing, he further implored the members: "Your responsibility from today going forward is to put an end to illicit taxes on people. We have a tax law here that prescribes the people who are exempted from tax.All those categories of people and those that from time to time will be so announced by the Governor, including every single hotel that has less than 50 rooms in Calabar and the whole state, today are exempted from payment of taxes.

“We have exempted all Okada riders, taxi drivers airport taxi drivers, small saloon owners, small catering and restaurant points popularly called mama put. All those people who sell basic things struggling to earn a living, they have been exempted today from paying tax. We have exempted them because it is better for me as a Governor to rather task my brain, than to tax my people.”

He said he was not interested in generating income from all sources, including imposing tax burden on the small scale business and service providers.

"My governance does not entail that income must come from all sources. If we don't have enough why do you put pressure on that your brother or sister whose situation is much worse? Why do we expect that people who don't have scholarship for their children, struggling to pay school fees, struggling to get uniforms, struggling to secure their small businesses, struggling for water, struggling with power and government is providing almost nothing, why do you tax them? I think it is injustice.

"This is part of my post Covid 19 response. So as part of the post Covid 19 response action plan of Cross River State we are exempting a larger part of the public from tax", he quipped

Ayade advised small scale business owners to resist illegal tax collectors, saying: "Anyone who comes to you to demand tax, you have a right to say stop, the Governor has said we should not pay tax and if we have to pay tax, then let me contact the anti-tax agency to tell us whether we fall under the category to pay tax or not.”

He urged members of the Agency to take their assignment seriously as all eyes are on them: "I charge you to take this task very seriously. I want to hear you everyday on radio and tv listing those who are to be exempted and telling them what to do if any tax consultant or any person comes before them. I have abolished tax consultants at this category. No tax consultant is allowed and I give you the powers to arrest any tax consultant you see and we will try him under the Cross River State Tax Exemption Law and jail him for putting pressure on already pressurized people.

"Today is the end of the bullish drive for tax and I know that the team I have assembled is not a team that will collect patronage, it's not a team that will close their eyes to injustice. I choose only people who are close to God.”

Replying, Chairman of the Agency, Bishop Emma Isong commended Ayade's passion for the downtrodden and promised he and his team would deliver.

He thanked the Governor for finding them worthy of serving the people of the state.

"Your Excellency today you have proven to the world the kind of politician you are. By inaugurating this agency, your passion for the downtrodden has been proven to the whole world. On behalf of members of this Agency, I wish to thank you immensely for the opportunity.

“It has always been my passion on how we can encourage small businesses to thrive. You have proven to me by this appointment that you are detribalised and I want to thank you so much for believing in me", Bishop Isong said.

COVID-19: NAFDAC, SON endorse Cross River Garment Factory nose masks


Following mass production of nose masks for Nigerians by the Cross River State garment factory in the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, two regulatory bodies, the National Agency For Food and Drug Administration and Control NAFDAC and the Standard Organization of Nigeria, SON, have given separate approvals for the nose mask being produced at the facility.


 Acting Managing Director of the factory, Joseph La'shakara Edet disclosed this Tuesday shortly after recieving the letter of approval from officials of the regulatory bodies.


"I'm very delighted to announce that Cross River State Garment factory has just received administrative approvals from NAFDAC and an endorsement from SON. What this means basically is that the garment factory is ready to go global with it's products with the much acclaimed NAFDAC number now to be added to our facemasks", Edet said


Continuing the MD said: "These approvals were got after a rigorous and thorough process by the officials of NAFDAC on our nosemask.They ran tests on our masks, looked at the double layering of the mask and also looked at the 95 replica that we have. After seeing the first layer of the polycithene fabric and seeing the second layer inside as the lining fabric then another layer to cover up, they were quite satisfied and that is why we have been granted these approvals"


Edet attributed all the achievements recorded so far to the proactive measures of Governor Ben Ayade, adding that with all the support the Governor has given the factory he was ready to meet up with production targets .


According to him, " I'd like to specially appreciate our amiable governor, Sir Ben Ayade without whom we would not have been able to get this approval today.He has indeed shown that this factory is dear to him with all the motivation he has given us and I can assure Cross Riverians that we will produce quality nose masks for them to use in order to continually keep our state free of Covid 19 "

NCDC says C’River deserves to be COVID-19 free, lauds Gov Ayade


The Federal Government strongly Commends the Action Governor of Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade, and his energetic team who started response in January when others still lived in denial. They (Cross River) deserve to still be without a case of COVID-19.

“The governor was proactive in shutting down borders, screening visitors and suspected cases and initiating the "No mask no movement campaign" in Nigeria,” she said.

She also expressed delight at the level of compliance with the no mask no movement policy of the government.

Expressing disbelief, she said: “I cannot believe I did not see one person without a face mask from the airport to this office. I guess this explains the results in Cross River State. I commend the state for the great work done. We never knew all these in Abuja. We will tell Mr President all what we have seen.

“From all I have seen, this is a great response in Nigeria. Cross River has honestly done well. There is a lot to learn from Cross River as best practice for Nigeria. Nigeria should give Cross River State accolades for producing face masks, Face Shield, PPEs in its Garment Factory.”

She said the NCDC was also satisfied with the contact tracing, Surveillance and testing done so far by the state even as she encouraged the state to do more in that regard.

“We are happy that the state has a great working relationship with the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital. This is Commendable.

“Governor Ben Ayade woke up even before the rest of the country. He shut his borders and has been working from the front line. Your Governor is a man with foresight who believes in his people and wants to save his people.”

Highlight of the teams visit included the official opening of the 100-bed isolation center in Adiabo.

Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency present Cheques for Micro Projects to Calabar South Communities

It was a day of joy for the people of Edibe Edibe and Ansa Ewa communities both in Henshaw Town Calabar South Local Government Area as the chairman of the Cross River State Community and Social Development Agency Sir Toni Ikpeme and the Commissioner, Ministry of International Development Corporation, Dr. Mrs. Inyang Asibong presented the first Tranch of funding for some community development projects. This was in fulfilment of the dire needs on ground as requested by the communities.

The projects which are World Bank assisted with up-to date counterpart funding from the state government in line with Governor Ayade's policy trust on rural community development include a solar powered borehole, installation of a new 500kva transformer and LED solar powered street lights for Edibe Edibe community. Ansa Ewa community also attracted a borehole water project, LED solar powered street light to enhance security and the replacement of PHED wooden poles with concrete poles.

The Chairman in his remark said 'the essence of our gathering here today is to show what a typical example of community partnership with the government looks like. For us to be here in this community in Calabar South is based on the fact that we've seen a community that has been so cohesive, a community that has a structured leadership that has put itself and its house indeed in order. We are here to drive one if his excellency's vision which is that rural communities in Cross River State benefit from the rural community projects which his excellency intends to do'

The Commissioner MIDC Dr. Mrs. Asibong reminded the community that the government came because the people requested for help. The plan is to complete the projects within six weeks. She lauded the enthusiasm, co-operation and the synergy between Government and the members of the community.

The high point of the brief event was the presentation of a cheque of about 3.9 million naira to Edibe Edibe community and about 1.6 million naira to Ansa Ewa community as the first phase of the release of funds to kick start the projects. The commissioner reiterated government position to release more funds to complete the projects if the first installment is judiciously used.

