The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Ayade

  • 2019: Groups drum support for Ayade

    2019: Groups drum support for Ayade

    NO fewer than 80 political groups in Cross River Central Senatorial District have pledged their support for the re-election of Governor Ben Ayade in 2019, the Director-General of Voice of Cross River Central, Mr Victor Bassey, has said.

    Voice of Cross River Central is a  group formed by stalwarts of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to drum support for the re-election of the governor.

    Speaking after his inauguration as the Director-General of the group in Ikom local government area, Bassey said the various groups came together to support the governor, in view of his achievements in office.

    He said: “The Voice of Central is a political group set up to drum support for the re-election bid of governor Ayade in 2019. The group is to serve as canvassers across the local government areas in Cross River Central.

    “We are supporting Ayade not because of his vast experience as a former senator, but because of his commitment and the need to complete the present administration’s ongoing projects.

    “Today, the garment factory has been completed and inaugurated. This project alone has employed more than 2,000 Cross River indigenes, majority of whom are women and widows.

    “The rice mill and power plant projects are nearing completion while work is ongoing in the Calabar-Odukpani dualisation project’’, he said.

    Mr Hilary Bisong, a lawmaker representing Boki II Constituency in the House of Assembly, said that the group has the capacity to deliver votes to PDP candidates during the 2019 polls.

    Bisong said that Ayade was creating a new vision for Cross River, adding that the ‘Voice of Central’ was a call for the PDP family in Cross River Central to work in unity.

    He invited sons and daughters of Cross River Central Senatorial District to join the mega rally of the group on February 2 in support of Ayade 2019 bid.

  • Cross River South endorses Ayade for 2019 

    Cross River South endorses Ayade for 2019 

    In a show of appreciation for the projects sited in their zone,  Elders from Southern Senatorial District of Cross River State have urged Governor Ben Ayade to seek re-election in 2019.

    Rising from a meeting in Calabar, the elders hailed Ayade, describing him as a governor with a vision to transform the state.

    Those at the meeting are ex-Health Minister Dr. Emmanuel Nsan, former NDDC Chairman Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong, Bassey Ndem, an architect, former state Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmen, Chief John Okon and Ntufam Ekpo Okon, Prof. Ndem Ayara and Rev. Grace Ekanem.

    Others include Muri-Munene of Calabar South, Prof. Itam Ogan, Nella Rabbana (SAN) and Prof. Stella Atoe.

    The elders said: “There couldn’t have been another occupier of the Diamond House, Calabar, for now than Governor Ayade.”

    Nsan said: Today, hearing what Ayade has achieved with the limited resources available to us as a state, what he has tried to do to elevate the status of Cross River economically, socially and otherwise, although I’m not a member of PDP, I will vote for him.”

    The former Health minister stressed: “I now appreciate, support and see him as a man of vision, wisdom, an intellectual par excellence, a true professor and son of the soil who likes us and we like him. We cannot hold back that affection, restoration, faith and love for him.”

    Raising a motion for the endorsement, Dr. Emil Inyang said: “Considering the situation of our state and taking cognisance of our finances, knowing that Cross River is the poorest state in Nigeria, with your performance on projects, that today you are not owing salary, whereas the people of Southern Senatorial District were the ones that ensured you became governor in 2015 and are patiently waiting for 2023, we hereby move and let it be moved that you go for a second tenure in 2019, with the support of this house, I so move.”

  • Ayade gets rousing reception at Imoke’s country home

    Ayade gets rousing reception at Imoke’s country home

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade on Monday got a rousing welcome at Itigidi, the country home of ex-Governor Liyel Imoke.

    He was at Itigidi to celebrate the New Year Day with Imoke.

    The visit, which later morphed into a political rally, drew politicians across party lines, former and serving political appointees, legislators, women, traditional rulers and youths from within and outside the state to the venue.

    Youths, elders, women as well as traditional rulers and party faithful drawn from across the state went to Itigidi to share in the felicitation with Governor Ayade and his predecessor, Imoke.

    Chants of “Digital, Digital, Digital,” a sobriquet which the governor has become famous with, enveloped the electric atmosphere for Ayade, as people carried placards bearing inscriptions, such as “Ayade no shaking,” “Carry go, talk and do governor,” “2019, no vacancy in Diamond Hill House,” “Ayade, na u we know,” “Digital governor, no shaking 2019,” “Salary Master”, among others.

