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Tag: Ayade

  • Ayade faults Bakassi’s ceding, says it’s unconstitutional

    Ayade faults Bakassi’s ceding, says it’s unconstitutional

    Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has faulted the ceding of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula by the federal government to the Republic of Cameroon as unconstitutional and ungodly.

    Speaking when he received the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, at the Government House, Calabar, Ayade said, “We have a very big challenge. The ceding of Bakassi was the most unconstitutional and most ungodly act. Given the way and manner it was done the state it still hurts.”

    Describing it as a social injustice “that has left us with a scar,” he said “the people of Bakassi are living with an emotional and psychological scar as a result of the loss of their ancestral home. The ceding was done without a plebiscite, without a referendum which the people feel was a moral injustice. It has created a security tension; it has also created a crisis situation which rests on your shoulders to ensure that you put them under control in keeping with the presidential mandate of sanitizing the waterways.

    “I urge you to explore possible social and military actions that need to be taken in order to restore peace in the Akpabuyo, Bakassi and Odukpani axis of the maritime domain.”

    On the issue of the disputed 76 oil wells that were transferred to Akwa Ibom State, Ayade said: “It is a very sad news to report to you that the principle of the doctrine of changing circumstance which is a maritime principle in delineation of maritime boundary was grossly abused in the way and manner that the boundary between Cross River, Cameroun and Akwa Ibom was done. It was done in such a way that the maritime boundary is on a moving structure which is on top of water. Within the International Maritime Law, it is totally unacceptable.

    “So given the way and manner that the map is constructed, it puts us as a landlocked state. Unfortunately, in jurisprudence, there is no way you can claim that the state is landlocked when the inhabitants can go from Creek Town in Odukpani in their boat and end up in the high sea, where the oil activities within the wells that have been excluded from the state have accumulated impact by oil migration to these areas affecting the aquaculture, farming life of our people.”

    Querying the decision further, he said: “How can it (Cross River) not be a littoral state if I could sit in the office of the governor and I can see a large waterfront in front of me?”

    Earlier, the Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok Ette Ibas, said he was on inspection of units and departments under his command following directives from President Muhammadu Buhari that maritime security and sanity be returned within the eastern waterways of the country. He explained that the presence of a new naval ship, NNS Centenary in Calabar and another in Port Harcourt were to take on that responsibility.

    Ibas disclosed that Calabar is the second largest host of the navy after Lagos, noting that it has adequate infrastructure and personnel to deliver on the president’s mandate.

    The Naval Chief said Cross River State government has always supported the Navy since its inception, disclosing that they intend to commission a five-star naval hospital in Calabar.

    The governor had earlier in the day played host to the Brigade Commander, 13 Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Sanni Mohammed and the State Commandant, Nigerian Security Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Clement Adesuyi Dayo, where he restated the need to reinforce security in the state following the influx of miscreants from other states as their activities within the Odukpani, Akpabuyo, Bakassi have negative impact on the peaceful nature of the state.

  • Cross River: Admirers, critics assess Ayade’s first 100 days

    Cross River: Admirers, critics assess Ayade’s first 100 days

    While some observers have expressed optimism following Governor Ben Ayade’s efforts in his first 100 days in office, others say he made promises that would be too difficult to fulfill, reports Nicholas Kalu in Calabar

    When he took over the mantle of leadership in Cross River State, on May 29 this year, Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State made plenty ambitious pledges.

    From day one, he left no one in doubt of the fact that he knew the direction he wanted to go which was the massive industrialisation of the state and to provide jobs. He promised to create a thousand jobs in his first 100 days. Despite the state’s financial situation, he promised he would always ensure salaries are paid on the 25th of every month. He made a pronouncement that his administration would pursue two major signature projects, which are a new deep seaport and 240km superhighway to run from the southern to northern senatorial districts of the state in his first term, among many others.

    Ayade kicked off his administration on a businesslike note. First, he has changed the psyche of civil servants and their attitude to work. On his first day in office as governor, workers who came late were locked out on his orders with a warning of strict consequences for subsequent defaulters.

