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Tag: Cross River

  • Navy shuts down 150 illegal refineries

    …seizes imported rice worth N220m

     

    The Eastern Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy in Calabar has shut down over 150 illegal refineries through swamp buggy operations in its area of responsibility, which includes Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Rivers State, in the last seven months.

    Outgone Flag Officer Commanding (FOC) of the Command, Rear Admiral, Mathew Emuekpere, who made this known while handing over to his successor, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, in Calabar on Tuesday also said within the period through their anti-smuggling operations, the Command had seized 13, 803 bags of imported rice valued at the sum of over N220 million at N16, 000 per bag among several other contrabands.

    He said with the reduction of smuggling activities, the Command has been able to support President Muhammadu Buhari’s efforts in revamping the economy and enhancing the activities of local farmers.

    Emuekpere, said during this time, which he served as the FOC, having taken over the Command in January this year, over 90 suspects have been arrested with their vessels and barges for various martime crimes.

    He thanked Navy personnel and other sister security agenies and paramilitary organziations and civilans that contributed to the successes recorded during his stay as the FOC of the Command and urged that the same support be extended to his successor.

    Read Also:Navy seizes 1.2m litres diesel, arrest six suspected smugglers

    He also expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, and the Chief of the Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ekwe Ibas, for giving him the opportunity to serve as the Flag Officer Commanding of the Eastern Naval Command in the past seven months.

    The new FOC, Rear Admiral David Adeniran, promised to complete all ongoing projects in the Command.

    He warned that any form of collusion or abetting illegalities would not be tolerated.

    He urged all Navy personnel to support him and promised to work with other security agencies to check criminality.

    “Our purpose is to fight all forms of illegalities and ensure that our maritime environment is safe for legal business. We cannot do it alone but would collaborate with other security agencies. We also urge our host communities to help us succeed, so we can also assist them in any way we can. We would work with all stakeholders for the benefit of all. We encourage those involved in illegalities to change and work for a better Nigeria,” the new FOC said.

  • No faction in Cross River APC, says Duke

    Chief Edem Duke, former Minister of Culture and Tourism, says disharmony in the state APC is about interests.

    Duke said this on Sunday when he commissioned a new Secretariat of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    “There is no faction in Cross River APC; it is interest by various stakeholders in the party in the state.

    “However, this is good for democracy but we need to come together; reason together; and chart a new course for our great party, ‘’ he said.

    He advised APC faithful in the state to bury their interest and work for the progress of the party, adding that APC would be stronger if all members united and worked towards taking over the state in 2019.

    He urged people who were yet to register for their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to do so before Aug. 31 deadline to enable them to vote in the 2019 election.

    He outlined the achievements of President Muhammad Buhari, particularly the appointment of Cross River indigenes in various positions, adding that this was enough reason for the people to vote him again in 2019.

    Duke said an APC administration in the state would take special care of women and the vulnerable, if elected in the state in 2019.

    APC in Cross River failed to conclude its state congress following litigation by the parallel executives members.

    The party currently has two Chairmen with each claiming to be the authentic leader.

  • Cross River and Ayade’s referendum victory

    Leadership is not a tea party. This is why in a competitive, participatory democracy like ours, leaders with stellar leadership qualities, and not empty rhetorics and bare-faced lies, easily sway the led and stir them into unquestionable acceptance of, and unalloyed loyalty and support  to their leader.

    In Cross River State, we are lucky to have such a leader in Professor Ben Ayade. And he has never hidden he too is equally lucky to have appreciative followership.

    Three years ago Ayade entered into a social contract with the people of the state when he sought for their vote to become governor in return for purposeful and people oriented governance. Professor Ayade has kept faith. The people have also kept faith.

    It has been a rock-solid symbiotic relationship that pernicious propaganda has failed to break. While Governor Ayade clinically delivers on the social contract in the mold of good governance, the people in turn, at every juncture, reciprocate by showing unwavering support to him.

    Last week, Cross Riverians again, via the Peoples Democratic Party’s landslide victory in the Obudu state constituency bye- election, emphatically and loudly stated their readiness to swim or sink with Ayade in appreciation of his magical re- making of the state for the better. Stakeholders, including Ayade, an indigene of Obudu himself, agree the bye-election was a sort of a vote of confidence, a referendum.

