The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Cross River State

  • “Ward congresses in Cross River remain suspended”

    Vice Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Central Senatorial District of Cross River State, Mr Cletus Obun,on Monday said the indefinite suspension ward congresses in the state remains in force.

    The congresses, which were to hold last Saturday in the state, were suspended indefinitely following confusions that arose about the alleged bias of the Congress Committee chairman, Dr Stan Ekezie. The congress materials had been put in custody of the Commissioner of Police.

    Speaking with reporters in Calabar on Monday, Obun said, “It is a demand from Cross River State that came as a resolution of all stakeholders in the state and was it unanimous that a vote of no confidence be passed on him (Ekezie) and the committee and the on the national leadership of the party and that no congresses should hold in Cross River State until the national convention is held.

    “Cross River would only lose the appearance of new executive in the wards, in the local governments and state. The constitution provides for that lacuna. We believe that a new leadership at the national level would help the party in the state to reap the 2019 elections. Rather than see this as a negation that would thwart the success of the party, it is indeed a cleaning surgery that is required. We are not going to take Panadol for hernia. It kills the pain but temporarily. We want a permanent solution and that is a surgical operation of Cross River APC and that is to wipe the leadership fro, top to bottom.

    “I am going to be a beneficiary if I remain in office as a Vice Chairman, but it would do this party no good, if we have to keep a perfidious leadership that is antithetical to the aims and objectives of the party and the intent and purpose for which the party was formed and the prospects and potential that this party holds for 2019. Therefore in summary, this party has resolved in Cross River State that the suspension of the conduct of the congresses in Cross River State remains in force.

    “In attendance in the meeting that came up with the resolution were the former governor of Cross River State, Clement Ebri, former members of the National Assembly, sitting Senator, sitting executive members of the state executive committee which passed a vote of no confidence him. That is the state congress and that is the highest decision making body at a moment like this. There is no congress of APC Cross River State and the suspension is in force. And anybody who wishes Cross River APC well should not do anything that breaches the peace.

    Read Also: APC’ll win Cross River in 2019, says Eta

    “The materials are in the custody of the Commissioner of Police. If the National Organizing Secretary, Osita Izunaso, has released photocopies of the materials or other materials for conduct of fresh congresses to suit his script in the state, let the world bear us witness that the materials sent to the state under Dr Ekezie Stanley are in the custody of the Cross River State Police Command signed by all stakeholders under the suspension of the congresses. This has been well documented. So anything coming as results from Cross River State APC congresses is nothing but a farce and the imagination and desperation of those who don’t wish APC Cross River well,” Obun said.

    Also speaking, the Vice Chairman of APC, Dr Eneji Chris-Valentine, concurred that the suspension remained in force.

    “There were no congresses because they were suspended. The conduct of Dr Ekezie showed that he was not going to give us free and fair election. For that reason, we told him that we lost confidence in him and can no longer hold the elections. The vote of no confidence passed on him was also passed on those who sent him, the national chairman and national organizing secretary.

    “We in the APC are saying we should all go to the field. If we fail let us fail honourably, if we win let us win honourably. Let us know the strength of APC. If we do a correct free and fair election it would have shown that APC is on ground or not on ground.

    “We would wait until when a new national chairman emerges that is going to give us free and fair congresses, then and only then shall we be ready for the congress. It is better to build your house slowly, steadily and on a sound footing than to build it shabbily and at the end of the day, the house crumbles. It is not a minus. It is an indication that the APC in the state is willing and ready for the right thing to be done,” he said.

    Cross River Police Commissioner, Hafiz Inuwa, said the materials were still in his custody.

    “Who released the materials to them to conduct the congresses? Even after 12 mid night, up to the time I am talking to you, the area commander has not told me that he has released the materials to anybody. He cannot release the materialswithout my instruction.

    “The stakeholders agreed amongst themselves after their disagreement and they said they will not entrust the congress materials to any of them hence they came to the Police and handed over the materials to the area commander in his office.

    “We prevented bloodbath on Saturday and if not for the quick intervention of the Police, what we would have heard today would have been devastating. We thank God for the police quick intervention.We are not politicians, so we are not into their games, ours is to maintain law and order,” Inuwa said.

    Resident Electoral Commissioner of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Dr  Frankland Briyai said, “This morning I saw one of my electoral officers and they have not given me any report. I can only make a statement when I receive all the reports. I am waiting for the report, I wasn’t with them in the local government areas, it is only in the report that I can say, there was congress or not but for now let me wait until the report are submitted, when I receive the report, I will call the press and address them.”

