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Tag: Cross River

  • Large crowds, peaceful elections in Cross River

    In Cross River State the presidential and national assembly elections witnessed an unprecedented turnout of voters.

    In spite of the crowds that came out to exercise their votes, the elections were relatively peaceful.

    A voter at polling unit 15 along Etagbo Street in Calabar in the southern district of the state, Mr. Joe Ogar, commended the exercise.

    He said he did not expect the polls to go as smoothly as it had.

    “We voted freely and even finished in time and the votes are comfortably being counted as we speak. The method of accreditation and voting at once is excellent as it made the process much faster. It is a good exercise,” he said.

    Even in the central district of the state always notorious for election violence the polls went smoothly.

    In Ikom Local Government Area, where our reporter monitored the exercise, crowds had started gathering at the various polling units in preparation for the exercise.

    Even the northern part of the state, where, Governor Ben Ayade comes from had a calm election.

    Ayade expressed satisfaction with the conduct of the elections, describing the exercise and turnout as both peaceful and massive.

    Read Also: I’ll accept result if poll is credible -Atiku

    Accompanied by his wife, Linda, he arrived Kakum Town Hall, Ipong polling unit, Obudu, with registration area code CR/09 at about 11:05 where they voted.

    However, there were pockets of incidents of issues as late arrival of materials, card reader issues, mix up of election materials and violence.

    For instance in Ikom, vehicles to transport materials to 25 polling units and 64 voting points under Ikom Urban area were not available until around 12pm. In the confusion a couple of result sheets were mixed up. The problem was however sorted out but a lot of time was wasted.

    In some polling units in Calabar like Ward 12 Unit 44 voting did not commence till about 1pm.

    In Imabana in Abi Local Government Area of the state, there were reports of an APC agent being stabbed.

    However, generally, the elections in the state seemed a success, especially against the background of the experience of previous elections.

  • Polls: No life, property would be lost in C/River, Ayade assures

    The Cross River State Government has assured that adequate security measures have been put in place to ensure no life or property is lost in the upcoming general elections in the state.

    Governor Ben Ayade, who briefed Vehicle Inspection Officers (VIO) in the state on their duties regarding the elections in Calabar, said everything is in place to ensure there is no violence in any part of the state during elections.

    Ayade, who spoke through the Permanent Secretary in charge of security in the state, Dr Alfred Mboto, said he was very particular about ensuring that all lives and property are protected.

    Read Also: ‘Cross River generates N3.5m monthly’

    He urged the officers not to compromise in their duties on the road, as this would undermine the efforts the state is making towards security.

    “There is adequate preparation to ensuring that the state does not witness any form of violence. We are in top gear. We are on top of the matter. That is why from the area of transportation, I have come to awaken them to seeing that those who even try to disrupt elections, use vehicles to go to where they want. So if this sector becomes very effective, we can nip the problem in the bud. We can prevent them. From the state architecture of security, everything is in place. There would be no loss of life and property in Cross River. This administration does not want any person to die. It wants all to be happy and safe,” he said.

    The Chief Vehicle Inspection Officer in the state, Engr Bepeh Paul, said they were fully prepared for their duty in the upcoming elections.

    Bepeh, who is also the National Chairman of the Council of Vehicle Inspection Officers Forum, called on their officers across the country to carry out their duties diligently to ensure a safe, free and hitch-free election is achieved.

  • ‘Atiku will get 90 percent votes in Cross River’

    The Coordinator of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign in Cross River State, Mr Chris Agara has expressed confidence that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) would score not less than 90 per cent of votes in the presidential elections in the state.

    Mr Agara in an interaction with reporters in Calabar, that were carrying out an aggressive campaign down to the grassroots to mobilize support for Atiku in the elections.

    “We are looking forward to having a minimum of 90 per cent votes for the PDP in Cross River State. There is no arrogance in it. It is just so. We go right down to the polling units to mobilize and let the people know the difference between PDP and the Federal Government and for them to come out in their numbers and vote that day and vote the PDP and change the government of the day. Cross River is a PDP state and nobody can take away.

