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Tag: Cross Riverians

  • 18 Cross Riverians for technical training in China, says Ayade

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has concluded plans to send 18 Cross Riverians for technical training in China.

    The governor spoke in Calabar at the presentation of the certificate of occupancy to Skyrun International of China, manufacturers of home appliances.

    Ayade described the company as a global firm with indelible footprints in Africa.

    His words:  “I am  happy that we are partnering Skyrun to breathe life into the park hoping that all the amalgam of projects they have proposed in the state will manifest in no distant time going by the terms of the agreement.”

    While thanking the electronic giant for their Interest in developing the state,  Ayade said: “This is a typical example of good corporate social responsibility attitude and I want to appreciate Skyrun International for their interest and confident in our administration by taking such unprecedented investment step to investing here.”

    Ayade announced that  “beyond the presentation of C of O that will give them a free hand to invest massively in our industrial park, there is also a technical agreement for them to train our teeming youth and better equip them with the requisite skills in China to enable us realise our signature projects as well as other industrial constructions across the state.”

    The National Coordinator, Nigeria-China Business Council,  and focal point for Skyrun,  Chief Matthew Uwaekwe, said the company decided to provide technical support and utilise incentives provided at the park to establish its presence in the manufacturing line.

    He said:  “As we speak,  we have signed several Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Cross River to partner it in different sectors of the economy and we are committed as one of the reputable companies in China with over N5 billion monthly turn over in Nigeria to expand our business and grow the economy.

    “We will do all it takes to bring more investors to Cross River,  knowing very well that the state remains one of the safest place for business and leisure in Nigeria and Chinese investors will love to take advantage of this and invest.”

    “We are starting this partnership with a ‘train the trainers’ program were 18 Cross Riverians will be sent to China to training while arrangement for the establishment of a world class training facility in core technical areas has begun with the acquisition of C of O,”  adding that “Chinese experts are expected in Calabar to man the facility and train the youths in critical areas of need.”

     

     

     

  • ‘Why Cross Riverians should buy into AyadeCare’

    ‘Why Cross Riverians should buy into AyadeCare’

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade recently signed the state health insurance bill into law. The law provides for a mandatory monthly fee of N1000 from every taxable adult and resident of the state. NICHOLAS KALU spoke with the Director General of the State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Betta Edu, who threw more light on what the health insurance scheme is all about.

    Can you tell us a bit about what these state health insurance scheme is about?

    One of the greatest achievements of the Senator Ben Ayade government is by ensuring that Cross River State can have and achieve universal health coverage and you know the world over we are going into a kind of economic downturn, and Nigeria as has been formally declared is going through a recession as we speak. People can no longer pay for their health bills. We have been people come down with all kinds of diseases and cannot afford to treat them. They cannot afford to buy drugs on a daily basis. We have the women that are pregnant and cannot go to assess quality health services because they cannot afford it. The governor sat back and thought how can we help our people. What is that policy we can put in place to help our people? What is the policy that we can put in place that will enable every Cross Riverian have assess to quality healthcare and that is how he came about the state health insurance scheme. The scheme is a smart and sustainable form of health financing. The World Health Organisation (WHO) had said in the United Nations World Congress that except nations and countries and governments move towards more sustainable forms of health financing there would have issues achieving universal health coverage for their people. Based on this, the government of Cross River State, taking the lead in Nigeria has proposed the bill, which has gone through the legislative arm and has been assented to by the governor of the state to become a law establishing the state health insurance scheme which of course is tagged AyadeCare. For me it is indeed proof that Ayade cares. It is a brother lending a hand to another brother. It is all of us standing for all of us. It is beyond the governor of Cross River State.

    How will the scheme be funded?

    It is a simple way of health insurance, where everyone, every adult above 18 years is supposed to put in N1000 into a central purse and then we can use that to provide healthcare for everyone. It would protect us against catastrophic health expenditures that would further impoverish our people. Health is priority. Even if a man does not have money, even if he has only N5000 left, and he is dying, that man would rather spend that money to stay alive than even to feed the children. And so we are saying, that rather than at the point where you are sick and you need this money and probably cannot afford it because the health bill at that point is very high, rather than giving up, we are saying put just a token of N1000 into a central purse every month, and at the point where you are ill, whether or not you have money, you can just walk into a health centre and assess quality health care.