    In a bid to create employment, he also unveiled plans to establish a garment industry, cocoa processing plant, rice mill and a modular refinery in the state.

    Other investments also to be established by him, he said, included the Banana Farm to create value chain, tank farm city, marine transport service, dairy farm, poultry farm, pharmaceutical company, maize farm, quarries and cement factory.

    Today, a hundred days after, there appears to be a blossoming optimism in the hearts of Cross Riverians. Although much still remains to be done, many feel some moves are already made and some promises already being kept are signs that at the end of Ayade’s administration, there would be plenty to be grateful for. For instance, so far, the promise that salaries would be paid on the 25th of every month had been kept. Also in terms of job creation, the Green Police, which the governor set up to enforce environmental sustainability laws and regulations, implement the Green Carnival and Ball, monitor and control environmental activities, refuse management and noise control and ensure cleanliness of the city centres, among others, had begun its recruitment process for over 6, 000 applicants.

    Similarly, the garment factory located along the Goodluck Jonathan bypass in Calabar, of which construction work has started, seeks to recruit 1000 jobs, the bulk of which would be women, particularly widows. Recruitment of workers for the factory had also begun and feelings of hope have gotten stronger with news of the arrival of the ship conveying equipment for the Calabar Garment Factory at the Lagos Port. A statement by the Special Assistant Media/Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, said the equipment is currently at the Apapa Port, Lagos, undergoing routine checks before arriving the site.

    It was gathered that the governor has secured the commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari to flag off the commencement of the construction of the superhighway later this month. The governor had in the first couple of weeks of his administration, signed a quality control deal for the superhighway in Germany. Already, work has commenced with clearing and the earthwork at the take-off of point of the superhighway along the Calabar-Oban Road, with the governor ordering that the road should be opened up to 21 kilometres before President Buhari visits.

    The governor’s efforts to bring in investors also seem to be paying off as a consortium known as the Broad Spectrum Industrial Services, has raised 500million Euros for the financing of the proposed Calabar Deep Seaport in the state.

    The Managing Director/CEO of the Consortium, Michael Havre, said the move is a demonstration of the commitment of the group to the signature projects of the state government under Ayade.

    Other signature projects, which attracted the interest of the Consortium, include the dual carriage super highway, modular refinery, cement factory and agriculture.

    Ayade has also been working to improve electricity supply in the state, as he said the state has concluded plans to set up a hydro-power plant that will generate about 90 megawatt (Mw) of electricity.

    The governor, who received some investors from China in his office in Calabar, hinted that the Kwa Falls was projected to generate 30Mw, Agbokim Waterfalls, 30Mw while the canalisation and  channelisation from either Ikom, Calabar and Itigidi Rivers will generate 30Mw, bringing the total output to 90Mw.

    On housing, the governor had led a trade delegation to the Republic of Ireland and property developers from that country had arrived the state to concretize a partnership deal to build about 5000 modular homes.

    In view of the fact that the reputation the state has gathered over the years has been mostly due to its peaceful nature, the governor has also worked to ensure the state becomes uncomfortable for criminals. He had sought the death sentence for kidnappers by sending an executive bill to the House of Assembly seeking same, as well as set up a security outfit codenamed “Operation Skolombo” to rid the state of criminals.

    In spite of the strides the governor has taken so far, a fair share of the populace still remain unconvinced that his programmes are achievable in the time frame he has promised. There is the general feeling that not only is the governor trying to handle so many things at the same time, some of the projects he promised, like the superhighway and the seaport are too far-fetched.

    In response to this, last Sunday at a thanksgiving Mass at the St Theresa The Little Flower Parish, in his hometown in Obudu Local Government Area he vowed to shock Nigerians by achieving the goals, which many believe are unattainable.

  • Ayade: I’ve seen poverty, wealth

    Ayade: I’ve seen poverty, wealth

    Do you understand what it means to be born into a family into poverty? Do you appreciate how it feels to walk all the way to a ramshackle primary school bare-foot, wearing a uniform whose definite colour can no longer be identified due to many different pieces of cloths used in patching it? Have you seen a father who was almost overwhelmed by the harsh vicissitudes of life, yet saw beyond the momentary limitations and prophetically named this same son, “Benyaushuye”, meaning the future is unknown, a poor man can become rich?