    Fielding questions from reporters, the governor said: “Anybody who understands the politics of Cross River and knows the significance of today will know that January 1 is a day set aside to honour Imoke, to show him that we are the same family and that the political family is intact.”

    Continuing, Ayade said: “It shows there are no cracks, no crisis, no skirmishes in the family. We remain one and indivisible entity as we have always been known in the PDP family of Cross River State.”

    Imoke extolled the humility displayed by his successor, saying “for honouring this day, it shows Ayade’s depth of humility, a sign of respect and indication of his commitment to the political family.”

    He added that “this gesture explains his (Ayade’s) understanding and we thank him. 2018 is a great year that we will crystallise the kinetics.”

     

  • Dokpesi woos Ayade

    Dokpesi woos Ayade

    People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirant Dr. Raymond Dokpesi, has appealed to Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade to back his bid.

    Dokpesi  visited the governor yesterday in Calabar and assured him of his resolve to reposition the PDP, if voted as chairman.

    “The purpose of my visit is to intimate you, as the leader of our party in Cross River, about my aspiration to serve as the national chairman of our great party, the PDP.

    “I am here to seek your support and the support of members of the party in Cross River.

    “You need a PDP chairman that shares in your vision and is ready to give necessary support and attract the federal government’s support for Cross River.

    “I want to be at the national PDP office, working closely with you to help actualise your vision of developing Cross River,’’ he said.

    Dokpesi, who described the 2015 general elections as a disaster for the party, said it was gladdening that Cross River remained a PDP State.

    “I congratulate you for this feat. It is time to look at why we fail and prepare ourselves for 2019.

    “We must get our party re-engineered, rebranded, rejuvenated and reconstructed in such a manner that we can get back the presidency.

    “In order to achieve this, we need a chairman of the party who is courageous, visionary and has the will and capacity to win the presidential election in 2019,” he said.

    Ayade lauded Dokpesi for using his media platforms — the AIT and Raypower FM — to promote activities of the Cross River government.

    The governor, who asked God to grant Dokpesi his heart desires, said that the aspirant spoke with indication that he was prepared to transform the PDP.

  • Bode George consistent, dogged, says Ayade

    Bode George consistent, dogged, says Ayade

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has described Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chairmanship aspirant  Chief Olabode George as a dogged icon of purity, purpose, sagacity, finesse and political suavity.

    Ayade said this yesterday when he received George in his office in Calabar.  George was in Calabar to mobilise delegates for the December 9 convention.

    The governor enjoined the Cross River State people to support George’s aspiration. He also invited him to the extraordinary Calabar carnival in December.

    The meeting between George and Ayade was laced with warmth.

    Director-General of the Bode George Campaign Organisation  Alhaji Ibrahim Aliu, praised George for his doggedness and steadfast resolve throughout his partisan service in PDP.

    The aspirant hailed the governor and Cross River people for resisting the political tsunami that swept the PDP out of power in 2015.

    He observed that since the Supreme Court judgment which restored sanity to the party, the PDP must remain on the path of straight, strong revival so as to reclaim the presidential seat.

    George said the National Convention should be like a carnival. He insisted the contest must never be a do-or-die affair.

    However, the PDP’s legitimate urge to regain power in 2019 is the reason Prince Uche Secondus is the front-runner for the office of the National Chairman, his campaign office said yesterday.

    The statement said the PDP is in a hurry to return to power in 2019 and cannot afford learners on the political party’s rudiments at this time.

    “The party after suffering all the distractions from the Sheriff’s unfortunate interventions, is anxious to hit the ground running to cover lost grounds and launch the party to winning ways once again.

    “Secondus’ experience and disarming human relations are the most potent ingredients for him now because of the urgent harmonious environment the party would need immediately after the convention to confront the challenges ahead,” the statement said.

    The statement said as a committed loyal party man, who had held virtually all critical positions in the party at various levels, Secondus stood out well-equipped more than anybody in the race at this time to take the PDP back to power.

  • Ayade: world, Fed Govt paying lip service to Southern Cameroon crisis

    Ayade: world, Fed Govt paying lip service to Southern Cameroon crisis

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has expressed worries about the crisis in Cameroon, which led to the refugees fleeing to Nigeria.