    Hear Ayade: “The election was more of a referendum on my acceptability and stewardship to my people. There couldn’t be any more resounding affirmation from my people than this. Basically, it is more or less like a referendum… it is a validation of my own service. I am a member of the PDP and definitely I am happy the party won”

    Indeed, the bye- election and a similar one held in Yakurr Local Government  Area of the state in 2016 which the PDP also won, were a referendum, not only on the popularity of Professor Ayade but also on his performance as governor since taking office. The two electoral victories by the PDP have confirmed the opposition only has a feathery presence in the state and has therefore been overrating itself. But of course, talk is cheap.

    The opposition’s emptiness in the state was rudely exposed by the outcome of these bye-elections. Of course; the PDP had no problem handing a crushing defeat to them, a glaring product of Ayade’s state wide acceptance.

    When a leader puts the people first by working for them and giving them a new lease of life, when a leader displays a deep sense of justice and fair play, followers naturally queue behind him. This can be gleaned from the nomination and victory of Mrs Abbey Ukpukpen, widow of late Hon. Steven Ukpukpen, former occupant of the seat, in the Obudu state constituency bye- election into the Cross River state House of Assembly.

    Many politicians had opposed her candidacy on the ground that she is not from Obudu, her husband’s local government but Ayade’s sense of justice prevailed over parochial sentiments. He insisted on Mrs. Ukpukpen based on justice and compassion rather than political calculations.

    The PDP/ Mrs.Ukpukpen’s victory of course means heartache for the opposition. But for Ayade, it bears quantum testimony to the fact that performance is a sure elixir that easily stirs the people towards positive direction.

    All fair minded Cross Riverians attest to Ayade’s people-oriented achievements. His projects speak for him and like a gold fish, Professor Ayade’s unprecedented strides in all sectors of the Cross River economy are difficult to hide hence his sterling performance in Cross River continues to attract effusive praises, support and accolades to him.

    Just last week, traders in Watts, the biggest market in Calabar, the Cross River state capital, endorsed him for second term and requested to be included in his re-election campaign team.

    The over 7,000 traders, under the aegis of Capital Traders Umbrella Association, CATU, said their endorsement was based on Ayade’s commendable achievements in various sectors of the economy including the revolution in agriculture, education, industrial sector, job creation, infrastructure as well as creation of a business-friendly environment in the state which has positively impacted on their various businesses.

    Under Ayade, Cross River State has emerged as the most improved state in Health in the South South geo-political zone and in recognition of his intervention in the sector; the Governor has been adjudged one of the six best performing governors in Health in Nigeria by the World Bank and the Federal Government.

    This recognition comes on the heels of  the Best Performing Governor on Agriculture Award which BusinessDay Newspaper recently conferred on Professor Ayade.

    Essentially, under the Ayade-led administration, Cross River has attained several milestones in the health sector, including the significant reduction in maternal mortality. The state also has the highest child survival rate in Nigeria just as it is the first state to have its local government areas declared open defecation free in West Africa.

    Professor Ayade has built and completed the Calabar Pharmaceutical Company and is building three ultra-modern referral hospitals, one in each senatorial district.

    Under him, Cross River is on the verge of achieving HIV goal 90 90 90 with Calabar municipality being the first local government in Nigeria to achieve this.

    The launch of the universal Health Insurance Scheme known as Ayadecare, to ensure universal health coverage in the state irrespective of economic status, is yet another milestone in the health sector undertaken by the Ayade administration. Ayadecare provides free healthcare for pregnant women, children, refugees and IDPs in addition to the building and/ or equipping of over 50 Primary and Secondary Health Facilities in the state.

    Many visitors to Cross River and the teeming population of the state, who continue to marvel at how Ayade is able to accomplish so much within three years with meager financial inflow, have dubbed him a poster boy of performance and a case study of how a leader can strike a delicate but workable balance between social welfare, industrialization, infrastructural and economic development and in the face limited resource.

    No wonder a presidential aspirant of the PDP, Kabiru Taminu Saraki recently advised leaders to emulate Ayade.This too explains why the people of Cross River are ecstatic about their governor.

    • Ita is media aide to Ayade

  • C/River APC: Oshiomhole inaugurates new state working committee

    National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, on Wednesday inaugurated a new state working committee (SWC) for the party in Cross River State.