  • Former finance minister lauds FG’s agricultural diversification programme

    A former Minister of Finance, Etubom Anthony Ani, has lauded the Federal Government’s agricultural diversification programme.

    Chief Ani, who is the Clan Head of Mbiabo Ikoneto in Odukpani local government area of Cross River State said the present economic realities in the country has opened the eyes of most Nigerians to see agriculture as the way forward in the country’s determination for self sufficiency.

    The Finance expert who said this when he received the management of the Cross River Basin Development Authority, said his community was ready to take advantage of the programme by partnering with the authority in the development of the land.

    While commending the Authority for choosing Mbiabo Ikoneto Community, Etubom Ani called for the inclusion of women and youths in the proposed scheme which he said would arrest poverty and unemployment in the area.

    The former Minister said the Community would not only support the Authority but would ensure that a conducive working environment is created for the smooth operation of the scheme.

    The Managing Director of Cross River Basin Development Authority, Engr. Bassey Nkposong, said the Federal Government was ready to change the mind set of the future generation towards a concious aprreciation of agriculture as a way out of the nation’s economic trouble.

    When fully established, Engr. Nkposong said  the project would engage women, youths and unemployed graduates from the community.

    He said the Authority was not buying land from the Community but partnering with them with a view to adding value and improving on the productivity of the farms.

     

  • Navy seizes 130,000 litres of illegally refined diesel, arrests seven

    Men of the Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Victory in Calabar, Cross River State, have seized a large wooden boat with about 130 litres of suspected illegally refined Automative Gas Oil (AGO) commonly known as diesel.

    Also arrested along with the items were seven suspects.

    Addressing reporters while handing over the items and suspects to the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Commander of NNS Victory, Commodore Julius Nwagu, said they were intercepted along the Calabar channel.

    He said the boat contained 520 drums (250 litres each) of suspected illegally refined diesel.

    The Navy commander put the worth of the product at about N24 million.

    “My men on patrol intercepted a wooden boat laden with 520 drums of suspected illegally refined AGO and when I was informed, I asked them to arrest the boat and bring the boat to my base. That was done and the following day we commenced offloading and I am here hand over the drums to Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

    “Seven men were arrested with the products. We are handing over everything. The Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas, gave me directives and the directives were clear on issues of illegalities and I want to assure you that I will not blink until perpetrators of heinous sabotage to our national economy are brought to book.

    “On investigation, we found that that these products came from Rivers State and the final destination was Calabar before they ran into my security patrol boats,” Nwagu said.

    Commander of the NSCDC in Cross River State, Haliru Usman Alhassan thanked the Navy for a good job.

    “They are fighting illegality successfully, and this is a good synergy between the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps. I am here to receive the items and suspects to be charged to court and prosecute them diligently. I promise the Navy that each level we are in the prosecution, we would be furnishing them with the information, so that at least they know how we are going. This is a lesson and others involved in such illegalities should desist,” Alhassan said.

    He said what would happen to the products would depend on what they court says.

    The leader of the suspects, Christopher Okon, 30, from Mbo in Akwa Ibom State said it was his second time on such trip.

    He said they brought the products from Rivers State to sell in Calabar.

    He said the business belonged to one Mr Tony.

  • Work to begin on construction of Navy War College in C/River

    Chairman of Senate Committee on Navy, Senator Isa Misau, says work will soon commence on the construction of the Navy War College to be situated in Idundu, in Cross River State.

    Misau who was on a visit to the Eastern Naval Command (ENC) of the Nigerian Navy told reporters that the clearing and fencing of the over 120 hectares of land where the War College would be situated would soon kick off.

    Misau, who was conducted round by the Flag Officer Commanding of the ENC, Rear Admiral Matthew Emuekpere, visited the site of the proposed War College, the Naval Ratings Housing Estate at Atimbo, the Navy Reference Hospital and the NNS Victory jetty in Calabar.

    “The reason we are here is because of the 2018 budget that came to us. So normally before we pass the budget, we would look at the budget performance of 2017 and look at what we are supposed to do for the 2018, so that we would make adequate provision for the 2018. You saw when we went to the land, you saw that it is about 50 something hectares, plus another post housing of about 70 something hectares. I think we are going to capture something in the budget, even if it means clearing the place and fencing the place.