    The answers to these questions can be gotten from Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade.  His father, the late Peter Akinsheye (1920-1997) and the late mother, Mama Beatrice Ayade (akara seller), lived in Kakum community, located about four kilometers to Obudu town.

    18 years after the passage to eternal rest of Pa Ayade, his son is number one citizen of Cross River State.

    Last weekend, he attracted both the mighty and the low to Obudu for a thanksgiving held at the St. Theresa Catholic Church, Kakum. It was witnessed by a large turn-out of  the crème de la crème in the society, including members of the National Assembly from the state, the Deputy Governor of the state and other appointees and top civil/public servants in the state, the Speaker, Cross River House of Assembly and other members, the immediate past governor and deputy governor of the state and their  wivies, present and some former council chairmen, former ministers, commissioners and other members of the past state executive council members, religious leaders including the Archbishop of Calabar, paramount rulers and other traditional rulers, investors and other personalities.

    Delivering his homily, His Lordship, Most Rev. Joseph Edra Ukpo, Archbishop Emeritus, said God is principled but very kind, and that giving thanks and praises is a quality that pleases the Lord, is a crowning duty and virtue which all wise men must uphold.

    His Lordship stated that this was the first in the history of the people from this part of the state to have a son of the northern senatorial district as governor of the state. He explained that thankfulness does not occur in a vacuum but is anchored on the redemptive works of Jesus Christ, and that our heavenly Father, the Redeemer, and the Holy Ghost appreciates those who are thankful as exemplified in the story of the 10 lepers of which one was thankful while other nine were unappreciative of what Christ did for them.

    Ukpo, who quoted extensively from Emmanuel Ulayi’s write up on Ayade, expressed confidence that the governor would accomplish the tasks he had earmarked for himself. He admonished the governor to remain totally dependent on God’s direction, follow his laid out developmental agenda including the signature projects, remain focus by not allowing sycophants to distract him while at the same time appealed to the people to desist from unprofitable and destructive criticisms, while at the same time  urging him to remain a Christian and a catholic in politics, uphold his spiritual obligation and ensure that he appoints a Special Adviser on Religious Affairs.

    He said: “My advice is that you should remain a Christian and a catholic in politics. If the devil tempts you, remember this day and this advice. Never relinquish your spiritual obligations and also ensure that you appoint a Special Adviser on Religious Affairs. Again, all Catholics in politics must equally remain Christians and Catholics.”

    He equally reminded our leaders at the various levels of governance to appreciate and cultivate the spirit of accountability and service while realizsing the fact that no society grow when its leaders claim monopoly of wisdom, asserting that wisdom must be balance between the leaders and the people. “God fearing leaders are necessary in any society. We need true leader as the idea of serving God is a life long event”.

    His Lordship Most Rev. Joseph Effiong Ekuwem, Archbishop of Calabar, thanked God that a son of Obudu (Ogoja) is governor and that Ayade has shown sufficient desire and commitment towards the total development of Cross River State and to transform this part of the state to be at par with the rest, lamenting that Ogoja has remained undeveloped over the years. The spiritual father called on the people of northern senatorial district and part of the central senatorial district to agitate for and embrace the fight for the creation of Ogoja State and that today Akwa Ibom that was created out of the present Cross River has benefitted immensely from the creation.

    Ayade used the occasion to  announce that the embargo on employment would soon be lifted to provide jobs for the people,  adding that by Easter of 2016, the problem of power outage in the whole of northern senatorial district would become a thing of the past.

    Ayade said he was a living testimony of God’s hand work on his children, stressing that as a child from a poor background, what he is today is a clear indication of God’s love and favour in his life, adding that he had prayed to God not to make him a teacher and it was at that point that he got an invitation from Shell Petroleum.