Both community leaders in their response appreciated the government for not neglecting them and promised to ensure that all the community projects are executed.

The Community and Social Development Agency is a World Bank assisted project in collaboration with the state government with a mandate to help the poor in rural communities have access to social infrastructure. The project uses the Community Demand Approach where the community identifies what the need and part finance it. The CSDA on their own part provide the major funding for the project, monitor and supervise the project and also put the project to use.

The CSDA handle such micro projects as building water boreholes, installing transformers, solar powered street lights, building health centres, etc. All that is required is for the affected community to make demands and show a readiness and willingness to co-operating with the agency, donor agency and the government in making their dreams a reality.

Ochala, stop parading ignorance, get education



Ordinarily, as a serious minded and responsible government focused on delivering on its core mandate of industrialising the state, the Cross River government does not have the tradition of joining issues with narcissists prancing the polity with inanities.


It has, however, become necessary to puncture Sir John Ochala's tissues of lies. His vapid press release on the West African Construction and Fabrication Academy utterly vitiates any claim he has to accuracy, morality and decency. It is dripping with inaccuracies and falsehood.


Ochala's vile act is ghoulish beyond belief. His ways hiss with diabolical resonance. Essentially, only fraudsters smell fraud even with the best of intentions.


No doubt, the dream of a Construction and Fabrication Academy was the brainchild of Sir Ben Ayade as a Senator. So were other ideas of his such as the garment factory, industrial park, Dual carriage highway linking the five local governments that make up the Northern Senatorial District, a rice mill in Ogoja, an international airport at Obudu, amongst others.


It is also a fact of history that one of Ayade's standout bills in the senate was a bill seeking to make social housing a right for all Nigerians.


These were all Ayade's lofty dreams as a senator which he had hoped to actualise as a way of bringing development to his senatorial district.


Now, let us situate them vis a vis Ochala's incoherent attempt at misinformation regarding the Fabrication Academy.


Garment Factory

The idea of a garment factory was conceived whilst Ayade was a senator. In fact, land was identified for that purpose in Obudu with a sign post erected.

The project was even included in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) budget but the budget was never financed.


So, when Ayade became governor, rather than actualize his dream by locating the garment factory in Obudu or any other local government in his Senatorial zone, he decided to make it a state project. In his broad-mindedness as governor, he chose to site it in Calabar. Today, the factory has become not only a thing of pride for the state, but also a revenue earner.

The big question now is; does the fact that the governor conceived the garment factory idea as senator reduce the facility to a privately owned entity?

Social Housing
On social housing, as a senator, Ayade had sponsored a bill to make social housing a right for al Nigerians. On becoming governor, he built a social housing scheme for the displaced people of Bakassi. Since the idea was conceived when the governor was a senator, does that also make the social housing scheme in Bakassi a privately owned entity?

Ultra modern rice mill, Ogoja
The first visit Ayade made to the original equipment manufacturers for the Ogoja rice mill was whilst he was still a senator. This can be verified from the stamps on his international passport. Even the design of the mill was drawn before he became governor.

The rice mill will soon go into commercial operations. In spite of it being funded by the state government, one wonders if that mill is privately owned based on the mere fact that the idea was conceived before the birth of the current administration.


*Mfom-Okpoma-Okuku- Bekwara- Obudu- Obanliku dual carriage way

The dream for this all important road linking the five local governments that make up Northern Cross River Senatorial District was conceived by Ayade when he was a senator. Now that the state government is building the road, Ochala might as well give it away as Ayade's personal road.


Construction and Fabrication Academy
This is where Ochala immersed himself in irredeemable ignorance and crass illiteracy in his bid to play opposition and spew mendacity. Not only did he expose his abject lack of fact and coordination, Ochala clearly advertised himself as a laughable disoriented charlatan who talks before thinking and one grimly disconnected from reality.

By continuing in his self-deception and ignorance, Ochala is not only harming himself but on a gradual metamorphosis to a conman.

Just as the projects listed above, the idea of the academy was conceived by Ayade whilst as a Senator as one of the projects he intended to attract to his constituency i.e Cross River North. However, the idea only remained in the realm of conception and was never realised.

But on becoming governor, he saw the state's ownership as really not a bad idea as the academy seeks to train middle level manpower like artisans etc.

And now, the academy is taking the advantage of the post-COVID-19 global pandemic to prepare a middle level manpower for the state.

The property housing the academy was bought by the state government after approval by the state Executive Council and receipted for as the state's property. The question begging for answers therefore, is, how can a property acquired with state fund after due approval by the executive council, captured in the budget and receipted for as state property now become a private entity because the dream was conceived in 2014?

It is also imperative to mention that the crude oil deposit report on Cross River State was paid for by Ayade before he became a governor. Does that mean Ayade owns the crude oil in the state?

Payment for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report for the superhighway project was paid for by Ayade on May 9, 2015, weeks before he was sworn in as governor. Are we now to say that Ayade owns the superhighway?

Ochala also made bold to list the promoters of the fabrication academy to include the five council areas in Northern Cross River. Perhaps these local government areas are also private entities of Governor Ayade. There can't be any worse contradictions than this. Only a fraudster smells fraud even with the best of intentions.
Ochala's conspiratorial nuance clearly depicts him as an indulgent purveyor of chaos. He is a man with a troubled mind. Little wonder he is running riot with misinformation and spreading gibberish with the sole aim to malign and cause disaffection.

It is only a bigoted idle man, perching nervously on a disputatious office he lacks legitimate claim to, that will luxuriate himself in mongering lies and an entrenched ignorance.



Christian Ita
Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to Governor Ayade

23 megawatts Calabar power plant waiting on PHEDC for evacuation -Ayade



The dream of Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade of delivering regular power supply to Calabar metropolis with the construction of a 23 megawatt power plant will soon become a reality.

Governor Ayade who disclosed this Tuesday, during an inspection of the plant, said the government was waiting for Port Harcourt Electricity Distribution Company's final nod to hook up to its distribution lines.

Speaking shortly after the inspection, the governor said: "We had done a trial evacuation in the past and we were confronted with huge technical challenges such as aging and weak lines that lacked the capacity to be able to carry the full current that was being generated from the plant."

On the readiness of the plant to go full blast on the supply of power, Ayade further hinted: "A lot of adjustments have been done, corrective actions taken and today we are also getting ready as we are expecting PHED to come and give us power outage so that we can hook up from the power plant."

Continuing, the governor assured: "Our hope is that if the test run goes smoothly, then Calabar will be enjoying 24 hours of electricity without recourse to the national grid and that will be a major milestone. This will be coming at the right time because of Covid 19 where we have reduced activities and a lot of people will be needing power to stay at home."

Expressing excitement at the realization of the project Governor Ayade offered: "I am happy and proud that indeed Cross River State is continuously leading with this special power plant that will now be delivering power to our homes."

On how the state intends to recoup its investment, Ayade said: "With our interest so far and with all the Investment we have done in PHED, we have never declared profit so we are just hoping that with the proposed increase in tariff by the Federal Government, we hope that it should run profitably so that atleast it can declare dividends and the state can begin to harness their Investment.

"But as we speak today, we still have challenges with most of the lines. In some areas, the transformers are not working. Cross River State has bought over 200 transformers to support PHEDC to get them on the lines. But as you know, once you put in a transformer it becomes property of PHEDC. So we have put in so much on public power supply without a corresponding supply of power from PHEDC."