    “You know building in the Niger Delta region is always difficult. We are going to make adequate provision, so that at least even if it clearing and fencing it, so that the Navy would take over the land and secure it, so that if there is available resources they can start something on the building of the War College. If the resources are not adequate, then we can look at the 2019 budget.

    “This oversight function we are doing is part of our constitutional duty based on Section 88 of the constitution. It empowers us to come and see what is happening because we make allocations for the money,” Misau said.

    He expressed satisfaction with the way the Navy spend money allocated to them and urged other security agencies as well as Ministries, Departments and Agencies to emulate the standards of the Navy.

  • Police refutes reports over 11 killed in Cross River communal clash

    The Cross River State Police Command has refuted reports that 11 persons were killed in the communal clash between the Okwabang and Beebo Communities in Boki local government area last weekend.

    A statement signed by the Command’s Public Relations Officer, ASP Irene Ugbo, made available to The Nation in Calabar Tuesday read, “The Cross River State Police Command wishes to strongly refute the killing of 11 persons from Okwabang and Beebo communities of Boki East, Boki local government area of Cross River State as earlier reported in some media.

    “Contrary to the reports, on 8/3/2018 following a land dispute, farmer from Okwabang community shot and killed another farmer from Beebo community in the bush. As a result, the suspect was arrested by his kinsmen and handed over to the police but the Beebo people were not satisfied with that. They quickly reinforced themselves for war and attacked Okwabang community. In the process two persons were killed.

    “In the light of the above, the general public are enjoined to discountenance earlier reports as not only untrue and false but an attempt to cause panic and mislead members of the public.

    “The Commissioner of Police had since the beginning of the crisis sent more reinforcement of Police and Police Mobile Force, dispatched the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Operations, accompanied by the Area Commander Ikom, the Squadron Commander 11PMF Calabar, Conventional/Anti-Riot Policemen to restore peace among the two aggrieved communities.

    “As at today, a peace meeting between the two warring communities is ongoing with a view to bring peace to the area.”

    Read Also: Four injured as policeman, driver clash in Ondo

  • APC chieftain begs Tinubu to urgently address C/Rivers crisis

    APC chieftain begs Tinubu to urgently address C/Rivers crisis

     

    A stalwart of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State, Mr Utum Eteng, has appealed to National Leader of the party, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, to urgently address the crisis tearing the party apart in the state.

    Eteng, a senior legal practitioner, said Tinubu’s appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari, to reconcile all aggrieved members of the APC lends credence to the overwhelming confidence in his person.

    He regretted that the crisis in the party in the state threatened its good chances in next year’s elections.

    His words, “I congratulate Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (Jagbaban Borgu) on the recent appointment by the president to reconcile all aggrieved members of the APC family towards repositioning the party to deliver on the change agenda of the APC led federal government. It is an appointment well deserved taking into consideration the fact that the history of the emergence of the APC cannot be completely written without giving you a pride of place.

    “This appointment is not only timely, but also lends credence to the overwhelming confidence reposted on your personage. I trust in your ability and capacity to succeed in the arduous task as always.

    “Sir, as you set to embark on this assignment I want to draw your attention specifically to on the avoidable crisis eating deep into the Cross River State chapter of the APC. The crisis is gradually eroding the wonderful opportunity placed on the APC on a platter of gold to win the state governorship election in Cross River State for the APC come 2019 with less stress.

    “The APC debacle in Cross River State is largely caused by the mischief of some overzealous party members, extreme suspicion, pettiness and ingratitude between old and new members to the magnanimity of Mr President. Every elder wants to make a state chairman out of his stooge at the detriment of collectivism. It is either Mr A would be state chairman or nobody else even where the Supreme constitution of the party is breached.

    Read Also: Tinubu’s peace moves will succeed, says cleric

    “I am therefore appealing to you to enlist the problems and challenges of Cross River State in your topmost agenda. President Muhammadu Buhari has rewarded Cross River State people with unprecedented patronage and favours and anything short of victory for this party in all elections will not be acceptable.

    “Once again congratulations on the well-deserved appointment and recognition. To the President, I say unequivocally that he made no mistake in your appointment.”

     

  • Calabar ready for CFAN two million man crusade

    Calabar ready for CFAN two million man crusade

    Chairman of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) in Cross River State, Rev Dr Lawrence Ekwok says all is set for the Great Gospel Crusade by Christ for All Nations (CFAN) with Evangelist Daniel Kolenda in Calabar.