    Ayade said: “I’m here to serve. I have seen poverty, I have seen wealth. What I seek now is to serve the people and to serve God. Iam going to shock the world for good by the grace, mercies and favours of God”, adding that the decisions and policies direction of every leader should be in such a way that they do not under-mind the interest of the common man, and that as a leader; he appreciates that fact and will keep to it.

    “Those who say God does not live let them ask me. I’m a testimony of God’s love. It is abnormal and impossible, but God alone has made it for me to address you. I went to the primary school besides the Church and you will wonder how a governor can come out of that place. If, you keep faith with God, God will keep faith with you. God decided to honour a poor boy from the Ayade family who had to go to sleep most nights without food, and struggle and went to the University of Ibadan to acquire a university education. I wept to God to help and bless me after graduating from the University of Ibadan. I begged God to give me wealth because I know the family I came from.

    “After bagging a Ph.D, I told God I do not want to become a teacher because we were too poor, and being a teacher I won’t be able to take care of my family. I promised God that if he prospered me, I will dedicate my whole success and wealth to alleviating the plights of the poor and I promise you I will never disappoint you as governor of Cross River State”.

    At the reception held at the governor’s compound at Kakum, Obudu, the immediate past governor of the state, Senator Liyel Imoke, expressed joy that he kept his promise to the people of the northern senatorial district by ensuring that a governor emerged from the area, and lauded Ayade for his passion, commitment and zeal to move Cross River State to another level.

    Also speaking, the senator representing the Central Senatorial District, Senator John Owan Enoh, assured Ayade that members of the National Assembly from Cross River State would always support him.

    Speaking on behalf of the 18 Local Government Councils of Cross River, the Chairman of Ogoja, Hon. Rita Ayim, lauded the governor for his development initiatives and assured him of the loyalty of the heads of the third tiers of government in the state.

     

    • Ulayi and Asha are media aides to the Cross River Governor

     

  • Will Ayade dump PDP?

    Will Ayade dump PDP?

    The politics of Cross River State today is awash with speculations over Governor Ben Ayade’s alleged soon-to-be made decision on whether to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) or to remain in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), reports Nicholas Kalu calabar

    To be or not to be, is the big question in Cross River State today as observers wonder whether the new governor, Prof Ben Ayade, will defect and become a member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) or not. He was elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Speculations about whether he would defect started even before the April 11election that brought him into office. It did not take root, as the pressing issue at the moment was how to get into the Government House successfully.

    With that done and dusted, added to some recent developments, it has once again become an issue. A source within the PDP in the state said the party was displeased about the way the governor was going about his business without “carrying them along.”

    “The governor treats the party as if we are not to be reckoned with. I believe a platform which enabled you achieve what you have today should be given more pride of place in the scheme of things. I think this is unfortunate and I urge he reverses this trend for the benefit of us all. Let him put himself together because 2019 is not far away,” the source said.

    But much to the chagrin of the political class in the state, Ayade in an interaction with newsmen had said his focus would be on improving the lives of civil servants and the poor in the state. “I am not a politician. Even if I do one term and go back with my parents’ name intact, I am Okay,” he had said. The governor was simply driving home, the message that he did not mind whose ox was gored in the discharge of his duties.

    Ayade has also on several occasions said he is willing to be in sync with the government at the centre to ensure he brings the dividends of good governance to the people of the state. Contemplating the ramifications of the various meanings of this position has been a cause of uneasiness for the ruling party in the state.

    Normally, it may seem far-fetched that any other party than the PDP would be in charge of the state, given that over time, it has been stoic about its political inclination, at least since 1999. This is because the PDP’s roots, it is believed, has run so deep, coupled with the state’s seeming lackadaisical attitude towards change in its political environment.

    But then Ayade has proven not to be a conventional man. On his first day in office as governor, workers in the Governor’s Office got a shock of their lives when those that came late were locked out on his orders. He warned that subsequently latecomers would be sanctioned. Ayade had gone on to make some sweeping changes among which included the changing of the tax regime and disbanding the anti-forestation task force put in place by his predecessor, Liyel Imoke, to check illegal logging of forest reserves in the state, showing he has a mind of his own.