    He told Federal Commissioner of the Refugee Commission Mrs. Sadiya Umar-Farouq and Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS High Commission for Refugees Antonio Canhandula  that he was speaking as a human being and not as a governor.

    He maintained that “in the video clips going round the world today, I think humanity is being debased and I think United Nations must sit up because what you are doing is medicine after death and is lip service”.

    Flaying what he described as reactionary on the part of the Federal Government and the UN, Ayade said: “You cannot watch the dislocation of family structures, kids being separated from their parents, husbands separated from their wives and all you do is to rush with food to their corridors and create squatters and camp for them and you think that is United Nations? You have failed. What is united about that? There is nothing united, if we are indeed a United Nations, the issue on Cameroon should be at the forefront of UN today.”

    Insisting that he was yet to see any serious issue being made out of the crisis on either Cable News Network (CNN) or British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), the governor said: “Any form of relocation of a people, no matter how temporary is a failure of the world to address the issues that border on humanity and I think UN must take this message very clearly that it has gotten too involved in the politics of redistribution of wealth and has forgotten its essence which was peace, unity and love.”

  • Ayade advocates prisons reform

    Ayade advocates prisons reform

    Cross River State Governor  Ben Ayade has advocated an overhaul of the prison system, to position it as a government parastatal that drives reformation and productivity.

    The governor, who spoke yesterday in Calabar when he hosted Controller of Nigeria Prison Service (NPS) Mr. Imaikop Ndaekong, said the country should emulate the prison system in the United States, which he noted drives productivity.

    He added: “There is need for the reformation, rehabilitation and re-integration process. Unfortunately, these processes, which are natural sociological pathway towards reformation, now come with the challenge of funding.

    “In America, prison service is the hottest business. Any remote part of America that they want development to take place, they set up a prison.”

    Ayade, who likened the American system to a hotel business, said: “As you send a prisoner to the prison, government pays his monthly bed rate, his hotel bill, his feeding and for his toiletries. So, there is a fixed amount being paid by the United States government to each prison. Each prisoner has a fee.

    “So, everybody becomes desperate to set up a prison yard because it is on the basis of that prisoner that there is demand for food, demand for toiletries, productivity will go up, consumption will go up and employment will rise. So, wherever there is unemployment in the United States, any village setting that has unemployment, they introduce prison system.”

    He said the system afforded inmates opportunity to learn a trade, hoping that it will be replicated in Nigeria, which, according to him, “is our dream of what the prison should be. It should really be a reformation centre; a place where people go for reformation and get reintegrated.”

    The governor, who described the statistics of prison inmates in the state, as  presented by Mr. Imaikopp, as “scary and worrisome,” said Cross River would review awaiting trial cases, to exercise the power of prerogative of mercy on the innocent.

    Imaikopp, who hailed the government’s support for the service, said there were six formations across the state, which a re operating above capacity.

     

     

     

     

  • Ayade seeks Buhari’s intervention in border crisis

    Cross River State Governor  Ben Ayade has sent a high-powered delegation to Danare 2 to de-escalate tension between the community and neighbouring communities in Republic of Cameroon.

    This followed reports of renewed hostilities between the community in Boki Local Government and their neighbours in Cameroon.

    The delegation, led by the State Security Adviser, Mr Jude Ngaji and Police Commissioner Mr. Hafiz Inuwa, met leaders of the community, including youths.

    Ngaji assured the people that the governor will seek President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention in the matter, as it involves a foreign country.

    Urging them to keep the peace, he said the governor would find a solution to their problems.

    “This is a border community. Governor Ayade will take the matter to President Buhari to ensure something is done as quickly as possible,” Ngaji told the people.

    He said the government would develop the area, to give them a sense of belonging.

    Inuwa said the visit was to reduce tension.

    The police boss, who addressed reporters after the meeting, said: “We have urged them to embrace peace and dialogue. The state and federal governments are doing everything to ensure that not an inch of Nigerian soil is surrendered to any country.”

    He said the command had deployed its men in the community to ensure peace, adding: “As police, we have deployed our men to restore peace.”

