The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Governor Ben Ayade

  • Cross River indigenes relish financial freedom

    Outside Calabar, the Cross River State capital, shaku shaku dance may not mean anything to market women and small business owners. But on Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Governor Ben Ayade’s enthralling shaku shaku dance steps at the inauguration of the first Cross River Micro- finance bank in the state capital, got some rusted waists cranking as market women shrugged off weariness to dig it out with His Excellency.

    Seeing their workaholic governor, who many indigenes of Cross River State have given various nicknames such as, “Salary Master”, in appreciation of his prompt payment of workers’ salaries; “Mr.Project”, in recognition of the industrialisation policy of his administration, and “Digital” in reference to his modernisation of governance, on the dance floor was the elixir that stirred the women into action. Obviously, nothing could be more stirring than the goodies the Micro- finance bank offers the women.

    It was, therefore, no surprise that “macro-votes and macro-victory for our digital governor” wafted from the crowd, giving the musical displays a blend of soul-stirring rendition of a pledge, chorus and music! Such was the dramatic setting at the inauguration ceremony.

    The facility with a N500 million start-up capital courtesy Governor Ayade, is the first ever state-owned Micro-finance bank in the state and the governor is optimistic that the bank will contribute immensely to the state’s economic growth.

    Paying glowing tribute to women, Governor Ayade urged them to take advantage of the services the bank offers to better their economic lot.

    Licenced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Cross River Micro-finance Bank will open offices in every local government in the state. For a state saturated with small-scale businesses whose operators are not equipped enough or qualified to access soft loans from traditional mainstream banks, Cross River, according to industry watchers, is on a sure footing for business growth with the establishment of the Micro-finance bank.

    According to the governor, at the heart of the establishment of the Micro-finance bank is the need for financial inclusion for all indigenes of Cross River State. The bank, he said, is a credible platform for small business owners to be financially stable and independent instead of depending on the government.

    “Our interest is to bring value to humanity, to make people feel the dignity of mankind…this bank is not intended to make money but targeted at helping women, the vulnerable and the physically-challenged; and to encourage them that there is always a banking sector that can provide for them,” he said.

    In order to cater for the economic and business interests of the category of Cross River State indigenes mentioned above, the Cross River Micro-finance Bank is structured to charge zero to five per cent interest on loans as the criteria for loans include ownership of a farm land, being a civil servant and ownership of a market stand.

    Going forward, the over 3,000 members of staff of the state-owned garment factory as well as members of staff of local government across the state are among the immediate beneficiaries of the financial freedom the Cross River Micro-Finance Bank offers as they have been requested to immediately open accounts in the bank to enjoy the benefits of loans.

    “For all young men, as we offer you appointments and create jobs for you in this administration, you will now put food on the table and with hands on the plough as the micro-finance bank will be available to give you loans for you to do that 30,000 hectares of cocoa, to give us over 60,000 hectares of rice farm that we are looking for, or organic bamboo plantation to feed our toothpick factory,” the governor said.

    Boki Local Government Area which lacks an institution or bank will be the first to get a branch of the Cross River Micro-finance Bank. The ground-breaking ceremony for the branch is slated for next month.

    “I promised Boki that I will bring an institution because the area is too big not to have an institution. I hereby implement the promise I made during my campaign,” the governor said, adding that, “it is now left for Boki sons and daughters through the Secretary to the State Government to choose a location where we can set up the micro-finance bank in Boki”.

    Some indigenes of the local government present at the inauguration ceremony could not hide their joy at the prospect of the area hosting a banking institution.

    One of them who identified herself as Catherine, a fashion shop owner, described Ayade as a promise keeper.

    Her words: “Our digital governor is a promise keeper. Here today, he has, again, demonstrated that and given Boki people yet another reason to queue behind him during the governorship election next year. For giving us a micro-finance bank, we will give him macro-votes!”

    Chairman, National Association of Micro-finance Banks in Nigeria, John Owan praised  Prof. Ayade for pioneering a state-owned micro-finance bank:

    “We are happy to have a new baby born into the industry as all micro-finance banks in Cross River State before now were privately-owned. Having seen the state-of-the-art facilities here, I have no doubt that those who patronise this bank will not regret doing so”, he said

    On his part, Cross River State Controller, Central Bank of Nigeria, Sampson Esua, pointed out that Ayade has made the job of CBN easy as the bank has several packages to offer those who patronise it.

