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Tag: Ayade

  • Ayade presents ‘spiritual’ N1.04 trillion budget estimate

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade on Wednesday presented the 2019 budget estimate of N1, 043, 967, 000, 000 christened “Quabalistic Densification.

    Presenting the budget to the House of Assembly in Calabar, Ayade said it was a budget of deep vision to deliver a prosperity agenda under the catalysis of minimal money, intellect and the third force, which is spiritual under God the father.

    According to him, it is densification of all spiritual force to drive a combo of intellectual and monetary forces for actuation of the migration of Cross River State from Third World to First World.

    He said the budget would drive the industrialisation agenda of his administration.

    According to him, the budget was designed to enhance the realisation of at least one industrial project in each local government area of the state with a view to create wealth and move the people from poverty line.

    “The 2019 budget of N1.043 trillion is meant to shift Cross River from third world to first world.

    Read Also: My performance, my strength for re-election – Ayade

    “The budget will also deal with the issue of active industrialization in each local government area in the state.

    ”It is a budget of deep vision meant to deliver a prosperity agenda under the catalysis of minimal money and intellect.

    “The 2019 budget will witness the actualization of products from the industries established with the 2018 budget.

    “The budget has been designed with special focus on infrastructure and we have allocated 30 per cent of the budget for that,’’ he said.

    The governor said the performance of the 2018 budget of N1.3trillion was 74 per cent.

    He said the 2019 budget would be driven to create more jobs for the youths.

    He urged the House to give the budget speedy consideration and passage.

  • 42 parties back Ayade

    Fourtytwo political parties have pledged to deploy their structures and support base in support of the re-election bid of the incumbent Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade in the March 2 election.

    They also announced plans to adopt the governor as their candidate on January 26.

    Led by the state chairman of Conference of Nigeria Political parties( CNPP), Mr. Michael Sunday and his  Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC)  counterpart  Mr. Paddy Ally, the parties said the governor deserves their support on the strength of what he has achieve in office.

    Sunday, who is also the gubernatorial candidate of Independent Democrats (ID), commended Ayade on his industrialization drive as well as prompt payment of salaries to civil/public servants.

    His words: “Your Excellency, before you are chairmen of 42 political parties in Cross River State. When the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)opened the window for political activities to begin, many people including you, resolved to buy forms to contest for the governorship seat of the state.

    But as time went on, We called ourselves together and said the incumbent Governor has not done badly. We began to take stock, We looked at the by-pass, a place that was kind of swampy, today that place has become an industrial hub; and this was done in three years.”

    Justifying their decision further, he maintained that, “Often times when we hear people say you have not done this nor that, they forget to also mention what you have done. I tell people that if somebody comes into power and has built road, the next person should focus on doing something else, and that is what Ayade has done by industrialising the state and that is why we have decided that we are going to drop our ambitions and support you.”

    Continuing he said by adopting the governor the parties were “adopting industrialization, prompt payment of salaries, economic growth and a good man with a good heart.”

    Speaking in a similar vein, assured the governor that “forty thousand members of our group would gather on the 26th of January to support you.

    “We have come enmass to adopt you as the governor of this state, and we are going to demonstrate the same on the 26 as I said earlier.”

    Responding, Governor Ayade expressed appreciation to the parties for finding him worthy of their support and assured them that he would not disappoint them and the people of the state; adding that his love for the state overrides every other consideration.

     

  • Ayade mourns victims of fuel tanker explosion

    Governor  Ben Ayade of Cross River State yesterday decried the death of some persons in Friday’s  fuel tanker explosion at New Netim junction in Odukpani local government area of the state. Ayade conveyed his condolence in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, in Calabar. He said his heart “goes out to all the victims of the fuel tanker explosion. This is the most horrendous way to die.

    “I am too shocked and traumatized to express the depth of my grief for the victims of the explosion. As a government, we must try and reach out to the victims’ families who are affected by these avoidable deaths.  Whatever circumstances that led to this unfortunate incident must be thoroughly investigated. This is one tragedy too many. We must do something to ensure this does not happen again,” he said.