    We started with sensitisation and we have been through the 196 wards in the state, sensitising our people on the need to buy into the scheme. They expressed fears they had with other insurance schemes in the past that took their premiums and at the end of the day, they do not keep their part of the bargain. We had to make everyone understand that first, at this point where we are as a state and nation, we are going through a recession, we need a sustainable form of health financing. Also this is everyone carrying the burden of everyone at the same time, such that it feels lighter. Beyond that the state is going to put in place modalities to ensure that no one naira is gone to waste or stolen. The governor has stated clearly, Cross River State government would not have assess to one naira from that account. The government is outside it. The running of the insurance would be done by Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs), it would be done in collaboration with the World Bank, the United Nations and several other agencies that would help in control and checks. The government is bringing itself out of handling the funds so it can be as transparent as possible and everyone can be involved.

    This is a strong pro-poor bill. It is targeted at the poorest of the poor to ensure they can assess to quality health services. We know we have different cadres of persons. We have those in the formal sector, which it is easy to pull these contributions from them. And then we have those who are in the informal sector in the villages, communities that we would need to get this N1000 from every month from. There are many ways, which we intend to go about it. Some would be through the help of the HMOs. There would be designated places for them to go and register for this. Equally we would have people in groups, cooperatives where they can pay their monies. Communities can come together pay their monies, then remit same and they have their registrations all done at once. But one thing is sure, the governor has insisted that you do not stress the insurer to travel for miles to get insured. He should be insured in his community and receive services at his community. So basically we are working at ensuring that that direction from the governor is given very due priority.

    For this scheme let us get one important point. The monies coming in is not only from people. It is not just the N1000 which everybody is paying that would provide that level of healthcare we are thinking about. Government would equally be investing money into the insurance to make it work. Donor agencies would equally be expected to put in some financing to make it work. So, it is going to be a collaboration between a whole lot of key stakeholders and as such transparency remains the watchword. We are removing the money aspect from government so we don’t have unnecessary influence on it and our people can see it the way it is, know who they are giving their monies to and we can build that that trust. At every stage of the journey we want to keep it as open as possible.

    Are there exemptions of certain persons from paying this premium?

    The bill makes exemptions for certain persons. It is exempting pregnant women. It is exempting aged persons above 65. Also exempting mentally and physically challenged persons. We are taking into consideration they might not be able to work and generate income to pay for this insurance, so they are exempted from it. The governor in the kindness of his heart realizes there are some people in society that are very poor and may not even afford as small as a thousand naira. So he would make exemptions for these people also. We expect that when the scheme begins implementation fully in a few weeks from now,  that we would have a scenario where we can raise at least N1 billion every month. That amount of money put into healthcare is not by any means, small money. The first step for us going forward is to ensure we can revitalise all our health facilities across the state to be able to deliver that quality healthcare which we are looking for and our people are yearning for. The governor has promised to build world-class specialist centres in the three senatorial districts of Cross River State. This is to ensure that if you come to the primary healthcare centre and they cannot give you the level of service you require, you can be referred to the General Hospitals and from there to the Specialist centres if need be. But at every point, everyone who has paid the N1000 should be able to assess healthcare services. There would be measures to ensure people are not dodgy about it. You will not be able to pay today and get healthcare today. That would prevent people from paying only at the time they need the care. So you are supposed to supposed to subscribe, go through some verification and data capturing processes and then it prepares you to start benefiting from the scheme in two or three weeks.

     What makes this special from other such schemes?

    What makes this one special is that unlike some insurance schemes that is limited to just a few illnesses, this one covers everything, including surgeries. AyadeCare would capture basically everything. The surgeries, the drugs the consultation fees, hospital levies and all of that would be captured in this health insurance package and equally we hope to go beyond that. It would provide for community health outreaches, for doctors to go into communities and offer services. It would provide for ambulance services that can move people from one point to another when the need arises. It is an all encompassing healthcare insurance package, and so our people should buy into it and benefit maximally from it.

     Given our health system in the third world, do you think this is realisable?

    Our health systems in the third world countries are not working. You can go through the entire countries in the world all those that have excellent healthcare, all have health insurance. So, we think that the best direction for a country or state to work towards now is to be able to achieve universal health coverage and to be able to achieve the sustainable development goals is to head towards having the health insurance scheme, a functional one.