     

    • Ita is Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade

  • 2019 PDP ticket: Ayade weighs options over opposition

    Sunday Oguntola reports on the intriguing battles in Cross River State within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade’s second term bid

    FORCES within the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are perfecting strategies to stop the second term bid of Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, it can be exclusively reported.

    The forces, according to investigation, are bent on truncating the governor’s bid to fly the party’s ticket because of several issues they have against the former university don.

    Top among the reasons, it was gathered, is the perceived non-performance of Ayade by PDP chieftains and stalwarts, a development they said might make the party lose the election should it field the governor again.

    A stalwart, who spoke with our correspondent, last week said: “The governor likes to talk big grammar and mesmerise people with grandiose projects. How many of those projects have been completed? How much impact has he had in terms of specific developments in the state?

    “It is obvious most of his plans are more on paper than on the grounds because people are obviously crying they have not felt his impact at all.

    “To field a man like that can be counter-productive for the party. So, it is better we put him where he belongs to salvage the PDP and retain the state.”

    It was learnt the perception of non-performance has gained grounds across the state with residents saying the governor has not delivered like his two recent predecessors, Liyel Imoke and Donald Duke.

    This perception gathered momentum recently when the highly respected founder of Bishop of God’s Heritage Centre Worldwide, Calabar, Dr. Josef Bassey, dismissed the governor as a colossal failure.

    A visibly livid Josef told reporters that Ayade is undeserving of a second term in office. According to him: “Cross River State needs to be rescued as a matter of urgency from sinking. We have been inundated with pressure of public complaints. It is at different levels … people are crying, people are agonising, all manner of things.

    “First year, he made excuses and assumes that he is trying to settle in and he has done a few things and all of that; the second year the same thing. As fathers, you don’t rush to talk, you don’t rush to say things, you watch, you pray, you hope and believe that, if that is a mistake, that somebody will make it right.

    “Let’s even assume that somebody played and played away two years; that this person is likely to seek reelection, he should do his best in the next two years to get things right.

    “But, unfortunately, that has not been so because, as I speak with you, I have to stop to think, what are the key areas where you can say this is where progress, meaningful progress has been achieved and actualised?

    “In all sincerity, I rally cannot find any. And I have been around here for a long time by the grace of God from the days of the military administration, whether you are going to talk about Ibim Princewill, the Kefas, whoever, the Agboneni to the days of Clement Ebri , the Donald Dukes, all of that . You can put all of them together.”

    Bassey, who serves as President of the Cross River State Christian Leaders Forum (CRSCLF), a powerful ecumenical Christian pressure group in the state, added: “In my opinion, and our opinion, we have never had it this bad. It has never been this bad for a state and it couldn’t be worse than this, so I think. So, something needs to be done. What area is there to commend; maybe of course the area of appointments.

    “That there have been a lot of people being appointed into positions, and these appointments also, well, for those of us who understand public service, and understand procedures, how things are done, are also worried because, how are these things done?

    “Never in the history of this state has the state civil service been so bastardised. I understand what civil service is about. When you now have a situation where a person is appointed a Director-General and you go to his office and the person doesn’t have a chair, he doesn’t know where his office is.

    “We should constantly work at developing stronger institutions than stronger individuals. But, when we see our institutions being destroyed, the legacy, the heritage of the civil service for instance, being destroyed before our very eyes, something is wrong.

    “When you tell me there is a government running where there are no memos, and that memos are by WhatsApp, then something is wrong.”

    Bassey may have spoken after feeling the pulse of common men as a gospel minister. But the governor’s aides carpeted him as sponsored.

    The Special Press Secretary to Ayade, Mr. Christian Ita, said: “There is no conflict or face-off between the governor and Christian leaders. We have good relationship with CAN and PFN, so where is the conflict coming from?

    “That forum does not even exist. It is the creation of one man. He is just on his own with some drummers in the bush beating the drums for him…Josef Bassey is the voice of Esau, the hand of Jacob.”