Offering further insight on the relationship between the government and PHEDC, Ayade disclosed: "At this point where we will need their cooperation, it is expected that they will give us some charges. But we are proposing an island method which means that they isolate the part of town that will be fed from our 23mw and give us full independence of those areas, so that when it becomes necessary we can switch back and get back in the grid but from time to time, we can just cross supply.
"Basically, on the island system, if Cross River State power plant is responsible for Idundu, Satellite town, for example, those areas will be shut down from PHED and dedicated to our power plant. That is the Island system, otherwise, we will distribute to the whole town and share our power as public power."

Reposte For Those Who Are Afraid Of Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr

By: DOMINIC KIDZU

It is now very clear, even to the uninitiated, that a puppeteer sitting at a dark alcove, somewhere in Calabar, is directing the recent series of attacks on the person of Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr and the Office of the Commissioner for Finance in Cross River State. The broad facade being painted on the media canvas is that of altruistic persons pursuing “the interest of Cross River ” while the bull”s eye, really,  is the seat of Governor come 2023.

No serious Cross  Riverian has been fooled by the poorly choreographed series of lies and make – belief – fake stories being planted in the social media lately, all aimed at reducing the true essence of Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr in the eyes of the public as we inch closer to 2023. There seems to be a silent resolve by the Puppeteer that Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr is the bogeyman in his nightmares, and to take over Government House, Calabar, in faraway 2023 the nibbling party has to start now,  in bits, pieces and welts. It is perhaps a fitting  acknowledgement of Ekpenyong’s intellectual and physical quantity that  the chopping gang is required to come out early with their axes, three good years ahead, in the hope that they might at least secure a dent, a welt  or a bruise on the young man’s unassailable reputation before the starting bells are rung.

And all this even when he has never told anyone that he craves the office of Governor. In fact in a recent interraction with the press, the Commissioner declared that he was not thinking of running for the office of Governor at this time, as he was more keen about the duties of his present position as Commissioner for Finance. You would have thought that this should help the fifth columnist to sleep well at night, instead he has gone into overdrive. After the raucous rumpus over the inability of Cross River State to secure  the SFTAS grant last month (as if we may not ever get it again), he has now found a new peg to hang his hat, and has corralled Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr into the affairs and workings of the Ministry for Local Government.

The dark resolve is perhaps, to blame everything on Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr. If the grass on the pavements were to grow to ankle – length, or cocoa yields are low, or indeed a blizzard blows away the roof of a primary school, the man to blame, of course, is Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr. This  pathological disorder and emotional distress can only be the result of some form of inferior complex, or new phobia in the Puppeteer, who we shall name in due course because he has bismirched the nobility of politics with a sterile curse and a feeble temper. Granted that human beings are by their nature both social and competitive animals (even the primates are said to have practiced an attenuated form of politics), to so blatantly malign the reputation and character of somebody because you suspect that they harbour an intention to run for office is, perhaps, the basest form of cowardice. That is the sensation that fuels the wanton urge to demean, diminish, despise, derogate and debase a suspected opponent purely on impulse, like chasing after a fleeting pattern in a mirror.

For the record, Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr did not just walk into the Ministry of Finance from the street corner. He came into office with Ivy league college education, good breeding, broad exposure and an unassailable pedigree. Having attended the prestigious Kings College, in Lagos, he proceeded to the University of Reading, in the United Kingdom graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics in 2007,and a Master’s degree in International Banking and Finance Services ( with distinction) in 2008 before enrolling at the prestigious Harvard Business School in the United States from where he returned to Nigeria to take up a lecturing position at the Department of Banking and Finance in the University of Calabar from 2010 to 2012. He left the university to start what has today become the biggest indigenous logistics services provider in the South/South and South – East with clients including Lafarge Africa and Indorama  Eleme Petrochemicals. He was serving concurrently as the Managing Director of the CBN licensed Chamley Bureau De Change and Director of Pearland Energy Limited.

He was appointed member of the Board of Directors of Ekondo Microfinance Bank between 2013 to 2015 and served on several critical board committees, including the Credit Establishment, Audit, Finance and General Purposes Committees. He has attended several courses and holds qualifications obtained from Howard University Business School in Washington DC and the University of Pretoria in South Africa. He is a devout Christian, is married to a Cross Riverian and has a daughter. This is the young man Governor Ben Ayade appointed Commissioner for Finance in 2015. He is soft spoken and courteous, intelligent and resourceful, and is driven by the passion to make a critical contribution to the growth and development of his state, while making a positive statement on behalf of the young people of his generation.

The series of planned attacks and innuendos on his person are destined to fail for the reason that they have neither reason nor merit. If the objective was to distract him, it has come to naught. If it was to intimidate him, it has on the contrary further emboldened him. In politics nobody pays attention to a nobody. Are his attackers affrighted by his profound personage and records, or merely envious of his achievements in spite of his age? Or maybe, there is something else we don’t know, as Shakespeare puts it, men do often construe things after their fashion, clean from the purpose of the things themselves.

Whatever it is, if indeed it is the destiny of Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr to be Governor of Cross River State, so shall it be, in spite of himself, (as he recently asked to be allowed, at this  time, to focus on his job as Commissioner without the distractions of a Governorship ambition) . Creation brings forth the tides on to which man’s fate is taken and jewelled unicorns may yet draw by the golden chariots upon which Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr may ride unto his inexorable destiny, while the dissentient, with a lean and hungry look (ala Cassius), wave impotently from the sidelines of the new reign.

Dominic kidzu is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Information.

Why I'm dualizing Calabar-Odukpani highway amidst coronavirus -Ayade


Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has described the Calabar/Odukpani dual carriage highway currently under going asphalting as critical to the state's economy.

A major gateway to other parts of the country, the Calabar/Odukpani Highway, according to the governor, is receiving premium attention from his administration because it would play a major role as a veritable evacuation corridor to the Bakassi Deep seaport when completed.
He expressed optimism that when completed, the road will also ease the perennial traffic gridlock at the Odukpani junction.

Ayade who spoke during an inspection tour of the project maintained that he was delighted at the progress of work.
"The Calabar/Odukpani dualisation project is intended to connect the spaghetti flyover and to do a proper evacuation of the gridlock we face at the Odukpani Junction. This is a super project in the sense that it will perfectly ease traffic and also this is the road the Superhighway will be evacuating into and it will run on dual carriage into the six lanes and then into the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

According to Ayade, "This construction work is very critical for us because this is where you connect to Abuja, this is where you connect to the seaport, this is where you connect to Port Harcourt, the whole of the southern part, the northern part and up to the Cameroon. This is the only way, the gateway into Calabar. So it is our heartbeat, which is why we have focused on it as a priority."

Commending the contractors for the quality of job, the Cross River state governor disclosed that the specification of the project was such that can withstand heavy duty trucks that ply the road daily.
Ayade: "I am quite impressed so far with the quality of work done. Ordinarily they are supposed to lay the bitumen to 6cm and compact to 5cm but I have given an order for them to lay to 7cm and compact to 6cm to give it a higher thickness to have a higher tolerance level for some of these heavy duty trucks that are coming in to pick very heavy materials, picking petroleum products from the Calabar tank farms and the rest.