     

  • Forum honours illustrious Cross Riverians in Calabar

    It was a memorable gathering the Transcorp Hotel in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, last weekend as the Cross River South Progressives Forum (CRISPROF) honored illustrious indigenes of the state who are serving in the present government at the national level in a thanksgiving dinner.

    Those honoured were include the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Ekanem Oyo-Ita; the Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas; Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Uguru Usani; and National Vice Chairman, South South of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Prince Hillard Eta.

    Coordinator of CRISPROF, constituted of eminent sons and daughters of the Southern Senatorial District of the state, Mr Eyo-Nsa Ekpo, expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari for emphasizing excellence as exhibited in appointments he has made from the state.

    He called on the president to change the trend of humongous neglect, marginalization and deprivation the state suffers for instance in the seizure of the states 76 oil wells; displaced people of Bakassi; poor condition of Ikom-Calabar and Calabar-Itu highways; and the delay in the activation of Calabar seaports.

    Ekpo, a lawyer, said: “We want you to honour Cross River State indigenes, whom the almighty God in his infinite mercy, using the instrumentality of this era of change under President Muhammadu Buhari, has decided to elevate to higher heights in the service of Nigeria.

    “The rational behind it is that it not very common in Cross River State. The state has not been this elevated and favoured and I know that it all because of the persona of the person, who is today in charge of the affairs of Nigeria. He recognizes excellence and recognizes record of service and it is no longer business as usual. And he also recognizes that Cross River has been at the forefront of providing dedicated service to the fatherland. We have a rich history in this direction and we thank the President, for bringing Cross River State into the main stream.

    “Nigerians are very hardworking people, but the reactionary politicians that have been holding sway since 1999 have not allowed our people to work. The godfather syndrome should be put to rest. People must be made to understand that there is pride in being productive. That is the objective of this group.

    “In the era of impunity, excellence was never recognized. The time has come for us to recognize excellence. The godfatherism that existed in the years of the locusts must be killed. Now we must recognize excellence. And these people that were selected to this positions were selected because of merit. And we must recognize them. If we at home don’t recognize them, then who will?”

    He urged the honorees to continue to render selfless service to the development of the country.

    He also warned against the call for the disintegration of Nigeria by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

    He maintained that the state does not subscribe to or encourage the call for Nigeria’s disintegration.

    He said: “The people of Cross River South and indeed the entire state will resist any attempt to use them as cannon fodders for the actualization of any landlocked, land-challenged ethnic nationality’s expansionist pretention or agenda.

    “Our forebears resisted it, we shall also resist it to the last person and most importantly, we shall educate and indoctrinate our offsprings to stand against the very idea of balkanization of Nigeria under any guise or subterfuge”.

    Responding, the Head of Service who was represented by Mr. Gershom Davies thanked the group and pledged to do everything in her power to instill discipline in civil service while upholding the change mantra of the President.

    She said: “ I value this award and honour because I may be honoured all over the world but the one from home is what the world will value most. I demand your prayers and corporation to do my job diligently.”

    Also speaking, the CNS who was represented by his wife, Mrs. Theresa Ibas, said: “It is great to my family and the Nigerian Navy. I pledge to continue to be a good ambassador of the state and Nigeria at large”.

    The south-south national vice-president of the APC Prince Eta commended the President and his party for what the “unequal love because considering our support for him, we won’t be where we are today in his administration”.

    A keynote address titled Leadership Issues Related to Managerial Failures in our Political/Cultural Space, delivered by Prof Eyo Etim Nyong charged the Buhari government to be cautious in decisions it makes for the country.

    In Cross River, Nyong urged those in leadership position to focus more on how to lift the state out of its presently very low status in the country, which he said was characterised by low presence of Cross River employees in federal establishments, absence of significant Federal projects in the state, including the challenge of bringing the Calabar Seaport to realisation in order to drive the economy of the state and create employment for youths.

    He advised the current leadership to dwell more in driving the state’s agricultural, ecotourism, hospitality, and cultural heritage sector rather than throwing all its weight on just one annual carnival.

    Chairman of the thanksgiving dinner, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu lauded President Muhammadu Buhari for honouring Cross River with appointments.