    The party in the state had been in crisis since two parallel congresses produced two different executive councils in May this year.

    The SWC was yesterday inaugurated after being elected in a state congress conducted by a five-man congress committee led by Mr Henry Idah Agbom and monitored by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    The members of the SWC, which has Dr Mathew Achigbe as chairman, Sir John Ochalla as Vice Chairman and Bishop Victor Ebong as Secretary emerged through voice votes by the delegates at the congress.

    Oshiomhole, who was represented by the National Vice Chairman, South-South, Ntufam Hillard Eta, said it was the wisdom of the National Working Committee to dissolve all the state executive councils and elect a new one to move the party forward in the state.

    The congress committee chairman, Agbom, said the party needs a united front in the state to take over government in the state in 2019.

    He expressed confidence that with the inauguration, the party would win the governorship election in the state in 2019.

    The newly inaugurated chairman, Dr Achigbe, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari, and Comrade Oshiomhole for remaining committed to the rule of law.

    He promised to work hard to ensure victory in the elections next year.

    Achigbe also expressed commitment to re-electing president Buhari next year.

    He called for the support of all members of the party to guarantee success.

    Also speaking the Senator representing the Central Senatorial District of the State, Mr John Owan-Enoh, said with the executive council inaugurated, the party would get stronger.

    Among delegates at the congress yesterday were former governor, Dr Clement Ebri; former Tourism and Culture Minister, High Chief Edem Duke; former Senator of the Southern Senatorial District, Prince Bassey Otu among others.

  • 2019: Lawmaker urges youth to shun violence

    Mr Hilary Bisong, a lawmaker representing Boki II State Constituency in the Cross River House of Assembly, has warned youths to shun thuggery and acts of violence during the upcoming 2019 polls.
    Bisong gave the advice on Wednesday in Calabar when students of tertiary institutions from Boki Local Government Area of the state paid him a courtesy visit in his office.
    He said that that the youth constitute a larger percentage of the Nigerian population, hence the need for them to be agents of change and crusaders for good governance and development of the country.
    The lawmaker charged the youth to participate actively in the 2019 general elections and avoid any acts of violence and temptation of being used as thugs by politicians.
    “As the 2019 general elections draw closer, I want to charge you to shun all forms of violence and acts capable of truncating your future.
    “As students, you are not expected to associate with any act of violence and thuggery. I want to charge all of you here to be agents of change and crusaders of peace’’, he said.
    The lawmaker advised the students to shun cultism and drug abuse, stressing that as students, they should be dedicated to their studies.
    Earlier, the President, Federation of Boki Students Association, Miss Praise Obanghe, said that the association was impressed with the lawmaker’s performance in office in the past three years.
    Obanghe said that the association came to identify with the legislator and also commend him for his free computer training programme, skill acquisition programme, education support fund for students and his empowerment outreach to his constituents.

    Read also: INEC to announce elections programme on Friday

    “In the past three years, you have represented the good people of Boki II creditably. The different educational programmes and financial support you have given to students is immeasurable.
    “We have come to donate these campaign stickers to you as a way to support your campaign and give you the assurance that we will canvass for more votes for you in 2019’’, she said.
    Also speaking, Mr Vincent Dibang, Special Assistant to Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River on Community Relations, commended the students for investing their money to print campaign stickers in support of Bisong.
    Dibang charged them to participate actively in the 2019 general elections by getting their Permanent Voter Cards.

  • ‘I will uphold my husband’s ideals’

    Mrs Abbey Ukpukpen, winner of the last Saturday bye-election into Obudu State Constituency, Cross River House of Assembly has promised to uphold the ideals of her late husband, Mr Stephen Ukpukpen in the state Assembly.

    Abbey, who contested the election on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the promise on Tuesday in Calabar while addressing newsmen.

    “The overwhelming support displayed by all those that turned out to vote was indeed a vote to honour the memory of my late husband,“ she said.

    The winner enumerated ideals she said were close to her husband’s heart to include “simplicity, approachability, integrity and contentment.“

    Ukpukpen, who described her victory as a mark of respect for her late husband by the constituents, thanked the electorate for their overwhelming support and show of solidarity.

    “I will like to assure the Obudu people that this new mandate will not deviate from those ideals.