    Ayade pleaded with residents not to subject themselves to such avoidable deaths, adding that the state Ministry of Information and Orientation would begin sensitisation campaign on the matter. He said that the campaign should educate the citizens on the dangers of scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum products. Chidiebere Nkwonta, Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Corps in the state, confirmed the incident.

    Nkwonta in a telephone interview, said that the tanker fell off the road side at around 2pm on Friday. “We suspected the incident to have happened out of speed violation on the side of the driver. He was slightly injured when my men visited the scene. We did our best to ensure safety around the scene by ensuring free flow of movement around the area. Unfortunately, at night, some people went there and started scooping fuel and there was an explosion that resulted to mass casualty. I want to use this medium to advise people to stop scooping fuel from fallen tankers laden with petroleum product, it’s not safe,” he said.

     

  • ‘Ayade can’t stand opposition’

    CROSS River State governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Senator John Owan-Enoh has accused Governor Ben Ayade of lying about the government’s policies and programmes.

    At a news conference in Calabar, Owan-Enoh said the government could not withstand opposition and was doing everything to stifle it.

    He said: “This is an administration that lies about everything. It is not the kind of thing that we are looking forward to. The government needs to be changed. This administration doesn’t know Cross River; it is not interested in Cross River and its future, and we need to change it.

    “This administration cannot stand competition because of how woefully it has performed. It tries to pose as a friend of President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja but back home, it is fighting opposition and doing things that are unspeakable.

    “People ask me where my billboards are; my billboards are not here in Calabar, particularly because this administration cannot stand seeing them; the government pulled them down.

    “Officials of the campaign organisation are getting intimidating calls every day. We are in a civil society and it is important this administration understands so. It needs to know that the election will be competitive; it will be keenly contested. We have candidates for every state constituency, federal constituency, and the senatorial district and the governorship candidate.

    “I appeal to every Cross Riverian, those at home and in the diaspora that the 2019 governorship election will be a very consequential election. Let everyone get involved. Better days are possible again. None of the two previously civilian administration won on the altar of ethnicity; they won on the basis of their credentials and what they were expected to do and they delivered in Cross River.

    “Cross River is in an unusual situation and requires an unusual response. Two thousand and nineteen is not about the north, central or south districts of the state; it is about Cross River and about who has the blueprint to deliver, who can be trusted, who can take us to the next level, and who can change the narrative of the state.

    “We are in an era where government needs to create the enabling environment for industrialists, for the private sector to invest. The government has no business going about building industries; that is the best way to go about stealing state resources.

    “The government has no business building industries in 2019; any government that does so wants to encourage corruption. It wants to put hands in the public till; that is what it is.

    “The greatest achievement of this administration which it talks about every day is the garment factory, but I challenge it to come clean on the true ownership of the factory, how much was spent to build it, and three and a half years later, how much the factory has generated for the state.

    “This administration spends time on window dressing; it cannot get anything right. I would run an administration that would be sincere. I believe in what I am doing. When Liyel Imoke handed over to Ayade in 2015, Cross River was the 11th largest economy in Nigeria. The latest statistics show that we are at 36. We are at rock bottom as a state. How bad can it get before people take action to change the course of their lives? The 2019 election is about the future of Cross River.”

    Owan-Enoh called on aggrieved party members to work together to oust the government in the state.

     

  • Ayade enjoins youths to embrace farming

    CROSS River State Governor Ben Ayade has admonished youths in the Northern Senatorial Zone to participate in agriculture as an avenue to create wealth.

    The governor spoke at the Rice Mill Complex in Ogoja at the weekend during the agricultural festival, tagged: ‘NorthFest”, a New Yam celebration.

    He said he would uptake all produce from their farms at a cost above the market price, if youths could take to farming.