    Otu said Buhari’s benevolence to the state sent a strong message that meant that the APC was out to win Cross River.

    Among several dignitaries who graced the event are former Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma Egba, former governor of the state, Mr. Clement Ebri.

  • Ayade, Cross Riverians and the Climate Change carnival

    FOR some time now, there have been serious concerns about climate change around the world. Interestingly, Nigeria is not lagging behind in the pro-active measures to protect humanity from environmental hazards and natural disasters.

    Let me quickly emphasise that I don’t know how much work has been done by the National Orientation Agency, NOA, on matters that affect the ordinary Nigerians. But it is obvious that the days of intriguing radio jingles as well as subtle and dramatic presentations on television that condemned social vices and appraised good virtues are gone! Indeed, one still remembers with glee such enticing and attention-grabbing commercials such as the ”I’m Checking Out” advert popularised by ‘Andrew’.

    No doubt, times were when we experienced great political and economic awareness in this country, a situation that reminds one of the halcyon days of the MAMSER campaign. However, it appears that issues of human interests and socio-economic concerns have been ceded to NGOs and individual state government nowadays.

    But in the midst of this seeming un-inspiring experience, the recent announcement of ‘Climate Change’ by Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, as the theme of this year’s Calabar carnival is a pointer to the fact that the state government is responsive to the yearnings of the citizenry. In other words, it is not enough for a government to manage crises such as deaths and sicknesses, but it is more important to prevent them so as to reduce mortality rate.

    Quoting a popular American saying, Ayade said: “The only essence of life is enjoyment and once you take away happiness from a man, you have taken away the reason to live,” while giving reasons for the world to join him and his people in Calabar to celebrate another yuletide offering and tourism preserve of Cross River State government.

    He spoke glowingly about the annual carnival touted as the ‘Biggest Street Party in Africa”, saying, “As Cross Riverians, we are great dreamers. We don’t believe that there is any challenge that cannot be overcome. This is because at any time you put your soul above your problem, your body will surely follow.”

    Interestingly, while Ayade showed style through his eloquent marketing of the significance of the carnival, I was swayed by the caveat in his speech that suggested that life in all its glory is for man to take dominion of. Besides, I was also impressed by the fact that there is an underlining message in the entire glitz and razzmatazz planned around the carnival – Climate Change – a phenomenon that has the power to define the success or failure of man’s socio-economic and political being.

    Ayade further explained that the theme was carefully selected to reflect current global realities with a view to drawing attention to the needed action against climate change and its negative impacts. “We present a theme that represents the true challenge of the world today as we celebrate this year’s event,” he said, disclosing that Cross River State is the fifth Biodiversity hotspot in the world.

    It will be recalled that former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, launched a climate change summit in 2009, hinging on the need for humanity to reflect on the threat posed by the increasing world population and attendant use of natural resources. This has helped in shaping actions and policies regarding the Lagos environment such as the Eko Atlantic City project, a measure against sea level rise; tree planting campaign; creation of gardens and improved waste management system, among others.

    Perhaps, it is germane to state why I am enamoured of technocrats rather than the typical Nigerian politicians. The reason, to put it mildly, was couched in his statement on the occasion: “We have the second largest rain forest next to the Amazon. We also have the largest forest cover in Nigeria. It is the only state with Green Police governed by a Professor of Environmental Science. So, we cannot but promote environmental best practices to save the world from collapse.”

    Suffice to say that the carnival brings to revellers a strong story of humanity in the most subtle ways possible. This is what art and entertainment represent. In my view, this is another reason our governments and Corporate Nigeria must see dance/drama beyond the ‘play’ factor.

    The creative sector is a multibillion naira industry. So, except we see it as the mirror that reflects who we truly are, we may lose those ingredients that underscore art, culture, fashion, entertainment and whatever name we deem as viable non-oil income earners or tools of cultural exportation and international diplomacy.

    The carnival, according to the Professor Governor, is not just an opportunity to come and dance and make friends, but it is also an opportunity for business. ”This is because geographically, Cross River remains a business hub for Africa; so, there must be a calibration of business and pleasure,” he explained.

    He added that the state plans to set up ‘the biggest garment factory’ in Nigeria on December 15, and localise the production of costumes used during the event as a business angle to the festival.