    Some observers believe Ayade’s switch to the APC may be the smart thing to do. “Given his ambitious signature projects such as the new seaport, the 240km superhighway among others, it would only be sensible that the governor plays good politics to achieve these things. I would not goad him, but he should know that he should be a politician if he is to be a politician. He should know that politics is not rigid and you have to move with the tide to achieve mutual goals. Besides, Cross River State has never been used to being an opposition state. A word should be enough for the wise,” one of them said.

    However, any such move may pitch the governor against his predecessor, Liyel Imoke, who it is believed has planted his people strategically in government to check the present governor. For instance, it is believed to have his people controlling the House of Assembly.

    “The way it is and with the way the governor has gone about his administration, doing most things without following due process, impeaching him would not be a problem if the matter came to that. With Imoke’s people in the Assembly, this would be a delicate matter for Ayade. The mistake he made is allowing himself to be surrounded by Liyel’s boys,” a political analyst noted.

    Already, heavyweights of the PDP and Labour Party (LP) in the state are by all indications on their way into the APC.

    Top among those expected to defect are the former leader of the Senate Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN); former minister of health and works, Dr. Emmanuel Nsan, who served during the military regime of President Muhammadu Buhari; former governorship aspirant of the PDP, Mr. Goddie Jedy Agba; activist and anti-corruption crusader, Chief Utum Eteng; and a former senatorial aspirant of the PDP among others.

    Against the background of these variables, the question still remains. Will Ayade defect? The answer obviously lies within time!

  • Ayade hails Buhari on response to ecological problems

    Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade yesterday commended President Muhammadu Buhari for swinging into action immediately after receiving a letter of plea for help following the menace of erosion that is devastating most parts of the state.

    Ayade, who personally handed over the letter to the President in Abuja, said he was impressed that barely two weeks after, the President had sent a team to the state to evaluate the challenge.

    The governor spoke during the presentation of the preliminary report by a team of experts led by the Deputy Director, Ecological Fund Office at the Presidency, Engr Funsho Adebiyi after five days of assessment tour of ecological sites, especially erosion ravaged areas in the state.

    “This response shows that he is not only a true democrat but an action President,” the governor stated, adding: “This clearly shows that irrespective of party lines, the President has demonstrated that he is today the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by sending this team few days after my discussion with him.”

    The governor charged the team to go beyond writing the report by actually implementing the recommendations, or the whole state will become a disaster area.

    He thanked the team for painstakingly undertaking a comprehensive tour of all ecological related issues ranging from coastal areas, landslides, under water current, dams, gullies and erosion sites across the state.

    According to Ayade who enumerated some of the ecological effects on the citizenry explained that: “This is having an organic incursion into the anthology, sociology and orientation of our people and if this is not handled properly, we are going to have a very big environmental cataclysm in our hands.

    “The ecological problem is beyond the financial capacity of the state as pupils have been disrupted from schools and they are really devastating and if they are not handled urgently, the village system will be wiped out, life span shortened, and there will be no hope for tomorrow. This calls for prompt action from the Federal government.

     

    “Erosion is a direct consequence of climate change which is now a global phenomenon and whoever that sits on ecological fund will know that the situation is critical and requires urgent intervention to address them permanently. It is my hope that as you return to Abuja you will present real situation as you saw them.

    These are things that have gone beyond the economy and capacity of the state government. Our internally generated revenue is so insignificant that we cannot even pay our salaries. With this kind of problem, if we don’t cry to the President then we are in a big trouble.”

    Earlier, Engr Adebiyi disclosed that the team had visited over 15 critical areas across the state, adding that all the places inspected needed urgent attention.

  • Ayade abolishes taxes for low income earners

    Ayade abolishes taxes for low income earners

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade yesterday announced that low-income earners will no longer pay taxes.

    Ayade told reporters in Calabar, the state capital, that a bill to this effect was before the House of Assembly.

    The governor said the poor could not continue to suffer while the rich keep amassing wealth without giving back, describing the bill as people-oriented.