    “One of the problem we have in the country is unemployment. Atiku came to Cross River and said he is going to support the deep seaport and the construction of the superhighway. That alone would generate not just thousands but millions of job opportunities. The youths are wiling to work, only that the opportunities are not there. So if the youths are properly engaged their lives would change and the economy would go round. Trade and commerce would definitely thrive. The multiplier effects cannot be quantified. That is what we would be telling the people.

    “Atiku’s thrust is to empower the youths, human capital development and restructuring the country. Everybody should be allowed to grow according to their own abilities and capacities. Not to stifle people and not allow them to move because you want others to catch up with them.

    “Whoever wants to lead should have pedigree. He should have tried something on his own and developed it. You need a lot to start a transaction and grow that transaction to success because you would gone through a lot in terms of financial discipline, personal discipline, emotional stability, and foresightedness to grow. If the man in Adamawa is the single largest employer of labour in Adamawa, then you can imagine what such a person can do if given the opportunity to run the country,” Agara said.

  • ‘Ethnic diversity good to achieve Greater Lagos’

    •APC candidate, running mate bag chieftaincy titles

    Indigenes of Cross River and Akwa Ibom states in Lagos State have conferred on the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the title of Utuenikang (the Shining Light).

    At an elaborate Akwa-Cross Cultural Festival at the National Stadium in Surulere, Sanwo-Olu’s wife, Dr. Ibijoke, was also conferred with the title of Obong Awan (Mother of All), while his running mate, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, got the title of Ata-Ufan(True Friend).

    The cultural group adopted Sanwo-Olu and Hamzat as their candidates in the March 2 governorship election, urging its members to also vote for APC candidates in tomorrow’s elections.

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    Explaining why the group endorsed Sanwo-Olu among the contenders, President-General of Akwa-Cross Worldwide, Dr. Samson Unyime Samson said the APC candidate, aside from possessing a sterling academic credential, was rated as the best because of his “strong pedigree” and achievements in public and private sectors.

    Samsom, who described himself as the representative of the gods of Akwa-Cross indigenes on earth, said the group had confidence in the APC governorship and his running mate.

     

     

  • 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.

  • Cross River: Paul Adah is dead

    A former Federal House of Representatives member from Cross River State, Hon. Paul Adah is dead.

    The Nation gathered that Adah who represented ekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency died Friday night in his sleep.

    Adah, from Obudu local government area of the state was a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as former Commissioner representing Cross River State in Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

    Acting chairman of the APC in the state, Sir John Ochala, directed all party flags to fly at half mast, and suspended campaign activities for two days.

    Governor Ben Ayade, also from Obudu, mourned Adah’s demise.

    Although, a member of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), he also withdrew his governorship campaign for two days.

    The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Christian Ita, said Chief Adah’s demise was devastating and painful not only to him but to the people of Cross River State as a whole.

  • Motorcyclists drag corpse into governor’s office in Calabar

    Several commercial motorcyclists on Friday invaded the Governor’s office in Calabar, Cross River State, to protest the death of their colleague, who was allegedly killed by members of a security task force.

    The protesting motorcyclists dragged the corpse of their colleague right into the premises of the Governor’s office, smashing windows and attacking anyone that resisted them.

    The deceased, it was gathered was thoroughly beaten up by members of the task force until he became unconscious around Ikot Ansa in Calabar.

    He died while being taken by his colleagues to a health facility, it was learnt and this infuriated them, as the stormed the Governor’s office.

    Read Also: One killed as youths, motorcyclists clash

    The protesting okada riders had arrived the governor’s office and overpowered three security personnel at the gate.

    They damaged some items at the gate, tore the official security registers and approached the main entrance reception, where they smashed the glass doors.

    As they became more violent, reinforcements of armed soldiers from 13 Brigade of Nigerian Army and policemen from the nearby state police command arrived to contain the situation.

    It took several gunshots into the air to disperse them. A couple of them were rounded up by the security agencies.

    The body was later taken away by the police.

    Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Irene Ugbo said the victim fell from his motorcycle and died when the task force team wanted to arrest him for violating the government ban on Okada plying major roads.