    Also, in his remark, the Chairman, Cross River State Carnival Commission, Mr. Gabe Onah, said: “The strong desire and fervent wish of the Governor is that we begin to look inward and turn the carnival into a veritable ground to better the lots of the common man and elevate the land from poverty to prosperity.”

    Before delving into the new additions to this year’s show, I also took note of the Band’s challenge in bringing the subject of climate change alive. Leader of the notable Seagull Band, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, shed light on this when she said, contrary to the notion in some quarters that the festival is all about dancing, that it is capital-intensive and intellectually challenging.

    ”The challenges of interpreting the theme is difficult than running for an election. Once the theme is released, the band leaders begin to have sleepless nights. Each time we are having our rehearsals, I remember the comedian called Mr. Bean. And I can tell you that there is nothing as difficult as creating expressions without voicing.  Band leaders tear themselves apart during rehearsals and to imagine that we manage about a thousand people,” she said.

    There are more to look out for in this year’s Carnival Calabar, as Bands from 16 countries will do the 12-kilometre street parade. Memories of old car models will also be brought back through living-legend automobiles. Power bikers from across the country will also be on the loose with what is called the Bikers’ Parade. The best of Nigerian tunes, otherwise called African drums, will also make up what is called the Disco Fiesta, while the popular Children Carnival takes the form of family funfair.

    Indeed, there is no better place to be this December!

  • Ayade, future beckons for Cross Riverians

    Even before throwing his hat into the ring to vie for the office of governor, Professor Senator Ben Ayade had long cast a long gaze into the horizon trying to envision the new Cross River State of his dream. That is to create a socially stable, economically rewarding, business friendly environment that will galvanize both locals and foreigners to seek wealth creating opportunities in the state.

    To be part of that dream and vision, he has stridently been calling for a concerted effort of his fellow citizens of Cross River State- to lift their eyes beyond the skyline of the present challenges and visualize a state where there is a place and hope for everyone; a state where there will be jobs for the youths and prosperity for the working class.

    From the inception of his administration also, governor Ayade had set his mind on staying focused on ensuring that not only the middle class was resurrected but also given the needed oxygen to find anchor for their roots; just as he was determined to guarantee that every Cross Riverian found independence and pride for his work.

    For a man whose growing up had a rich narrative in lack and poverty, a man, who as a child, wore poverty like a garment, Governor Ayade was poised from the outset to guaranteeing that the wages of honest labour shall not only liberate families from the jaws of hardship, but that no child goes to bed in an empty stomach.

    As part of catalyzing and crystalizing this manifest destiny, Governor Ayade has had his leg firmly stamped on the pedal with a view to harnessing new ideas and technology geared towards reconstructing and repositioning the state to its rightful place as the fastest growing in the country.

    But in arriving at his goals destination, he was equally desirous of striking a delicate balance, or harmony, if you like between proving infrastructure and building capacity.

    While it is imperative to chart a new course into the oasis of creativity and navigate a fresh path to greatness, Governor Ayade is not unmindful of the fact that in doing so, the human resource also constitutes the fulcrum or building block to sustainable development. He needed to reenergize the workforce in order to restore confidence in the civil service which has remained largely the brainbox of administration.

    It was this creative thinking that actuated his declaration to promptly pay salaries of civil servants, insisting that a labourer deserves his wages.

    Barely five months captaining the ship of the state, he has not only hit the ground running, but has progressively been steering the ship in the right course with howling mileage gained so far in this voyage.

    As a leader known for walking his talk and matching his words with action, Ayade did not just stop at lamenting the plight of the state civil servants but making sure that the winter of despondency that almost held them captive owing to delayed salaries quickly gave way to renewed dignity of labour they were hitherto accustomed to.

    It is no longer news that while most states in the country are literally asphyxiating under the pangs of unpaid salaries, Governor Ayade has not only ensured that salaries are paid promptly, but as early as between 25th and 26th of every month. Specifically, in making sure that civil servants celebrated the last Sallah with their Moslem brothers and sisters in the state, September salary was indeed paid on the 23rd.

    Today, the challenge in the state is not whether salaries are being paid promptly, but rather, it is the complaint from civil servants themselves that it is coming too early in the month. Indeed, the practice has endeared him to civil servants with him being seen as a portrait of a responsive and responsible leader.