    There are insinuations Bassey may have been prompted or encouraged by PDP chieftains in the state to take on the governor. Aside from commanding large followership, the preacher is perceived as the conscience of the masses in the state.

    The ploy, it was gathered, is to sell the impression the Christian community has ditched the governor as a prelude to denying him the governorship ticket of the PDP.

    Aside from taking him on in the public space, albeit through proxies, our correspondent learnt the stalwarts have also convinced hitherto jittery aspirants to join the race. Backed by those they consider party heavyweights, the aspirants have become more and more vociferous with their campaigns, even demeaning the governor as unfit.

    A former aide to the governor and special envoy of Cross River to the African Development Bank (ADB), Emmanuel Ibeshi, is leading the pack, giving the governor a good run for his money. His supporters recently protested at the PDP National Secretariat demanding that Ayade shouldn’t be fielded. Another of such protests held again in Abuja, sending shivers down the governor’s camp.

    Ibeshi, a former National Publicity Secretary of the party, is from the Northern Senatorial District like Ayade. His entrance into the race seriously jeopardises the unwritten, gentleman arrangement for power to rotate among the three districts in 1999.

    Based on it, Duke from the South and Imoke (Central) rode to the governorship seat with Ayade serving the turn of the North. But political stakeholders in the state are of the argument that the arrangement no longer subsists since all the districts have taken their turns.

    Besides, they said even if the North must serve out its second term, the district should look for another candidate who can deliver democratic dividend against “paper work projects.”

    Other governorship aspirants from the North include ex-House of Representatives member, Paul Adah; former Commissioner Venatius Ikem and John Upan Odey, a banker. Incidentally, all of them are from Obudu Local Government Area like the governor.

    There is also a geoscientist, Tony Ushie, from the district. Thankfully for the governor, they are in the All Progressives Congress (APC) aside from Ibeshi. Rumours are rife the aspirants from the governor’s council were engineered to portray him as lacking home support and unpopular among even his kinsmen.

    Another grouse by the PDP leaders against the governor is the alleged efforts to raise a new generation of political supporters, totally disloyal to the old order. This anomaly, as they call it, is most reflected in his choice of political appointees without regards for inputs from established politicians in the state.

    In fact, it is believed this political mafia is behind attempts to deny him the party’s ticket. These people, most of who function as godfathers, are not only heavily grounded financially but also politically. They are said to have vowed that Ayade will never fly the PDP’s ticket so long as they are still alive.

    They are said to be gaining support of the PDP executives in the state, who have mostly been silent or non-committal to the second term ticket of the governor. The party executives, according to investigations, believe Ayade runs a one-man show and does not fund operations that would have empowered them.

    By allegedly not funding party activities as well as shutting off matters relating to appointments, the party executives are seen to have withdrawn into their shelf, waiting for the governor to approach them with request for the ticket.

    One of them, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent: “We shall see how he would get the ticket without recourse to us. If he thinks he can run the government alone for four years, let’s see how he will get the ticket without us. We shall let him know then who is really in charge of the party.”

    The governor, according to sources close to him, is well aware of oppositions against his second term ticket and is weighing his options. One of them confided the governor might consider leaving the PDP for a mega party in the event everything fails.

    But an aide said the governor will get the party ticket without as much as a sweat. “These things are not new. They happen every time there is election. The governor is not shaken at all. He knows what to do to whip everybody into shape. I assure that when it is time, everything will fall into line for him“.

  • 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.

  • Cross River has fared well under Ayade, says Agara

    With three years gone in the life of the present Governor Ben Ayade led administration in the state, how would rate it so far?