  • Foreign observers commend military’s professional conduct during elections

    Some Independent Foreign Observers have commended the Nigerian Military for their professional conduct during the Saturday’s Presidential and National Assembly elections.
    They gave this commendation via a statement made available to The Nation on Tuesday.
    The observers in the statement signed by Bill Campbell added that having examined the roles of stakeholders in the electoral processes found out that military played a commendable roles in the Saturday’s elections.
    They said, “The Independent Foreign Observers is an amalgamation of organizations drawn from all over the world to monitor the general elections in Nigeria on the invitation of a select Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in Nigeria. Consequently, the head of the mission, Bill Campbell deployed election observers around Nigeria with a view to ascertaining the credibility of the elections and the role of the various actors in the electoral process.
    The Independent Foreign Observers was headed by Bill Campbell, a diplomat, and conflict resolution expert who has garnered years of experience in election monitoring in African countries. Bill Campbell’s experience spans 6 continents and over 50 countries, where he has experienced dozens of elections and other less conventional changes of government.  He has braved tsunamis, typhoons, earthquakes, political revolutions and long treks on public transportation, to learn about and observe democracy in action.  A graduate of NYU, Bill has been the President of his Rotary Club, constantly looking for ways to serve communities big and small. He brought his wealth of experience to bear in the monitoring of the general elections in Nigeria.
    As part of its mandate to monitor and report the credibility of the general elections in Nigeria, the Independent Foreign Observers undertook a systematic survey of the dynamics inherent in the Nigeria society and consequently designed a template that accommodated the religious and ethnic sensitivity of the Nigerian people in various states of the federation with a view to getting the objective responses from the electorate as the case may be. The essence was to help observe the dynamics, make recommendations and commendations where necessary based on the competence of the team.

    Read Also:Observers hail INEC, security agencies in Kano

    It was observed amongst other things some section of the country whipped up ethnic sentiments which could undermine the electoral process.
    Some segment of the populace also played the religious card before the electorates in an attempt to induce or coerce votes for their political parties.
    Outcome:
    Consequently, there was palpable tension in the polity as regards the security of lives and properties.
    The government, therefore, deployed a mix of security agencies to maintain the sanctity of the electoral process as well as maintaining law and order throughout the polls.
    Election Issues
    Elections were conducted in the 36 states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Our team of observers were on ground to monitor the polls and turned in a detailed report on what they observed in the various states that they were deployed.
    The Independent Foreign Observers worked in active collaboration with local NGOs in the various states, and this unique collaboration made the election monitoring exercise seamless and worthwhile.
    Voters Turnout:
    It was observed that there was a huge voters’ turnout in parts of the country especially in Northern Nigeria. (North East and North West)
    The voters defied the harsh climatic conditions to come out in their numbers to cast their votes at the various polling units
    The South Eastern States also witnessed a large turnout of voters (Enugu, Anambra, Ebonyi, and Imo)
    The South Western States didn’t experience as much voters’ turnout as in other parts of the country. This was primarily due to a palpable tension because political analysts had classified the South Western states as the battleground for candidates of both parties.
    The South-South states of Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Cross River also witnessed a large turnout of voters.
    The Elections:
    From monitoring the elections, it was observed that the electoral process was able to maintain its credibility by the combined efforts of the security agencies led by the Nigerian Army that ensured that incidences of ballot box snatching and other electoral vices were curtailed.
    Voters exercised their electoral franchise without fear especially in the northern part of the country. Our team of observers noted that in the Northern parts of the country, which hitherto was known for underage voting did not experience cases of underage voting. Incidences of vote buying were also prevalent in most parts of the South-South and South Eastern States.
    The outbreak of Violence:
    Our team of observers witnessed pockets of violence in some parts of the country occasioned by attempts by party agents to snatch ballot boxes. This resulted in an open confrontation with the security agencies who showed resilience in the face of provocation.
    Rivers States witnessed the highest level of violence and arms bearing by political thugs that led to the death of an INEC official, an officer of the Nigerian Army and scores of people.
    The Election and the Nigerian Military:
    Our team of observers noted the contributions of the Nigeria Army in maintaining the credibility of the electoral process. The Nigeria Army was able to provide security of lives and properties throughout the election process.
    In the North Eastern states of Yobe and Borno, the Nigeria Army provided watertight security, and this accounted for the large turnout of voters in the region.
    In the fringes where it was expected that there would be security lapses, the Nigeria Army rose to the occasion as there were no recorded cases of security lapses by our team of observers.
    Conclusion:
    The Independent Foreign Observers salutes the resilience and courage of the Nigerian people through the duration of the elections.
    The elections were conducted in an atmosphere of peace brought about by the combined efforts of the security agencies.
    Cases of electoral violence were minimal but for a few states
    The Nigerian Army rose to the occasion by deploying men and resources around the country to protect the credibility of the process
    The Nigeria Army conducted itself professionally and within the ambit of the law even in instances of provocation as experienced in some states.
    Commendation:
    The Independent Foreign Observers particularly singles out the Nigeria Army for praise in its conduct during the elections. We noted a display of a high sense of professionalism even in the face of provocation by agents of political parties.
    The Independent Foreign Observers also commends the leadership of the Nigeria Army for the high-level coordination of its troops across the country. The Independent also charges the Nigeria Army to deploy the same strategy in the forthcoming gubernatorial and states houses of assembly elections.