    “I will reciprocate this gesture and will do my best to provide them the representation they deserve in the remaining months of the 8th Assembly.“

    She also expressed gratitude to the leadership of the party in the state and other stakeholders, including, Gov. Ben Ayade, for making the victory possible.

  • Ebonyi, Cross River sign agreement to end boundary clashes

    Ebonyi and Cross River States have agreed to end hostilities arising from various border disputes between the two states.
    They also agreed to  embark on construction of  bridges and roads to further cement the bond of brotherhood.
    The border communities of the two states have regularly engaged each other in violent clashes which has led to loss of hundreds of lives and destruction of properties worth millions.
    But the two states met on Tuesday in Port Harcourt to discuss ways of ending the crisis.
    At the meeting Ebonyi state government agreed to construct a 600 metres  bridge across Oferekpe River in Ikwo axis and 500 metres  bridge at Ndibe
    Beach in Afikpo.
    Cross River state on it’s part said it will construct a  7.2km road to link up with the Federal high way from Ogada in Cross River State to Oferekpe in Ebonyi state as well as a 19km road linking Ndibe beach to Ugep or a 17km road linking Ndibe beach to Adim.
    This was part of a ten point communiqué jointly issued by the two states at the end of the Bilateral meeting on the interstate boundary challenges.
    The meeting which was convened and co-chaired by Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State and his Cross River state counterpart, Prof Ben Ayade also resolved to end hostilities in their boundary areas.
    To achieve this, both Governors directed the representatives of the disputed communities in attendance to return to their various communities and sensitize them on the way forward with a view to proffering solutions to the challenges at the disputed sectors.
    They also resolved that both states should submit a position paper on their boundary claims, annexing relevant legal documents, maps and communique of previous meetings within 30 days while arbitrators including National Boundary Commission, as third arbitrator would be appointed.
    As part of the communiqué, both states would carry out disarmament of the combatants and thereafter grant amnesty to those who shall willingly handover the dangerous weapons in their possessions within a period of 90 days from 7th of August 2018.
    The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State Dr. Kelechi Igwe, traditional rulers and stakeholders from both sides.

  • SDGs: Nigeria may miss 2030 deadline on sanitation, access to safe water

    Nigeria may likely not meet the 2030 Sustainable Development Goal 6, with the continuous decline in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH), it was learnt.

    The SDG goal 6 states that countries must achieve universal and equitable access to potable water for all achieve access to adequate sanitation and hygiene for all and end open defecation.

    The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 5) has revealed that access to basic sanitation has steadily reduced in Nigeria between 2000 and 2015.

    This is as 70 million people still lack access to potable water despite efforts by governments and partners.

    The survey also revealed that open defecation has worsened between 2010 and 2015.

    According to the report, Sanitation in the country is quite alarming, as over 110 million people lack access to improved sanitation in 2013 while about 46 million people still practice open defecation.

    Open defecation and poor hygiene have been linked to increased diarrhoea cases, which in turn affects the nutritional status of children. Every year, an estimated 124,000 children under the age of 5 die because of diarrhoea.

    Though there are efforts to address the situation through the European Union (EU) assisted Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Reform Project (WSSSRP) has continued to build strong institutions and systems for effective and sustainable water services delivery.

    Six states which include Anambra, Cross River, Jigawa, Kano, Osun and Yobe states are benefiting from the initiative.

    Speaking during a recent media dialogue on WASH in Anambra State, a specialist with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Mainga Banda, said about 130 million Nigerians use unimproved sanitation facilities, with majority of them living in rural areas.

    Read Also: Soldiers embark on sanitation, sweep Kaduna streets

    Mrs Banda, while quoting the MICS5 published in 2017, said that over 46 million people still practice open defecation, which ranks Nigeria 3rd among countries in the world with such people.

    She said, “Despite all effort, sanitation is declining instead of improving and this calls for concern. The trend in water availability between year 2000 and 2015 revealed that the gradient is going up instead of declining, same with sanitation especially in the rural area.

    “WASH plays a critical role in improving health, nutrition and hygiene in Nigeria. So it is a necessity for Nigeria to curb issues of water borne and sanitation related diseases to meet its SDG 6 by 2030,” she said.

    Mrs Banda also noted that most people in rural areas still lack latrines, basic hand washing tools, among others, ”which if not provided will keep worsening sanitation in the country”.