"I think the job that they are doing is great, the quality is good. I have seen the thickness of the asphalt, I have seen the consistency, I have seen the mixture and I am quite satisfied. The contractor has the capacity and competence to deliver on this job within a short time"

He assured that construction of the Spaghetti flyover would soon take off: "In the next couple of week you will start seeing the construction of the spaghetti flyover and I want to use this opportunity to thank Cross Riverians who have stood with me through all the challenges of Covid 19", he stated.

COVID -19: Ayade employs additional 1000 workers as demand for Cross River Garment Factory masks rises


Following increased orders for nose masks from the Cross River state Garment Factory, Calabar, the state Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has approved the recruitment of additional 1000 hands to ramp up production at the facility.

Speaking Monday at the factory during the induction exercise for the newly recruited workers, the governor explained that the new intakes were part of the 8,000 job drive embarked upon by his administration to cushion the economic impact of the global pandemic, COVID-19, on Cross River youths.

"Directly behind me is a team of young men and women who have just been recruited as part of the 8000 young people we are recruiting as a consequence of Covid 19 outbreak and as part of the covid 19 program. Cross River committed herself to the recruitment of 8000 young men and women, mopping them off the streets. Consequentially, we have here almost a thousand people who want to resume as fashion designers,” he stated

According to him "they are doing their induction and after this induction they're expected to commence work because we are also ramping up to three full shifts and we actually need additional hands. So, what you find here is an employment program on that flat rate of N30,000 a month to ensure that everyone of them has a job to do.”

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, some states, private firms and individuals have been placing orders for nose masks from the factory.

The highest of such order came from Lagos state government which last month made an order for one million pieces of the masks.

The demand for the item, says Ayade has however since gone up, necessitating the recruitment of extra hands in order to beef up production.

His words: "The demand for the nose masks is on the increase. Incidentally, the federal government has also given an order that everybody should wear a mask if they have to go out to public places. In other words , the No mask No Movement policy of Cross River State has gone national.”

The governor expressed worry at federal government's refusal to adopt the Cross River state Garment factory as the principal producer of nose masks in the country as the battle against the pandemic rages on.

"We are giving out nose masks free in Cross River to the people but one would have expected that the federal government will use it also as a stimulus package by taking our Garment Factory outfits across the country and specify standards for them, if necessary get NAFDAC involved in the certification process and then give order for mass production thus stimulating the economy", he stated.

COVID-19: Ayade pleads with Buhari to lift ban on domestic flights

As Nigeria grapples with the impact of the coronavirus on the economy, Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to lift the ban on domestic flights.

The governor spoke at the weekend while inspecting the ongoing asphalting of the dualized Odukpani -Calabar highway.
He argued that continual closure of Nigeria's domestic airspace was impacting negatively on the aviation, hospitality and tourism sectors of the economy, warning that the adverse effects of another four weeks closure of the airspace could be catastrophic.

According to him, “the suspension of domestic flights has affected most hotels leading to their closure. It is so bad that most hotels including the 5-star hotels are shutting down because they cannot even sustain the cost of diesel for their generating sets and as that happens, they start laying off workers. So you have a lot of workers, young people who used to work in the hotels and tourism industry out of jobs. And the big question is, how long can this continue?"

He said the closure of the country's domestic airspace was also having negative spiral effect on small businesses and service providers, thus further worsening the economic situation of that category of Nigerians.

"The caterers who supply food to the hotels are all out of business. All the suppliers are out of business. So as we continue to lock the domestic airports for another four weeks, what we are going to have in terms of economic loss, what we are going to have in terms of social delinquency, the associated moral and social tension that will come with it will be just too huge for the country to bear", he quipped.

The Cross River state number one citizen said rather than ban domestic flights, the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC ) should devise strict guidelines to enable the airlines sector to continue to operate without escalating the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.

“We can still be safe while allowing the internals of Nigeria to run. We can do so by allowing the domestic airlines to start flying . As they fly, NCDC should spell out certain conditions like making sure aircrafts are properly disinfected, ensuring temperature tests are carried out before passengers get on board and of course, ensuring that all passengers wear proper masks. The airlines can have their own masks that they can give to passengers.”

Continuing, the governor said: "So, for that short flight of one hour, everyone is protected and the hotels can pick up again, the suppliers can have their businesses back so that workers can go to work. For states like ours that depend so much on tourism, we are almost paralyzed. Once visitors, travellers and tourists are not coming into Calabar, the hotels will have no patronage because people do not just leave their homes to go to a hotel to sleep for the fun of it, only once in a while may be. But again hotels need consistent patronage and that can only come when domestic flights are coming in and going out.”

He appealed to the President "not to lock down the healthy but rather lock down the sick and allow the healthy to work.”

PDP national headquarters extends tenure of Cross River state executive Committee

The national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has extended the tenure of the Ntufam Edim Inok-led state executive Committee of the party by three months.

The state executive committee is however, to function as a caretaker committee pending the state congress of the party where a new executive committee will be elected.

A letter addressed to the state chairman, Ntufam Edim Inok and signed by the National Organising Secretary of PDP, Col.Austin Akobundu, explained that the Cross River Exco of the party has now been reconstituted into Caretaker Committee and its tenure extended by three months.

The letter read in part: "I wish to formally inform you that the National Working Committee NWC of our great party, on behalf of the National Executive Committee, NEC, in pursuant to section 29 (2)(b) and 31(2) (E) of our party's constitution (2017 as amended) approved the reconstitution of the current state executive committee members of your state into state caretaker Committee.

“Accordingly, the current State Exco Members upon the expiry of their tenure act as State Caretaker Committee to run the affairs of the Party until a new State Executive Committee is elected; provided that they shall not serve in such capacity for more than three months from May 10, 2020.”

The letter further stated that the reconstitution and tenure extension became necessary "due to the Covid-19 Pandemic in the country and the Federal Government’s Stay-at-Home directives.”

Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade went to the farm today see what he returned with.

Efik Leadership Foundation: A gathering of cocklings and babblers


When disgruntled and disoriented elements congregate, they do nothing but babble and prattle, with inanities, propaganda and falsehood as their essential offerings. And as a bunch of puke, their pastime is to spew bitterness, hate and lies.

The recent poorly scripted letter to President Muhammadu Buhari by failed opposition politicians masquerading as "Efik Leadership Foundation" underlines the above.

Efik nation is made up of refined, well educated gentlemen and women who stand for truth and fairness. They are not this bunch of fossilized and expired politicians desperately clutching at straws for relevance.

Therefore, the characters cooing under the group to malign governor Ben Ayade do not represent the the Efik Nation.

This body is not known to true Efik sons and daughters and does not speak for the Efik nation. There are just two recognised Efik platforms known to the Efik aborigines.They are the Obong of Calabar Executive Forum and Etubom Traditional Council. These two bodies speak for the Efik nation.

So, rather than trying to hide behind one finger to spread falsehood, promoters of Efik Leadership Foundation should man up, be courageous enough to openly declare their political leaning. They should come out full blast for people to know who they are.

We have seen this in the past and so this latest infantile attempt at blackmail and incitement is dead on arrival because the Efiks love and stand by the Ayade administration as it continues to keep the state free of COVID-19.

The letter by the so called Efik Leadership Foundation is therefore, with all intent and purposes, seeped in pernicious doctrine.

It is pernicious in principle, pernicious in appreciation, pernicious in consequence. The letter confesses a gross misreading of the situation on ground in Cross River and evokes an irreconcilable animus against reality.