    He said: “As young men, if you want to make money from me, bring your produce here and Ayade will buy all. The significance of this NorthFest is not only to encourage our people to seek integration among us, but above all to focus on agro-industry.

    “This second edition of the northern festival represents a journey towards actualising a paradigm that will guarantee the classical demonstration of the peace and unity of the people of the north.

    “I will focus on the dual carriage way from Mfom down to Obudu ranch, as this will bring us together, increase our inter-marriages, make us grow closer and become one family, and above all reduce the travel time between Obudu and Yala from 56 minutes to 17 minutes.”

    The governor, who inspected the yam barns, arts and crafts, as well as the mini market, promised that there would be improvements to make coming editions bigger and better.

    He added: “This is our culture and we must sustain it for the festival to be the biggest in Africa. Coming editions will be inclusive, and carnival-like as there will be a band for every local government area to participate. Everyone who comes here next year will have something to eat, there will be food for every council, this gate will be open as we make this event a strong competition to every sociocultural programme in the state, country and Africa at large.”

    The Paramount Ruler of Ogoja, Buturu Godwin Denis Udu, described Ayade as an accomplished intellectual and scientist cum entrepreneur, who remains a blessing to his people.

  • Commercial drivers back Ayade for 2019

    Commercial drivers in Cross River State State endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for a second term at the weekend.

    At a rally in Calabar, the state capital, the drivers, under the aegis of Unified Commercial Drivers Association of Cross River State, said they took the decision after assessing the candidates.

    Chairman of the association Pastor Thomas Effiom Okon said:  ”Our digital governor has achieved so much in three and a half years and therefore deserves a re-election. We as a body have come to a conclusion after due consultation that your programmes are laudable and deserve a pat on the back. Your second term is therefore, non- negotiable. We know you feel our pains;that is why we want to say thank you today for being there for us.”

    Ayade reiterated his determination to ensure that no one in the state lacked sustainable economic empowerment.

    “This is the reason for my government’s aggressive industrialisation drive. I am building the industries to create jobs, to empower the people. I used to drive taxi. I am one of you. This is where I started. I know your importance.

    “If   I was a full time politician, we will be owing salaries. I know my circumstances, I know my history.”

    The governor, who was made the grand patron of the association, announced that 120,000 new cars would be given  to the drivers to replace the rickety cabs, which “do not befit the status of Calabar as the tourism capital of Nigeria”.

    He announced the allocation of land to the association.

  • Pensioners endorse Ayade for second term

    NIGERIA Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Cross River State has endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for a second term.

    Chairman Ntamu Adie spoke during the 2018 edition of NUP Day in Calabar.

    According to Adie, the governor had performed well, especially in industrialisation, and pledged that members will vote for him.

    Read also: Why my focus is on industrialisation, by Ayade

    He said: “We thank our industrialising governor  Ben Ayade and his team who are working to change the Cross River State landscape. The NUP and pensioners endorse you for a second term in office.

    “Our men and women will vote you back into office as governor. Our word is our bond.”

     

  • Why my focus is on industrialisation, by Ayade

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has said his administration’ is focused on industrialisation because of his desire to create jobs and wealth for the people, especially youths.

    Ayade, who spoke yesterday while taking delivery of new equipment at the  industrial city, said: “Cross River State is poised to lead Nigeria’s industrial revolution initiative with particular focus on agro-based industries.

    “We have just taken delivery of four container load of equipment for our frozen chicken processing factory, Cala-Chicka. We are expecting 40 more containers for the poultry value chain.

    “By implication, we also have the equipment for the automated chicken slaughter house, and processing and packaging of frozen chicken. We also have three different equipment for three direction factories located in three different local government areas, all intended to drive the frozen chicken export business.

    “This again is a kinetic crystallisation of some of those industrialisation projects that we have talked about, and I believe that Cross Riverians are beginning to recognise and realise that indeed, we have taken the right decision to industrialise the state to create jobs and wealth among our people.