    Those affected by the tax exemption policy include civil servants on minimum wage, petty traders, commercial motorcyclists and recharge card vendors, among others.

    Governor Ayade said: “Let our desperation for taxation not allow us to heap the burden on the poor. This must stop. Definitely, God has a purpose of bringing me here as a governor and I must not disappoint my creator.”

    Continuing, he said: “I expect commercial motorcyclists to live within the confines of the law when the bill becomes operational as they will be expected to drive and earn a good living.”

    He said plans have reached advanced stage to explore the state’s waterfront to generate revenue to boost and cushion the effect of the new tax regime.

    On the eight-month strike by Judiciary workers, Ayade said the issue had been looked into as their salaries and other entitlements would be settled by end of August.

    He urged them to reciprocate the government’s gesture by returning to work as soon as possible.

    On the proposed signature projects, the governor said construction had commenced, adding that President Muhammed Buhari would perform the groundbreaking ceremony for the dual carriage superhighway in September.

    Ayade hailed Buhari for displaying maturity in leadership by keeping to his promise of being a President for all.

     

     

  • Ayade sanctions absentee Perm Secs, directors

    Ayade sanctions absentee Perm Secs, directors

    Cross River State governor Ben Ayade yesterday ordered disciplinary action against permanent secretaries and directors who were absent at their desks when he undertook unscheduled visits to some ministries.

    The governor, who was accompanied by his deputy, Prof Ivara  Esu, Secretary to the State Government , Mrs. Tina Agbor, and Acting Head of Service, Mr. Ekpenyong  Henshaw, arrived the Ministry of Agriculture headquarters at 12.40pm.

    He was shocked to discover that most senior officers were not in their offices.

    Upset at the development,  he directed that disciplinary actions be taken against the erring staff.

    Expressing disappointment with what he described as an intolerable behavior of the senior civil servants, Governor Ayade said the state was at a critical stage where all hands were needed to be on deck to actualize the economic agenda of his administration.

    He said if government could honour its obligation to pay civil servants salaries as and when due, they were duty bound to reciprocate its gesture by coming to work early, reminding that they  were always the first to cry foul when their salaries were not paid on time.

    “I am not happy with what I am seeing because it is against civil service orientation and I will not accept it because they are expected to be in office between 8am and 4pm,” he stated.

    Ayade noted that as directors, they were expected to be exemplary as they were those to take over from Permanent Secretaries that were retired recently, adding that from what he saw, it seemed they were not prepared for the task ahead.

    At the Ministry of Health, the governor berated the Director of Administration following his discovery that there was no documentation of movement of staff as indicated in the time book and movement register. He directed the Director of Administration to ensure that the proper things were done.

    The governor who was angry with what he saw at the Civil Service Commission, said: “This place is worse than others and they should be taught a lesson and the Permanent Secretary replaced for failure to show good leadership.”

     

  • Gov Ayade attracts tractor manufacturing plant to C/River

    Gov Ayade attracts tractor manufacturing plant to C/River

    • Plans to build 5000 homes for poor, unemployed

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade’s trade mission to the Republic of Ireland has already begun to yield fruits, with a tractor manufacturing company expressing the willingness to set up plant in the state.

    Ayade, who spent the first day of his visit between Dublin and Monaghan listening to presentations from various Irish investors and businesses, was particularly excited by the presentation from the Affordable Building Concepts Limited chairman, Redmond Cullinane.

    Cullinane informed the governor and his entourage, including Nigeria’s Ambassador to Ireland and Iceland‎, H.E Bolere Ketebu, that his firm can build a home in just one day and half.

    The system used in constructing the homes, which he calls off site, is expected to “increase ten-fold in 2020, with this type of system making up over 50 percent of the current construction.”

    He said the system is the quickest way of fulfilling modern housing needs at a more competitive cost ‎which still ensures good and modern building standards.

    The governor revealed that his administration would adopt the system to build 5000 homes for the poor and unemployed.

    Catering for this class of people, according to him, was the most compelling reason why he is in public office, adding that the focal point of his administration in on how to lift as many Cross Riverians as possible out of poverty.