Their argument is a masterpiece of incoherent warblings, hollow ritual of comic relief.

They wrote with a demonical fury to create and maintain sordid, false narration that collides with the true essence of the situation in Cross River in relation to COVID-19.

The Efik Leadership Foundation casts aspersions on the Isolation centre at Tinapa but it's clear they spoke from the fringes of ignorance. None of them, it is apparent, have been to Tinapa isolation centre.

Obviously, these characters are opposition political figures with some of them earning the title of "also ran" in the last election.

For example, one of the signatories to the letter has not recovered from the utter trouncing Ayade gave him in the polls. For such a man who recorded only four votes in the entire election, it is not surprising that he is still bitter and smacking from the crushing defeat.

However, trying to politicise the COVID-19 global pandemic at a time the entire world is binding together to fight it amounts to political frustration taken too far.

From day one, it was obvious that the elements that signed the letter wished that Cross River under Ayade had COVID-19 case. They are not happy that courtesy of Governor Ayade's proactive leadership, Cross River has remained COVID-19 free.

It is clear that if they had their way, they would import the virus into the state just to score a political point.

It is therefore, not a surprise that rather than applaud Governor Ayade's effort at curtailing the spread of COVID-19 into Cross River or join hands with him in keeping the state free from the pandemic they are seeking to politicise it.

It is baffling that one of the characters who lives in London where the pandemic is ravaging lives even permitted himself the audacity of signing a letter against Ayade on COVID-19. One wonders how many of such letters he has addressed to the British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson and Queen Elizabeth over thousands of British lives the virus has claimed so far.

One is at a loss as to why supposedly enlightened people should war against well thought out preventive measures against the virus in Cross River as introduced by governor Ayade even when the world has now turned round to copy the Cross River model.

For example, no sooner had Ayade introduced compulsory wearing of nose masks made from fabrics than the World Health Organisation, WHO, United states of America and other world powers adopted same.

Similarly, no sooner had Ayade given the no mask no movement order in Cross River than every other state in Nigeria copied same. Now, compulsory wearing of nose masks has become a norm throughout Nigeria.

The letter- writing opposition politicians are hereby advised to swallow their ego and give Ayade credit for his leadership qualities in combating the pandemic, even if they are stingy with the right commendation.

This has become imperative because their attempt to misinform the President has failed, owing to the fact that Mr. President is fully abreast of the true situation of things in Cross River State.

Essentially, rather than Cross River posing a danger to Nigeria, it is the enemies of the state like the Efik Leadership Foundation that are posing real danger to its multi- ethno- cultural setting and Nigeria as a country with their deliberate bile and mendacity.

Finally, the signatories in the hurriedly cobbled hatchet letter, rather than embark on an ill-advised adventure of maligning Ayade and his people-oriented, purposeful leadership, should join hands with him and with the rest of the world in keeping COVID-19 at bay because the virus does not discriminate- it knows no tribe, language, religion, colour or political party-it kills indiscriminately.


Christian Ita
Special Adviser, Media and Publicity to Governor Ayade.

Asuquo Ekpenyong Snr: 72 Garlands for an Icon


By Patrick Effiom


Elder Chief (Dr) Asuquo Ekpeyong has every reason to celebrate.At 72, not only has he over shot the Biblical life span but has also become a huge reference for success.

The highly revered industrialist is equally a study in grit- determination to make a difference.He dared to engrave his name boldly on humanity, bringing to fruition,the iconic late American President, Abraham Lincoln's immortal lines: "In the end, it is not the years in your life that counts, it is the life in your years"

There is no  missing piece of puzzle in the narrations and commentaries around Chief Ekpeyong.His personage is an open book.Growing up, the young Ekpeyong was clear as to what he wanted out of life.His future was therefore sparkling bright.

Having solidified his future with the necessary academic laurels from prestigious institutions-  the University of Ibadan (BSc in Economics and an MSc in Banking and Finance), School of Accountancy, Glasgow, Scotland and the International Banking School, New York, USA- Ekpenyong set out to dazzle the financial industry with his brilliancy and dexterity.

A renowned Economist and Banker with outstanding professional records, he cut his teeth in the banking sector working with reputable Organizations like the Central Bank of Nigeria, Chase ManhattanBank, New York and Midland Bank, (HSBC), London, Mercantile Bank Nigeria limited among others.

Ekpenyong's outstanding attributes played  a role in his success in life.These include abiding faith in God, in himself and the people around him.He also possesses a can do spirit that allows him an uncanny ability to seize and tap into opportunities, abilities and talents when he sees them.

This explains why in the afternoon of his banking career, he opted to be a fisherman himself rather than wait to be handed fish.

Essentially, soon after his exit from Mercantile Bank, Ekpenyong was appointed Deputy Managing Director of a major national bank with a clear indication of when he would assume the substantive position.

But he did what was considered the unthinkable at that time:He turned the offer down and rather elected to do his own thing.

That singular decision has today given rise to the Davandy Group, a conglomerate spanning banking, insurance, hospitality, education, Real Estate among others.

Today Ekpenyong is the only Cross Riverian who can boast of a home based, home grown conglomerate.He is also the largest individual employer of labour in the state.

 Born on the 4th of May 1948, Ekpenyong  is an indigene of AsangEniong in Odukpani Local Government Area of Cross River State.

Ekpenyong is not bottled up in narrow prisms, therefore, John Ruskin's timeless thought, "when a man is wrapped up in himself, he makes a pretty small package" is not applicable to him for he proudly takes his place among his people and humanity, feeling and sharing in their pains and joy as a philanthropist and job creator.

Elder Ekpenyong has contributed immensely  to humanity through several Foundations and Scholarship Schemes mostly within Cross River State and his Community in particular.

He has committed his life and resources to alleviating the plight of the less privileged in our society by providing employment, scholarships, entrepreneurial training and empowerment to our people through Asuquo Ekpenyong Foundation (AEF), which he happens to be the Founder and Chairman.


 Dr. Asuquo Ekpenyong, OON, has demonstrated effective participation in the Socio-economic and Political affairs of Cross River State in particular and Nigeria in general. He is the Leader of 7-ALIVE, an umbrella group for the Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State; which strives to enhance the political and social standing of the 7 LGAs that constitute the Southern Senatorial District.

In the wake of the dreaded global pandemic, COVID-19, the elder statesman again

demonstrated passion and empathy for humanity with the donation of a whopping #25million to the Cross River state help fight the virus, thus becoming the highest individual donor to that effect in the state.

At the community level, he is the Chairman of Obong of Calabar Executive Forum (OCEF) and the Chairman of North Western Calabar (Eburutu) Traditional Rulers Council. His vibrant and focused leadership has brought numerous achievements to Odukpani LGA, Eburutu and indeed, Efik Kingdom as a whole. 

An Elder of the Presbyterian Church of Nigeria, a beneficiary of Cross River State and Federal Government Honours, Chief Asuquo is a consummate family man- a loving husband to his adorable wife and dotting father to his very responsible and  reputable children who are all high fliers in their own right having acquired sound and solid education courtesy their father.

He is a successful family man who encouraged his wife to rise to the top while raising her family. She earned a Ph.D and became Registrar of Cross River State University of Technology.

One of his children, Asuquo Ekpenyong Jnr is the current Cross River state Commissioner for Finance, a position he was first appointed into in 2015, becoming Nigeria's youngest Commissioner at that time.