    “We are taking advantage of protein deficiency in Africa and to venture into frozen chicken. In the fullness of time, the world will see that Cross River State is in the right direction and our dream is manifesting and they will begin to appreciate our effort as our wealth creation and economy diversification drive is beginning to yield positive results.

    “As you can see, most of our projects are agro-based. For instance, as we process frozen chicken, we have to feed them. How do we feed them? We need soya beans; we really need also yellow maize. So, who will supply me the yellow maize? So, definitely we now need to engage major industrial farmers for soya beans farming and yellow maize cultivation. How do they get funding? That is why we set up Cross River Micro-finance Bank.

    “So, if you don’t know the story, you think that Ayade is carrying too much, but they are all intended to just fit together and create an organic hole. It’s gradually crystallising and that was why I christened our budget: “Kinetic Crystallisation.” I can tell you that crystallisation in rapid succession, all the things will start falling in place and people can begin to see for themselves.”

     

  • Owan-Enoh: Ayade has nothing to campaign for

    The governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Senator John Owan-Enoh, has said Governor Ben Ayade’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)- led administration has nothing to campaign about.

    Reacting to Ayade’s earlier boast that he did not need to campaign because there was no opposition, Owan-Enoh, who spoke at the launch and dedication of his campaign secretariat in Calabar yesterday, said the state government has nothing to show for its time in office since 2015.

    He said he was on a mission to rescue Cross River State and ensure better days return.

    Owan-Enoh, who is the Senator representing the Southern Senatorial District, said the APC is the only party that can deliver Cross River.

    He expressed confidence that Cross River would become an APC state next year.

    National Vice Chairman, South-South of the party, Ntufam Hilliard Eta, said the party has only one governorship candidate in the state, which is Owan-Enoh.

    He said henceforth anyone impersonating any APC candidate in the state would be dealt with accordingly.

  • 500,000 uniforms for pupils in Cross River

    •Public, private schools benefit

    •Ayade plans to set up shoe factory

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has donated over 500,000 uniforms to public and private schools under the Ayade School Uniform Programme.

    The governor has said the government will set up a shoe manufacturing factory.

    He made the presentation shortly after opening the 56th Annual Meeting of the Nigeria National Committee of West Africa Examinations Council (WAEC) at the Transcorp Hotel, Calabar, yesterday.

    According to Ayade, the gesture was in fulfilment of his promise to the pupils two years ago.

    His words: “Let me announce to you that this is a product of the Cross River State garment factory. Five hundred thousand uniforms donated for free to pupils in Cross River public schools and I have directed that private schools should be given 10 per cent of these uniforms.”

    The governor, who said he was focusing on primary schools pupils, hinted: “We are focusing on the young pupils and that is why I thought it wise to do this presentation today. We intend to dress them properly and let me inform you that our shoe factory is coming up soon where we intend to produce school sandals and present same free to them to build their confidence and make them see themselves as equal to those in the private schools.”

    While urging WAEC to proffer solutions to the fallen standard of education, Ayade reasoned: “Society has moved so fast and education cannot catch up at the speed because of wrong educational structure and so, WAEC has to restructure its syllabus, especially in line with current realities.”

    The governor enjoined the body to realise that there was need  for a paradigm shift from the conventional question setting for knowledge testing to practical implementation of knowledge.

    Read also: Cross River indigenes relish financial freedom

    “…I challenge this committee to restructure our curriculum to reflect the quality of our youths because if we must get it right, it must start at that level,” the governor said.

    Chairman of WAEC’s Nigeria National Council Dr. Lami Amodu praised Ayade for the development that placed Cross River as one of the fastest industrialising states.

    Thanking the government for supporting the body over the years, Amodu said with its investments in the sector, as well as the governor’s interest in education, Cross River would soon be on top of the global map.

    Her words: “…let me state that your warmth and passion to education is infectious. I wish to thank you for the approval you gave for the donation of two pick up vans to WAEC office, Calabar, to assist the council in serving the state better.”