    Kolenda, who took over from world renowned Evangelist Reinhard Bonne, will be having his first crusade, tagged Calabar 2018, from February 15 to February 18 at 3.30pm daily, while the fire conference for gospel ministers and church workers will be on the same dates but at 7am daily at the Cross River University of Technology field.

    The event which is expected to host over two million, Ekwok said would be the biggest spiritual event of the decade in the state and probably the South-South and South-East regions of the country.

    Ekwok, who is also the crusade chairman and chairman of the central working committee said security arrangements have also been put in place with 24 hour security at the venue and other strategic locations.

    “We want to take this opportunity to encourage churches that are yet to join the crusade workforce to join the train as fast as possible for the spiritual harvest of the decade in Cross River State.

    “Permit me to express the gratitude of the Church in Cross River State to CFAN, the ministry of the world renowned Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke for the love they have demonstrated towards Cross River State, by staging this crusade for a record six times, with total funding from the evangelistic organization.

    Read Also: Calabar  to get infrastructural facelift, says Ayade

    “It is our prayer that God will continue to keep the founder of CFAN, Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke, in good health, especially as he recently turned 77 years and also his successor, Evangelist Daniel Kolenda, in the best of spiritual and physical health to carry out the preaching of this gospel to the ends of the earth with signs and wonders following.

    “We are also grateful to God for giving us good fathers in Cross River State, most odd whom constitute the Board of Advisers of this crusade, for their sacrifice and guidance, which have positioned this crusade on the path of total success,” Ekwok told reporters in Calabar.

     

     

  • Fear in Igbo community, five kidnapped in two weeks in Calabar

    Fear in Igbo community, five kidnapped in two weeks in Calabar

    There is fear within the Igbo community in Cross River State as not less than five Igbo businessmen have been abducted in the past two weeks in Calabar, the state capital.

    It was gathered that one Ifeanyi and Lazarus, both spare parts dealers, were kidnapped two weeks ago, while an electrical parts’ dealer and contractor popularly known as ‘But Why’ was abducted on Monday.

    The victims were said to have been kidnapped at their shops at Victor Akan Street, Calabar South, The Nation learnt.

    Sources said they regained freedom after paying ransom running into millions of naira.

    The latest kidnapping of a popular spare parts dealer, Mr Paulinus Obi, popularly known as Matata, and Emmanuel Ozokwu a contractor has sent a wave of panic across Igbo Community in Calabar.

    Read Also:  Community  celebrates 20 years of grassroots journalism

    Obi was kidnapped on Wednesday at Bedwell Street, while Ozokwu was whisked away on Thursday at Target Street ll in Calabar South.

    An eyewitness said the Obi was kidnapped about 7:00pm on Wednesday, February 7, in front of his shop.

    Narrating the incident, the eyewitness said: “We were sitting out in front of Matata shop about 7:00pm having a drink and two young men wearing black all through walked up to Matata and excused him.

    “As soon as he stood up another stern looking masked man came out from a parked old blue Audi 80 with AK 47 riffled and jerked Matata up and threw him into the car. Immediately the Audi 80 drove off with the three other persons, another Camry car parked down Bedwell by White House Street followed them and they zoomed off to unknown destination.

    “Since then they have not called, neither have they sent any message as to the next thing we can do. Honestly, this is one kidnap too many and the traders would not take this matter lying low any longer.”

    Reacting to the development, the president of Igbo community, Calabar, Chief Albert Enya, described the incident as very unfortunate and called on security operatives to step up efforts to check the menace.

    Decrying the incessant kidnap of Igbo business men, Enya cautioned Igbos to be very cautious and promised that they would collaborate with the security operatives to find a solution to the menace.

    In May 2016, Igbo businessmen had shut their businesses for two day to protest incessant kidnappings of members of their community in the state.

     

     

  • VIO issues ultimatum to street traders in Calabar 

    VIO issues ultimatum to street traders in Calabar 

    The Cross River State Chief of the Vehicle Inspection Office ( VIO ), Sir Bepeh Paul has issued a seven day ultimatum to all traders encroaching on roads along Watt and Ika-Ika Qua Markets to leave or be punished according to the law.

    Sir Paul, who made this known during a sensitization tour to all roads around the markets, said it was their responsibility to ensure a free flow of vehicles across the state.

    Read Also: CEO advocates VAT removal on gas

    He maintained that traders were not selling in the market but rather occupying roads that are supposed to be used by vehicles and pedestrians.

    He appealled to the traders to look for permanent shops inside the market to make the city look clean, as well as to avoid any action that will cause them untold hardships.  