Elder Chief (Dr)He is a member of several professional bodies including Fellow of Chartered Institute of Bankers, London and Nigeria.He is also a member of the Governing Council of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria.

The Davandy Group boss is one of the six Trustees of the National Association of Microfinance Banking and Finance and past President of the Calabar Chamber of Commerce and Industry.Chief Ekpenyong was the Pioneer Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer; Cross River State owned Equity and Investment Company Ltd.


A resounding 72 cheers for an outstanding icon, an elder statesman, a humanist and philanthropist.Happy birthday, sir.

COVID-19: Cross River preparing for life after pandemic- Ayade

In order to tackle the attendant food shortage expected to hallmark the post coronavirus pandemic, Cross River State is going ahead with its Agro- Industrialisation drive in the midst of the virus outbreak, says Governor Ben Ayade.

The governor, who stated this in Calabar, explained that his administration was determined to make the state self sufficient in food production, adding that "we are not resting on our oars in our agro-industrialisation drive because of the likelihood of global food crisis after COVID-19.”

Speaking while deploying the newly acquired tractors and other farming equipment to the field, Ayade said: "In the face of the lock out of Cross River State, isolating Cross River State from the infiltration of coronavirus into the state, we are aware that we have properly secured our external borders while allowing the economy to continue to run. It is against that background that I have come here to mobilize all our equipment to move to the field.

Disclosing that the equipments were being moved to some of the farms in the Northern Senatorial district of the state, the governor explained: "The idea is that Cross River is already looking at the post Covid 19 era because we don't want to be caught up in vortex of hunger and food scarcity. Now that oil price has come to zero and even below the cost price, it is obvious Nigeria will have to move to agro dollar. Nigeria should be migrating from petro dollar to agro dollar and Cross River will be leading that process.”

While calling on African leaders to brace up for the worst and look inwards, Governor Ayade predicted that after COVID-19, most countries will be concerned with feeding its citizens and will be unwilling to export food items.

“It is obvious that most countries will be very unwilling to export their food because they won't have enough to even feed their own citizens. So, when it gets to that situation where our agrarian reserves are completely limited and we turn back and look at our harvest and it is nothing to write home about, what do we do? Therefore, I am just looking into the future and saying look, Cross River State has to start the process of agricultural densification and putting our footprints on the ground to ensure that we create sufficient cultivation of our landmass."

Continuing, Ayade, said: "For the massive land deforestation like in Akamkpa where there is a brand new massive rice farm we are doing the clearing work, definitely the equipments will be needed there"

Ayade also hinted that another set of equipment were being deployed to the Cross River international airport in Obudu, located close to the Obudu cattle ranch.

“The airport will offer opportunities so that Cross River will be exporting ornamental flowers to Europe. To do that we need a temperate climate of about 11000 ft above sea level which we have up the ranch. So Obudu Ranch will not only provide tourism, it is now going to be an agro-horticultural business hub, producing flowers and taking them to the cargo airport for export to Europe. If Kenya can make 9 billion Euros from exporting flowers, from 8000ft , then Cross River which has 11000 ft above sea level, should do better. We have the best temperate climate suitable for the cultivation of ornamental flowers."

According to him, "We are doing all of this because we, as a state know that agriculture is the future and I say it as a timely warning to Africans and Nigerians that it is time for us to isolate Africa and look inwards."

The governor expressed optimism that his administration's huge investment in Agro-industrialisation and the expected handsome returns in terms of profits and job creation will rake in, will in no time mitigate the pains of Cross River losing its 76 oil wells.

COVID19: CAN lauds Ayade as Cross River remains infection free


The Christain Asociation of Nigeria (CAN), Cross River state chapter, has commended the efforts of the state Governor, Sir Ben Ayade in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The Umbrella Christian body said it was particularly impressed with the governor’s proactive response to the pandemic and urged other states to do likewise.

While giving its assessment of the fight against the pandemic, the state chairman of CAN, Most Reverend O.B. Ekpenyong said Governor Ayade has shown incredible capacity for leadership.

Most Reverend Ekpeyong was speaking Wednesday during a visit to the Senior Special Adviser to the governor on Religious Matters, Reverend Father Bob Etta.

He expressed appreciation to the governor for the palliatives recently given to churches in the state to cushion the harsh efforts of the lockdown due to COVID-19.

Most Reverend Ekpeyong said he was delighted that Cross River was outstanding in curbing the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.

Responding, Reverend Etta thanked Cross River CAN for the great support and commitment it has been giving to the governor.

He urged Christian leaders in the state to continue to cooperate with government to ensure the state remains safe from COVID-19.

Describing the church as a dependable partner in the fight against the pandemic, Etta appealed to churches in the state to continue to abide by government's directive on large gathering.

OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONER,
MINISTRY OF INFORMATION& ORIENTATION,
HEADQUARTERS,
OPPOSITE CULTURAL CENTRE COMPLEX,CALABAR

2nd May,2020

RIVERS STATE COVID 19 MEDIA UPDATE:WIKE's VITUPERATIONS WENT TOO FAR

The attention of the Government of Cross River State has been drawn to the unsavory innuendos and disparaging remarks made by the Executive Governor of Rivers State,His Excellency,Mr. Nyesom Wike against his colleaque and Digital Governor of Cross River State,His Excellency,Sir(Prof)Ben Ayade; during a Media Briefing on Rivers State progress report on the rampaging Corona Virus pandemic which was broadcasted live on AIT and several online Media as well as Radio and Television Stations.

During that briefing,Governor Wike had sarcastically and severally referred to Governor Ayade as "One of their loyal boys" and so could make any remark against the Federal Government without drawing their anger."And why the Federal Government asked Rivers State to get her share of the pallative Rice through Cross River State."

The State Government frowns at this unnecessary vituperations by a brother Governor from the same geo-political zone and political party.It should be made crystal clear here that Governor Wike need not make reference to Governor Ayade and Cross River State in such a disparaging manner,but should have gone ahead to state his case and grieviances against the APC- controlled Federal Government in Abuja.

Governor Ayade is a highly reverred Gentleman with sound character and high pedigree and of exceptional moral standing who has long understood the difference between party politics and governance.Elections we know,are long gone and it is now time for good governace for the overall interest of the citizenry.

In this regard,Governor Ayade's enviable relationship with the The President at the centre should not be miscontrued as a weakness or a lazy approach to governance that should now earn him the tag "Loyal boy”

While we take exceptions to such disparaging remarks,Government further enjoins Governor Wike to play politics with ethics and sound political judgement as well as refrain from casting aspersions on the character of his colleagues,leading to hasty generalization.

Cross River and Rivers States have come a long way as brothers and whatever differences their Leaders may have in approach to governance should be canvassed at their appropriate high level meetings and not discussed in the public domain such as a live Media Programme.

Signed
Comrade Asu Okang,fcai
Commissioner for Information & Orientation.

PDP Odukpani Chapter Inaugurates Ward EXCO

The People's Democratic Party Odukpani Chapter Friday carried out the inauguration ceremony of it's ward executive officers to pilot the affairs of the party in the local government for the next four years.

The event which took place at the Odukpani local government council ground witnessed a large turn out of party men and women who have all pledged their support to the leader of the party in the state senator professor Ben Ayade.