    In absolute fidelity to his words that the wages of honest labour shall liberate families from the clutches of hardship and hunger, Governor Ayade, barely two months in office passed into law tax exemptions for state workers earning below N30,000 a month as well as the exemption of levies for artisans, petty traders operating in the state.

    While this gesture has roundly been applauded and commended as governance with a human face, the real import of the concession is that it has allowed this category of workers in the state with more disposable income to play with and by implication, leading to more empowerment for the people.

    In a bid to expand opportunities, energize the already shrinking state’s civil service workforce, as well as chase the wolves out of the doors of many of the citizenry, the governor, after a careful consultation and deliberation with the various stakeholders in the state, took what could be described as an uncommon initiative to lift the 23-year-old embargo on employment into the state civil service.

    With the gulf between the haves and the have-not ever widening, and determined to narrow this socio-economic divide, Ayade, upon his assumption of office, promised to weigh in by creating more opportunities, especially for the women folk in the state. It was this compassion for the poor that informed his need for the establishment of a garment factory in Calabar.

    Though recruitment into the factory has since been completed, with the equipment already shipped into the state, the actual deadline for the completion of the plant itself has, however, been hampered by a chain of logistics and inclement weather. It is nonetheless expected to come into full operation sometime this year. Upon completion, about 1000 women, mostly widows would be actively engaged in the clothing plant.

    Similarly, as an environmentalist himself, the governor has embarked on a number of measures aimed at protecting and preserving the state’s biodiversity. In this regard, a special marshal code named the Green Police, comprising 1500 young men and women has been set up. Besides protecting the rich rain forest, the effort is an added stimulus geared towards addressing the army of unemployed youths in the state.

    In the administration’s quest to create a just and equitable society, and to provide for the very poor and indigent in the state, Governor Ayade recently signed into law a housing bill, under the state’s social housing programme, which seeks to make housing in the state a right.

    And following his preliminary discussions with Irish property investors, Affordable Modular Homes Limited sometime in August for a 5000 modular housing units, the effort has so far culminated in the signing of a US$4 million memorandum of understanding for the construction of affordable houses to be spread across the three senatorial zones of the state. Apart from drastically reducing the housing need in the state, the scheme, when completed, will exponentially increase the number of house owners and consequently drive down the cost of accommodation across the state.

    All of these initiatives, Governor Ayade reasoned, are geared towards recalibrating the social inequality that has for long plagued the citizenry.

    Following immediately on the heels of this historic housing law was the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Cavenco of Spain for the establishment of an automated poultry and dairy plant with capacity for 100,000 birds per day.

    In the same vein, the administration equally wrapped up a deal for a three megawatt power plant with Skipper of India to expand the power infrastructure in the state.

    To effectively ramp up development, Governor Ayade has created 27 Special Purpose Vehicle (SPVs) among which are Cross River Tourism Limited, Cross River State Diaspora Trust Funross River State Forestry Trust, Cross River State Petroleum Company Limited (PETROCROSS), Cross River State ICT Company Ltd., Cross River State Marine Company Ltd., Cross River State Cocoa Company Ltd., Cross River State Rice Company Ltd., Cross River State Banana Company Ltd., and Cross River State Maize Company Ltd.

    And despite the pall of cynicism regarding his two signature projects, the 260 kilometre dual carriage super-highway and Calabar deep seaport, the governor has remained passionate and unrelenting, vowing to give his arm and his leg, if that becomes necessary to actualize the project.

    As part of oxygenated plan of action to catalyze the projects, a 500 million Euros funding has since been secured from his European counterparts for the two projects, just as core investors from Abu Dhabi on the superhighway has also been sourced.

    With President Muhammed Buhari expected to visit to formally perform the groundbreaking ceremony, Governor Ayade has demonstrated an uncanny resolve, the I-can-do-it spirit and the zest never to give up on what he believes holds the future for his people. Obviously, there is no turning back on his dream project, a project that is bound to redefine the socio-economic landscape of Cross River in a few years from now.

    Given the fecundity of his ideas, the intensity of his vision and the bullishness of his thought, there is no gainsaying that in this young ebullient and dynamic governor, the future indeed, beckons for the people of Cross River State.

    • Offiong wrote in from Calabar