  • ‘Cross River generates N3.5m monthly’

    Cross River State generates between N1.5 billion and N3.5 billion monthly, an improvement from the less than N1 billion monthly generated in previous years.

    Addressing reporters in Calabar on Wednesday, the Chairman of Cross River Internal Revenue Service (CRIRS), Mr Akpanke Ogar, said a task force has been set up to checkmate activities of illegal tax collectors.

    Ogar said Governor Ben Ayade  inaugurated the taskforce to check the menace of illegal task collectors which has become a source of worry as their activities depletes the revenue of the state as money they realize are diverted to private pockets.

    “Although the N3.5 billion is not the average internally generated revenue, but averagely we have been fluctuating between N1.5 billion to N3.5 billion in some months but we have never gone below N1.5 billion.

    “We have been sustained the state’s internally generated Revenue, IGR, consistently above the N1 billion threshold even though it has not been consistently remained at 3.5 billion.

    “We want the people to know that voluntary compliance to payment tax is essential for the growth and development of the economy.

    “Before now it used to be between N700 million to N800 million but we are making a lot of progress.

    “There are so many illegal levies and taxes been collected by illegal tax collectors and we are trying as much as possible to sensitize the public to be on the lookout and at alert always because many of those tax collectors are illegal.

    Read Also: Cross River: Owan-Enoh extends olive branch to Usani

    “The task force recently set up by His Excellency, Prof. Ben Ayade is in a bid to check all leakages and illegal task collectors who by their action divert government revenue into private pocket as well as extort money from the public.

    “We want to make sure that the people who pay tax pay to the right source because over 700,000 people in Cross River state don’t pay tax.

    “So, we want to make sure that the ones who pay are not over- burdened and that their taxes are paid into the right source .Tax is not meant to kill the people but to bring growth and development,” he said.

  • FG rehabilitates 250km of Calabar-Ogoja highway

    Rehabilitation works are ongoing on the 250km of the Calabar-Ugep-Ikom-Ogoja Highway, the Federal Controller of Works, Federal Ministry of Power, Works and Housing in Cross River State Bassey Nsetip has stated.

    The road, which is the nerve of the state, runs 330km from Calabar in the southern part of the state up to Ogoja local government area in the northern part terminating at Gakem at the Benue State border.

    The road connects connecting almost the entire 18 local government areas of the state.

    The road, which has been in a state of disrepair for decades, had been a source of agony for road users who often spent about 10 hours or more on the road travelling from Calabar to Ogoja local government area due to its poor state.

    Nsetip said three different contractors are handling the rehabilitation of the road and the quality of the job was good. According to him areas rehabilitated would not last less than 20 years.

    The Controller, who led an inspection to check parts of the road already completed and those still ongoing said this particular road was vital to the life of the state.

    He said by the time they are done, commuters would have a smooth ride all the way from Calabar to Ogoja reducing travel time to just about four hours.

    Read Also: Prisons donates to motherless babies’ home in Calabar

    “It is a very important road in the state. In fact it is the main arterial Federal Road we have in the state. It connects all the local governments to the state from the south up to the north.

    “It is a very important road and the Federal Government has been maintaining the road to ensure that business does not collapse here.

    “You know the road is the life wire of the economy and if you want to shut down Cross River State, you shut down this road.

    “From Calabar to Ugep that used to be three hours, is now one and a half hour from Calabar.

    “If ask the people, they are very happy. We have 250km we are working on right now. Areas we are not working on are areas that are still okay,” he said.