Speaking during the inauguration Barrister Victor Eyibio who presided over the occasion stated that after the elections were successfully conducted, the next step was for the officers of the party to take the oath of office and the oath of allegiance as prescribed by the party constitution as a means of validating the whole process.

" We are here today to conclude the process of electing officers to run the affairs of Odukpani PDP for the next four years and I would like to congratulate all of the successful candidates during the elections. "

Continuing he said "As enshrined in the party constitution, without taking your oath of office and the oath of allegiance, you are not qualified to hold such office as this are the two things that will ensure your loyalty to the party is guaranteed that is why we are gathered here today"

The occasion was witnessed by dignitaries including the member representing Odukpani in the Cross River State House of Assembly Hon Francis Asuquo and the Party's flag bearer for the local government elections Mrs Justina Edem.

Locking down Nigeria not helping fight against COVID-19, says Ayade

Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade has urged the federal government to discontinue with the policy of shutting down the country in its effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Ayade who spoke to newsmen Monday at the Cross River state Rice Seeds and Seedlings factory, Calabar during the official commencement of deployment of agricultural machines to various parts of the state, said a complete lockdown of Nigeria has been counter productive.

He therefore, “pleads with the federal government not to shut down this country. The healthy people cannot be locked down. It is the sick that should be identified and isolated and locked down. You do not lock down a healthy citizen, a healthy individual who falls within an area where there is no reported case or confirmed case.

"The sick has to be shut down for the healthy to work, and by the sick I mean those who have confirmed cases, those who fall Within the tracing line, those who fall within the suspicion line. They have to be locked down for the healthy to work. But locking down the sick and the healthy together only creates an expansion climate for the virus. In some cases the lockdown creates a more clustered and difficult and accumulated residence like people who live in squatter camps. When you lock them down it expands and increases the chance of contamination,” he said.

Continuing, the governor said: "If everyone goes out with a nose mask and is busy in the day and returns, tired he goes to his bed to sleep. But the idea of locking down ebullient young people with so much energy boiling out, it is never going to work.
“It's not going to work for the economy, it's not going to work for the people it's not going to help in controlling the virus.

While urging the Federal Government to slacken some of its restrictions including flights, he said the pandemic offers Africa the opportunity to catch up the rest of the world.

He regrets that the continent has failed to grasp the chance.

“This is the opportunity for Africa to play catch up instead of adopting what is happening in Europe because it can never be exactly the same in our circumstance. Our demographics are not the same, we have a lot of young people with very strong immune system.
“That is why I insist we should just wear nose mask and loosen up the country. Let the airlines start working. Just insist that nobody gets into an airplane to fly without a nose mask.”
He insisted that a general use of the nose mask will flatten the curve in no time.

Covid19: Lagos, Kano, Benue order masks from Cross River


As various states in Nigeria battle to contain the ravaging global pandemic, COVID-19, Lagos state government, Benue State and a Kano Business mogul, Alhaji Isiaku Rabiu, have separately placed orders for nose masks from the Cross River State Garment Factory.

While Lagos State placed order for one million nose masks, Rabiu ordered for 100000 pieces of the masks to assist the Kano state government contain the pandemic.

Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade who made the disclosure Monday at the Garment factory Calabar stated that production of masks has been ramped up at the factory following the orders.

Apart from states, order organizations that have made orders for masks from the factory include construction giants, Julius Berger and DHL.

“We have Julius Berger, a construction company that has made a massive order. Shoprite also has made a massive order. We have also received an order of one million masks from Lagos State government.
“Alhaji Isaiaku Rabiu made an order for a hundred thousand masks for Kano state,” the governor disclosed.

He said he was at the factory to carry out an inspection on quality control and ensure that the masks were made according to specifications.

"As you can see, we are here at the garment factory to carry out an inspection on quality control of preparation of the masks and ensuring that by the time they finish the ironing process, it will go through a sterilization chamber which is an innovation", Ayade said

He disclosed that plans were under way to design military style masks for the military and para military organizations.

According to him, the special masks will come with fitted special protection and air filtration systems.

Ayade: "As you are all aware, Cross River State started the concept of cloth mask. So we want to use this opportunity to say we want to move into the new brand of a military mask which will have special protection and special air filtration as well as special breathing support systems to enable the military use it on a daily basis even in the face of a biological warfare "

The governor maintained said he has taken time to wear the mask in different combination of clothes to create awareness and to show that no matter how you dress, there is a mask that can fit with your dressing.

"I have taken time to wear the mask in different combination of clothes not just for the purpose of wearing the mask but to create awareness on the use of the masks

And also as a means of marketing that even if you are wearing a traditional attire, there are masks that can go with your dressing"

"If you intend to go with a jean and a top it can still fit so whether you are young or middle aged or old, there is always a way and style that the mask will fit. And until Coronavirus is over, wearing masks has to become our way of life."

He expressed optimism that with the support of the federal government, Cross River State should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries in the near future.

"I believe that with the support of the federal government, we should be in a position to start exporting masks to other African countries very soon.with our installed capacity at three shifts we can do close to a million masks a day and am happy the federal government is adopting wearing of nose masks as a national policy", Ayade quipped.

Ramadan: Ayade urges prayers for Cross River amidst COVID-19 pandemic


Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has called on  Muslim faithful in the state to use the period of Ramadan fast to offer  prayers for the state and Nigeria  in the effort to contain the spread of the global Covid-19 pandemic.


Ayade in a Ramadan message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity. Mr Christian Ita, enjoined all ummah to continue to show love and care for one another, by being generous and serving humanity selflessly.


The Governor assured the muslim community in the state that his administration would continue to implement programmes, projects  and policies that will bring greater development and  improve the quality of lives of the people irrespective of their tribe and religion.


He said appointing many Muslims into higher offices in his administration, including the  Special Adviser on Muslim Affairs, was a deliberate policy to ensure inclusiveness. 


While appreciating the support and cooperation enjoyed from the Muslim community thus far, the Governor urged them to continue to observe the "No Mask No Movement" Order as well as the directive against large gatherings during prayers, especially Iftar and Tarawhee in a bid to contain the spread of Covid-19 disease.


"My administration's determination to deepen religious freedom and freedom of association is one strategy that is working in Cross River State.


“Our Covid-19 food Palliatives distribution includes Muslim households and I hope this will help during the Ramadan period and  elevate the condition of the ummah ,especially the underprivileged and sustain the atmosphere of peaceful coexistence and religious harmony in Cross River State.


"On behalf of the Government and people of Cross River State, I wish all the Muslim faithful Ramadan Kareem in the next Twenty Nine or Thirty days"he said.

See NJC Full Statement Nothing About Justice Akon Ikpeme


NJC suspends two judges for falsifying age, failing to give judgement

The National Judicial Council has suspended two judges and recommended their compulsory retirement after finding them guilty of misconduct.

One judge falsified his age and the second refused to deliver judgement in a case within the stipulated time, the NJC said in a statement by its spokesperson, Soji Oye, on Friday.

Approvals for their retirement are to come from the president.
The NJC also cleared some judges of allegations of wrongdoing, and recommended the appointment of 70 new judicial officers.

It has also set up a committee to recommend ways to ensure Courts continue to function despite the lockdown and Covid-19 challenges.