    The Director General of the State Green Sherriff, Dr Michael Oko, said modalities had been put in place to ensure compliance by traders adding that the state must remain clean, green and hospitable for both indigenes and visitors. 

    He stressed that as a team they must ensure that mobile court is formed to prosecute offenders that will not want abide by the law.

  • Pensioners to shut down Calabar over N9b debt

    Pensioners to shut down Calabar over N9b debt

    The Association of Cross River State Local Government Pensioners has given the state government a one-month ultimatum to defray their entitlements else their entire 5, 600 members would occupy and shut down Calabar, the capital city.

    Chairman of the Association, Comrade Bassey Okosin, addressing reporters in Calabar yesterday stated that the pension board if properly managed, could properly manage itself without assistance from Paris Club Refunds, bailouts or any other such funds.

    Okosin said over N9billion is being owed pensions and gratuity is being owned them since 2007.

    “We would mobilize all our 5,600 members from the 18 local government of the state. We would sleep in the governor’s office, in the house of assembly. We would live with the Governor, the Speaker, the ministries, departments and all the relevant agencies until the give us our money so we can go. We have taken a decision to pack our loads to live in all the offices that responsible for the payment of these entitlements until further notice. This is not threat but likely going to happen in the next one month. We use this medium to appeal to government and all our relations based in Calabar to make adequate arrangements for our needs. It is our belief that all will prefer to take care of us this way than pay for us to take care of ourselves,” Okosin said.

    A statement by the chairman made available to reporters, read in parts, “In a press release credited to the Commissioner for Finance, it was stated clearly that the bailout funds and the Paris Club Refund was used among others in the payment of arrears of pension and gratuity in favour of pensioners in the state.

    “My response to this will be restricted to local government pensioners and I speak on good authority that up till today not even a dime has been paid to any local government pensioner in the state in the name of pension arrears nor gratuity from the bailout nor Paris Club Refund. All efforts made in this direction have been ignored by the relevant agencies of government.

    “About 600 names of local government pensioners that were omitted by the consultant during the 2016 personnel audit exercise is still outstanding. This was deliberate to enable the consultant collect their percentages, which was supposed to be based on savings made from the exercise.

    “The elderly men and women were deprived their pension for a period ranging from two to six months as a result of that exercise. Every documentation/verification of those names have been done for over a year now but nobody appeared to bother about it. This is different from arrears of pension generated by administrative bottleneck, where a person is retired and the process of computing entitlement will linger for between 6 months to two years. When eventually it is ready for payment. Only the current month is paid, while the rest is classified as outstanding arrears.

    “As at today, over 9 billion is outstanding in respect of arrears of pension and gratuity covering the period 2007 to 2018 in favour of local government pensioners. They have been denied these entitlement on account of lack of funds, the bailout fund and Paris Club Refund we are told those not include local government pensioners and no reason has been advanced for this, but we still expect that the right thing will be done alleviate the suffering of our members.

    “Where does the local government pensioners belong? Which fund is expected to clear these outstanding arrears? Is local government pensioners not part of this state? If so why disparities when it comes to their welfare, whereas welfare of other services is given without stress. That of local government pensioners must always have one excuse or the other.

    “We however appreciate Governor Ben Ayade in ensuring pensioners are paid regularly and up to date and pray that it should be sustained. We use this medium to also observe that while employment had stopped for over five years now, retirement rather increases at the average of 35 retirees per month.

    “The nominal roll has increased to 5, 600 pensioners with a corresponding pension bill of over N342 million. Given the steady increase in number of retirees subvention to the pension board should have monthly increase to take care of the increases. Gratuity fund similar to that proposed for the state should be set up from where monthly remittances should be made to cater for this aspect of entitlement for local government pensioners.

    “The operational guidelines on the management of local government pension board provided for local government pensions funds to be created from where the following remittances should be made; 15 per cent of local government annual budgets or monthly allocation; 2.5 per cent of local government personnel emoluments to be remitted by the state; reimbursement by the state for their retirees that are drawing pension from the local government pension board; subsidy to the board by the state from time to time; and reimbursement from the Federal Government for their retirees that are enjoying pension from local government pension board.

    “From the provision, local government pensions board does not require a bailout or Paris Club Refund to manage the board, if all agencies ensure that actual percentages prescribed by this provision are remitted to the letter, but there is apathy on the part of all those whose responsibility it is to implement this directive, thereby subjecting the board to artificial shortage of fund, which renders local government pensioners helpless.”