    He later inspected prototypes of the homes at the company’s warehouse in Monaghan.

    The governor, however, demanded that given the number of homes his government is willing to build, the firm should consider sitting its manufacturing plant in the state.

    The governor also announced that the state was willing and ready to partner with an Irish Dairy to establish an Ice cream making factory in the state.

    He disclosed that his administration has already agreed in principle with Cavenco of Spain to establish a Dairy Farm, which he believes will revitalize the moribund cattle farm at the Obudu Ranch Resort.

    At the Nigerian Embassy in Dublin where he listened to a presentation by the Atlantic Flight Training Academy, the governor declared that the state would send some of its young graduates to the institute for Aviation training with the long term prospect of building an airport in between Ogoja and Yala.

  • APC urges Ayade to concentrate on agriculture

    The Southsouth National Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mr Hillard Eta, has urged Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade to concentrate on agriculture.

    He said the state has a comparative advantage in the sector than signature projects that may not work for the residents.

    Ayade had promised to build a 240-kilometre superhighway, a deep seaport and a garment factory during his first term.

    But speaking with our reporter in Calabar, the state capital, Eta said: “Ayade should recognise the potentials of the state so that we start to develop in the areas where we have comparative advantages.

    “If you ask me, Cross River State ought to be developing along the agrarian route. It is possible for Cross River State to supply all the palm products’ needs of Nigeria. It is possible for the state to produce all the rice needed in Nigeria; same for cocoa. So, if we have just three products that Cross River State can feed Nigeria with, we would be richer and able to prosecute the infrastructural needs of the state.

     

  • Ayade slams UN, FG for ceding Bakassi

    Ayade slams UN, FG for ceding Bakassi

    • No amount of dollars can assuage us, says Gov

    Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade on Friday chided the United Nations and the Federal Government for ceding the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular to the Republic of Cameroon without seeking the consent of the people through a plebiscite.

    Ayade, who stated this while receiving the Country Representative of United Nations High Commission for Refugees, Mrs. Angele Dikongue Atangana, in his office in Calabar, said the people of the state were still angry over the ceding of the peninsular.

    He said the ceding of the peninsular was done without a plebiscite, thus unjustly depriving the people of their ancestral home and turning them into refugees in their own land.

    The governor, who struggled with his emotions, said: “Your Commission is undertaking a worthy and noble cause. I thank you for your humanitarian assistance and expression of emotion, but the people are angry in the way and manner they have been treated. They have been deprived of their heritage and livelihood.”

    Speaking further, the governor said: “The people of Bakassi were not given the opportunity to choose where they would want to belong and I am telling the UN that this is an unsettled issue and no amount of dollars can settle the issue.

    “ The people have now been split between Cross River and Akwa Ibom states, as well as Nigeria and Cameroon. As the agony of the people continues, their plight cannot be wiped away by dollars.

    “Take it that the people feel very disturbed and unhappy, and if this had happened in any other part of the world, there would have been war today. This is totally unacceptable and is not done in the modern society. Today, Cross River is traversed by internally displaced persons, who are refugees in their own state.”

    Continuing, the governor said. “the displaced people of Bakassi are suffering and if United Nations had anything in mind, it should have started from there and if anything needed to be treated as an emergency, it is the Bakassi, because the people live in such sub-human condition. The state will work hard to strengthen things and we will partner the commission to achieve its aims.”

    Earlier, Angele Dikongue Atangana, commended the state for accommodating refugees from Cameroon, and said the commission was touched by the plight of the displaced persons of Bakassi, adding that while everything is being done to ensure the resettling of the Cameroonians in their country of origin, the commission would collaborate with the state to make life comfortable for the people of Bakassi who are internally displaced in the state.

    Atangana explained that the commission spent about $200,000 in the first half of 2013, adding that it has worked out modalities to introduce vocational training for the people with the assistance of development partners as a means of giving them a sense of livelihood, saying that they should not be seen as stateless people but be recognized as citizens or nationals of Nigeria who are rightly settled in their motherland.