Read the full statement below:

The National Judicial Council under the Chairmanship of the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Honourable Dr. Justice I. T. Muhammad CFR, at its 91st Meeting held online on 22nd and 23rd April, 2020, has constituted a 10-man Committee to come up with urgent practical strategic measures to be put in place in order to ensure Courts continue to function despite the lockdown and Covid-19 challenges;

The Members are:

Hon. Justice Olabode Rhodes-Vivour, CFR – Chairman

Hon. Justice M. B. Dongban-Mensem – Member

Hon. Justice J. T. Tsoho – Member

Hon. Justice B. B. Kanyip – Member

Hon. Justice Ishaq Bello – Member

Hon. Justice Kashim Zannah, CON – Member

Hon. Justice O. A. Ojo – Member

Paul Usoro, SAN – Member

Mr. A. B. Mahmoud, OON, SAN – Member

Mr. D. D. Dodo, SAN – Member

The Committee, inter-alia, has the following Terms of Reference:
To come up with Guidelines or template for implementation;

To explore possible areas of collaboration between the Judiciary and the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation, stakeholders in the Justice Administration and Development Partners in Justice Administration Sector; and
Any other measures that the Committee may deem fit in realising these objectives.

The Committee has fourteen (14) days to submit its Report.

Council at the meeting also recommended the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi, Acting President, Customary Court of Appeal, Imo State and Hon.

Justice Aliyu Musa Liman of Bauchi State High Court of Justice with immediate effect.

Hon. Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi, was recommended for compulsory retirement following the falsification of his date of birth from 1950 to 1958.

Findings showed that he was supposed to have retired in November, 2015 when he clocked the mandatory retirement age of Sixty-five (65) years.

Council decided to recommend for his compulsory retirement to Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State and to also deduct the salaries he had earned from November, 2015 to date from his retirement benefit.

Hon. Justice Aliyu Musa Liman was recommended to the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed for compulsory retirement pursuant to the findings by the Council for his failure to deliver judgement in suit No BA/100/2010, between Abubakar Isa and Sheik Tahir Usman Bauchi within the three months period stipulated by the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Council viewed His Lordship’s failure to deliver judgement for nearly four years as a misconduct, contrary to Section 292 (1) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended and Rules 1.3 and 3.7 of the 2016 Revised Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the National Judicial Council, in the exercise of its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, has suspended Hon. Justice Francis Chukwuma Abosi and Hon. Justice Aliyu Musa Liman from office pending the approval of the recommendation of the Council for his compulsory retirement to the their respective State Governors.
Petitions against the following Judicial Officers; Hon. Justice O. A. Musa of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Hon. Justices Muhammed A. Sambo and Sa’ad Ibrahim Zadawa of the High Court of Justice, Bauchi State were dismissed for either lacking in merit or being subjudice.

Council also decided to report Messrs Apeiyi Becon Clement, Ifeanyi Egwasi, Nwafor Orizu, Godwin Nkemjika Chukwukwere, Akopde Haggai Ukuku, Chief Emefo Etudo, Osamudiamen Obarogie and B. S. Onuegbu to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee (LPDC) for various acts unbecoming of a Legal Practitioner ranging from unruly behaviour, walking out of Court in the cause of proceedings to submission of false documents to Court.

Council at the meeting also considered the Report of its Interview Committee and recommended Seventy (70) Judicial Officers for appointment as President, Court of Appeal, Grand Kadis, President, Customary Court of Appeal and Judges of High Court of States and the Federal Capital Territory and Kadis of States Sharia Courts of Appeal.

The Council also formally launched its twitter handle @njcNIG and will launch its other platforms at a later date.

Soji Oye, Esq
Director, Information

CRSG Covid 19 Palliative : DG SEA Meets Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality, Solicits Support.

The DG of the state electrification agency Mr Stanley Nsemo Thursday met with the Paramount Ruler of Calabar Municipality HRM Ndidem Eta Bassey Eteta lll and members of his council to solicit support for the Ayade 8000 job scheme for youths.

This he said was in a bid to bring all stake holders in the local government area on board to drive the process and take advantage of Government's effort at reducing poverty and hunger during this period of the pandemic.

" I am here today unbehalf of his Excellency the Governor of Cross River State to talk about jobs as a means of palliative to our people . Governor Ayade fully understands the interruption the covid 19 pandemic has caused to the income and livelihoods of our people that is why he has set about to provide 8000 jobs for young people between the ages of 18 - 35 and I am here to solicit your support for the people of Calabar Municipality to work together and take advantage of this noble gesture from the people's Governor and empower our people"

Continuing Nsemo Said " This 8000 jobs will be for a flat fee of 30000 every month and His Excellency wants to start in the first instance for about 6 months and after that depending on the situation of the pandemic government will decide weather or not to continue. "

"His Excellency has identified certain areas for applicants to focus on and obviously Cross River being the leading state in agriculture will certainly have agriculture as one of its core areas of specialization. Other areas include, Security, environment, and health. "

The DG urged the monarch and members of his council to take this process as their own has His Excellency had insisted for them to be part of the process from the grass roots.


" His Excellency in his wisdom has insisted that this process should be driven from the ground up, starting from the traditional institution and then amalgamate with the political and social institution in each local government area and that is why we are here. "

"We are trying to make sure that every traditional institution is carried along and to ensure that they take full advantage of this opportunity ." He said.

The DG assured the council that though Calabar Municipality has been given 400 forms he is working hard to get more forms so as to accommodate more people from the local government.

Also speaking, the traditional ruler of Calabar Municipality HRM Ndidem Eta Bassey Eteta lll thanked Governor Ayade for this initiative adding that it is another master stroke from the Governor.

"Let me specially thank our Governor for once again showing his ingenuity in a time like this by putting his people first ahead of anything else. This pandemic has caused so much hunger in the land and by providing this jobs for our young ones, it will go a long way to alleviate the suffering of the poor. " The monarch said.

Continuing the He said " Just last week we were informed of food items the Governor has made available for distribution across the state and now it is time for jobs, i must say that we are blessed to have Ayade as Governor at a time like this. "

He assured the DG of his full cooperation and that of members of his council to ensure that Calabar Municipality takes full advantage of the job scheme.

Dignitaries present at the meeting include, the honourable commissioner for culture and tourism Mr Eric Anderson, the SA biodiversiry, Hon Edet Okon Asim, DG CRISSA Effiom Effiwatt, Various clan heads, village head and youth leaders.

Be there calling him a fool when your full generation cannot achieve what he has. Also residents of Cross River are quite satisfied with him so far. Your uncouth nature just shows that you lack home training.

Cross River State Governor Sir Ben Ayade is one Governor that has distinguished himself during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Obudu born politician who is also a professor has taken stringent measures to safeguard his state from the dreaded virus which has so far resulted in the state having a clean bill of health as far as Covid19 is concerned.

The Governor who recently announced a job carnival to employ 8000 young people as means of palliative during this period has also so far been able to distribute food items for the aged and less privileged of the society.
Ayade who was the first Governor to declare the "No Mask No Movement" policy in the state believes that combining the use of mask and social distancing is the best way to avoid the spread of the virus.
He has also ensured a total lock out from the state personally spending the night at Itu (Border between Akwa Ibom and Cross River) to ensure that rumours of illegal entry into the state were not true.

Ayade who likes to depend on his intellectual prowess as Cross River is riddled with monthly debt deductions certainly deserves an applause for achieving so much with so little.