    A member of the House of Assembly, Itam Abang, said the governor had shown interest in the matter.

    “This is why you are seeing this high -powered delegation led by the state security adviser, the police commissioner and myself.

    “We are working towards restoration of peace in this area. Our people will not be abandoned. That was why we came to the last village to see things.

    “We want the United Nations to  re-deliniate and conclude what they started in 2013.”

    The village head, Chief Achibal Gabor, said his people wanted security presence at the land border between their community and Cameroon.

    “We want the land border to be protected. We don’t want to see any Cameroonian crossing to our land without checks because they will unleash violence on us. If you know we belong to Nigeria, then do something now.”

    The youth leader, Jabim Kekung, hailed the government for its response, saying the community should be protected.

    “We praise the government for sending this delegation. We have recorded casualties on account of this matter. As we speak, at least 15 lives have been lost. We are living in fear. Now that the government is here, please help us.”

  • Expect made-in-Ogoja rice by December, says Ayade

    Expect made-in-Ogoja rice by December, says Ayade

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has promised that the ultra-modern rice mill under construction in Ogoja Local Government Area will roll out rice by December.

    Ayade spoke shortly on arrival from his overseas at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar, yesterday.

    He said: “Part of my trip itinerary was to inspect the manufacturing process of the rice mill which is the most sophisticated and digitalized facility you can ever find. It is the latest technology in rice processing in the world today.

    ”Payment has already been made and we are awaiting delivery by end of October while installation will commence as soon as the equipment arrives. Hopefully, Cross River State will have it own home grown, milled and ready for consumption rice by December.”

    Ayade, who lauded the foresight of President Muhammadu Buhari for his aggressive agricultural policy, added: “I agree with Mr. President, Muhammadu Buhari that we must think agriculture which is now yielding positive fruits across the country.”

    Ayade went on: “Our major focus is on agriculture, solid minerals and to a lesser extent oil and gas, adding that “In Cross River State we had seen this coming which was why we set up food bank, cotton cultivation with the focus to support our garment factory as a strategy for backward integration. We must find any means to earn money other than oil and gas.

    “I will use this opportunity to call on Cross Riverians to as a matter of urgency, start arranging for their own farms. You must own a farm because if everyone owns a hectare or two, the impact on food supply will be humongous.”

    He said the government intends “to introduce the Israeli farming system where everyone owns a farm and what government will do is to harvest and process those proceeds for the benefit of everyone. We need massive supply of corn and we are making arrangement to introduce modern corn farming techniques that will require all hands to be on deck as farmers to achieve this.

    ”For our cocoa processing  plant which is being handled by a firm in Switzerland, the manufacturing has reached 80 percent completion. I’m talking about all the equipment required for cocoa processing including dryer. We are in addition, setting aside 100 hectares of land dedicated for the cultivation of a new breed of cocoa to support the proposed cocoa processing plant as well as provide us cocoa bags in readiness for export.”

  • Ayade orders payment of gratuities, salaries with Paris Club refund

    The Cross River State Government says the N6 billion and seventy five million naira Paris Club refund recently released to the state by the fFederal government would be used basically for payment of gratuity and salaries of public and civil servants in the state.

    The state’s Head of service, Mr Ekpenyong Henshaw disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Calabar at the weekend.

    According to the Head of Service, “our Governor Prof. Ben Ayade is desirous of paying all outstanding arrears owed civil servants by the previous administrations because he has their interest at heart.

    “He is ready to do anything within his power to ensure their salaries and other lawful entitlements are paid as and when due.” Consequently, Henshaw said “the governor has directed the Commissioner for Finance and Accountant General to immediately commence processes for the payment of gratuity to 2014 retirees as we round up payment to 2013 retirees.”

    On the fate of those who are yet to receive their entitlement particularly workers at the local government service, The Head of Service assured that everyone is being carried along saying that “all duly earned gratuities, salaries and pensions by civil servant would be paid subsequently.”

    He urged workers not to relent in contributing their quota to the development of the state now that the government is more than ever ready to enthrone the needed reform agenda that will promote efficiency to enhance good governance.

    “Governor Ben Ayade places high premium on welfare of civil servants,” he said, adding that “the state government is commited in ensuring that it builds a workforce that can compete favourably with their contemporaries at the world arena.”