    A visit to Ononaku Ezinifite, a community in Aguata LGA, Anambra State with over 2,000 residents, reveals the benefit of the project to the people, especially those in the rural communities.

    The secretary, WASHCOM unit in the community, Ike Christian, said the project has relieved them (residents) of a lot of stress.

    He noted that before the introduction and completion of the project, children used to go to a distance to fetch water for home use and ”people made use of the nearby bushes to defecate.”

    Mr Ike said since the provision of the facilities, there has not been reported cases of any water-borne disease in the community. He added that people now take care of their environment “because of the orientation they are getting from WASHCOM officials in the community”.

    He also said the officials are making efforts to ensure that the facility is secured.

    A resident of the community, Nathan Ofoma, said since the completion of the project, people no longer defecate openly.

    He laments that before now, residents rely majorly on rain water  “as there is no single river in the community”.

    The Programme Manager, Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASSA), Ministry of Public Utilities and Water Resources, Anambra State, Ezekwo Victor said the state government was committed to WASH. He also said they have ”completed 33 water supply schemes, the compilation of phase 11 rehabilitation works for non-functional boreholes, among others.”

    He noted that the state has also rehabilitated 116 non-functional boreholes across the state.

    The project was co-funded by EU and the Anambra State government with 70 per cent EU/UNICEF support and 30 per cent from the state government. It was a public procurement concept awarded to the lowest bidder.

  • Putting Cross River on global cocoa processing league

    In line with several of his campaign pronouncements in the run up to the 2015 governorship election, Governor Ben Ayade has spared no effort in crystallizing his dreams, turning his industrialization vision into reality.  From the creeks of Bakassi, through the rainforest of Akamkpa and down to the hills and mountains of Obudu, Ayade has redefined governance through industrial revolution.

    Addressing a gathering of elders, council of traditional rulers, farmers and youths of Ikom back in 2015 while on a campaign train, Ayade had in an impassioned tone, provoked tears from his attentive audience when he swore before them to alter their fortunes positively as a cocoa producing zone if only they could entrust him with their votes.

    Barely three years after extracting that trust, and with the attendant promise of establishing a cocoa processing plant to create a value chain for cocoa production, it could be said with all boldness and certitude that Governor Ben Ayade has indeed delivered on his promise.

    Using the intellectual capital model or better still, what the governor has rechristened ‘intellectual money’, which is based on Other People’s Money (OPM), Ayade has been on windfall of industrialization across the state.

    At a recent inspection visit to the cocoa processing plant nearing completion at Ikom, Central Senatorial District, a multi-billionaire naira plant, stands a howling justification of what is now native to the people as Governor Ayade’s theory of intellectual money. The establishment of a cocoa processing mill by Ayade is no doubt a jinx breaker as well as the achievement of what hitherto was thought to be improbable in this part of the world.

    With Cross River cocoa adjudged as one of the finest in terms of quality in Nigeria, there was no other way to bring value addition to cocoa production in the state than Ayade’s effort to establish a multi-billion naira cocoa processing in Ikom.

    The Ikom cocoa project, when commissioned, will launch Cross River into the global cocoa hub in the world.

    Ayade says his intention is to revive cocoa as the mainstay of the economy of the people of the senatorial district in particular and Cross River in general.

    Essentially, cocoa farming has been money a spinner to the people of the senatorial district in the past.  Having again put a marker down, Ayade has clearly demonstrated that intellect can be used to fill the gap where physical money is unavailable. This principle is tailor made for Cross River considering the rapid economic and infrastructural development of the state under him in the last three years.

    For a cash strapped economy like Cross River State, coupled with a near zero allocations from the federation account, without intellectual money, building the calibre of industries and infrastructural projects the governor has accomplished in the last three years would have been a near impossibility or a mere wishful thinking.

    Impressed by the level of work at the cocoa processing plant, Ayade praised contractors handling the project and expressed optimism that the plant would be ready soon for production.

    “I am very impressed; knowing the enormity of work done, I’m really impressed. From what I have seen, the contractors deserve excellent pats on the back. This is what we call commitment and consistency.

    “I just want to tell a very short story, this is a story of a very great ambition ruling by motion without logic, no money but intellectual money; that is what I applied here”.

    The Ikom cocoa processing plant will process 30,000 tonnes of cocoa per annum. With the plant, Ayade has scored another first after establishing Africa’s first automated rice seeds and seedling factory.

    The plant is the first of its kind in Africa that will process cocoa beans to chocolate.

    For a governor who is focused on industrializing his state, the plant holds a lot of economic and employment future for the people of the state in line with Professor Ayade’s determination to decouple the state’s economy from over dependence on federal allocations.

    Hear Ayade: “This is the spirit of intellectual money and Cross River ultimately will be proud that I knew where I was going from the beginning. I am following an agenda that at the end of my eight years in office, when every single citizen of the state remembers my days, he or she will say this young man had a great vision.

    “For all the years gone by Cross River has been producing cocoa for other states to bear the name because we did not have an off-take mechanism, we did not have a programme by government to buy off the cocoa at good rates. So, outsiders used to come in and buy the cocoa from us and grade it as cocoa from their own state.”

    The plant, which will soon be operational, offers cocoa farmers in the state the opportunity, platform and industry to process their own cocoa, giving a premium value for money.

    “A cocoa house is going to be built so that once anyone owns a cocoa farm, all they need to do is just go to the cocoa house, collect money during harvest and the government will take their cocoa. With this arrangement, cocoa farmers in the state will have   money for their product and don’t have to go to bank to get a loan.”

    In his quest to bequeath an ultra-modern Ikom cocoa processing plant to Cross River, Ayade’s government has had to turn to Germany and Switzerland for the latest technology in cocoa processing.

     

    • Ita writes from Calabar, Cross River State.

  • ‘How 67 Million Youth Initiative’ll be run’

    The personalities behind the 67 million Youth Initiative have unveiled the vision, mission and guiding principles that will drive the group’s operation.

    In a note released Wednesday, the group explained that as young progressive leaders, it took decision to build an initiative that cuts across party lines, religions and tribes.

    The seven personalities behind the group: Maryam Laushi (founding member of Not-To-Young-To-Run), Asuquo Ekpenyong (PDP Commissioner of Finance for Cross River), Mohammad Sani Abdullahi (APC Commissioner of Budget and Planning for Kaduna State), Mark Okoye (APGA Commissioner of Budget and Planning for Anambra State), Moji Rhodes (First female deputy Chief of Staff for Lagos State), Luqman Edu (CEO FilmoRealty) and Adebola Williams (Co-Founder of RED) were named and reiterated their commitment to its operation.

    “We jointly signed up to the following guidelines so that the initiative could not be hijacked for ulterior motives. We agreed on the vision of advancing Nigeria with a new generation of leaders at all levels of politics and government; vision to build/organise and leverage on the block vote for the interest of the collective youth and identify its guiding principles for 2018/2019.

    Part of the guiding principles is that 67 Million will not support or make any endorsement for the Presidential or Governorship races in 2019. “We will focus on getting as many young people appointed into various positions in their states and on the national level and We shall support the emergence and success of young candidates across all platforms and will particularly endorse our members that are running for State and National Assemblies, and Local Government positions across party lines,” the group said.

    Read Also: Awosika to youths: you’re Nigeria’s hope

    Furthermore, all major decisions and activities will be decided through a democratic voting process by delegate members. Once this was agreed, each trustee convinced 15 people to join this initiative as delegates A lot of attention has been put on the Muslim APC delegates but if you carefully go through the delegate list you will find delegates from other political parties, faith and tribes.

    Till date, the initiative has only been funded by delegates and supporters that have donated between N10,000 to N1million. We admit to some mistakes such as engaging a media consultant who proceeded to acquire an existing twitter handle without doing proper vetting, we knew of the plan but not what the account was used for in 2015 – this is indefensible.

    We shall meet three different kinds of people in this journey; people that will never believe or support us, people that will buy into what we are trying to do, and people in the middle that will have an open enough mind to make decisions with the information presented to them. The truth is on our side so we shall only focus on the last two, for the first set of people, we say carry go.

    “We shall continue with this initiative and endeavour to accomplish the mission we have all come together for. We know that this task shall be hard and there shall be resistance from people that will not want the youth united, the youth should not be distracted and together we should forge on”.

    The group said there has been negative posts on social media about The 67 Million Youth Initiative and that the note is meant to correct the anomalies.