    Governor Ben Ayade has fared very well. I want people to look at the indices of what is obtainable in the state. We need to look at the parameters and data. Every development is influenced by the resources available within anybody’s disposal. You grow on the basis of what you have. If you check, Nigeria has been so reliant on Federation Account. That is what most of the states depend on. And if you check the case of Cross River, we are almost the last in Federation Allocation. And if you check our internally generated revenue, you will see that it is low, even considering the fact that the governor of the day abolished some taxes for a category of persons, because he feels those persons should not be burdened to pay taxes because of their low income. That has caused the state to have very lean resources. And in spite of that if you talk about the state’s social responsibility to its people, the governor has engaged so many. So, in country today, Cross River is the state with the highest number of appointees across board. And they are being paid regularly. In terms of the economic responsibility to the people, he is industrialising the state. I give you an instance of agriculture. Take the rice value chain. We all know that he has the rice city, to develop the seedlings of a specie of rice that will be akin to the state. This specie will be given to the farmers to plant and whatever would be harvested from there would be taken to the rice mill, that is being constructed by the governor. The rice mill is a world-class facility. By the time it finished whatever is gotten from there would be comparable, if not better than any rice you see anywhere in the world. Why I say it is better is because the rice is going to be vitaminized rice that would add better nutrients to the body than just the carbohydrate that we eat. So he has been able to develop that full value chain of rice. Prior to this time, 80 per cent of rice milled in Abakiliki in Ebonyi State comes from Cross River, but when it is milled it is tagged Abakiliki Rice. It is not tagged Cross River. But today, happily, rice that would be farmed and harvested would not be milled and tagged Cross River Rice. There are lots of advantages associated with this value chain of this rice.

    Look at other agricultural value chains like cocoa. Before now, our raw cocoa beans were usually sent to the west, particularly Ondo State and mixed with their cocoa and exported as Ondo Cocoa; meanwhile, the cocoa from Cross River is one of the finest. But when it is exported, Cross River is never mentioned. You know when you export, the Federal Government gives you export incentives, but all those incentives are never returned to the farmers here. So, the governor now decided to take the step further by processing this cocoa and adding value to it before exporting. So, we are right now building a cocoa processing factory in Ikom that has this full cocoa value chain for export. Apart from getting foreign exchange and Federal Government export incentive, is the fact that our products would not be found in the world market and our identity anywhere would not be known. There are lots of advantages that come with a place being identified for the quality of its product. So if there is any other product coming from here, people will acknowledge that we are known for producing quality things.

    Why do you want to run for the senate?

    I am a private sector person and it gets to a time in your life when you want to see what you have been doing in the private sector and see if that can be transformed to the public sector. As a private man I am an employer of labour. I do take on a lot of social responsibility and as a principle I don’t like disclosing them because I see them as a spiritual gift back to mankind. I have been in the oil and gas business for over 30 years. I noticed that we have too many professional politicians and I believe politics should be spiced by people who have pedigree and have demonstrated capacity and abilities in some way of life and we should not keep leaving it to these people who believe power must reside with them and so they don’t owe the people anything. The world is evolving. Private businessmen are coming into politics to see how they can turn the face of the way things are done to more productive ways of how things are supposed to be done. I can use the instrumentality of government to help my people more. My thrust will be on agriculture.

    As you are coming into the arena, what is your take on violence in politics?

    Politicians are responsible for this. They don’t believe there should go into contest fairly so the people would make their choice of who they want and so as a result of this, they start cutting corners or try to impose themselves or impose people. It is this imposition to allow the normal process to take place that is responsible for the violence you see. If you say let us go to the field and elect people we want and you do it transparently, and people go to make their choices the way they should, they would not be any need for any violence. But that is not the case with us, we want to either perpetuate ourselves in power or we want to impose people that are not popular. So these are all reasons we are seeing the electoral violence.

    In this light, what is your thinking about 2019?

    The spirit of 2015 will prevail. A situation where those who lose should lose gallantly and those who win should do so with a lot of magnanimity and all-inclusive winning. I pray that should be the case in 2019. It is only when people lose and refuse to accept the fact that they have lost that 2019 will be shaky. But if they lose and accept the fact they lost, then our democracy would have taken a further step, which is good for us.

     

  • Cross River 2019: Ayade’s many hurdles

    As the preparations for the 2019 governorship race in Cross River State gather steam, Nicholas Kalu, reports on the many obstacles Governor Ben Ayade may have to overcome to be re-elected

    THE frenzy over the governorship elections in Cross River State has heightened as groups across the southern, central and northern senatorial districts file out to endorse Governor Ben Ayade, creating the impression that the 2019 Governorship Election may be a walkover for the governor.

    However, the facts on ground actually suggest it is going to be an uphill task for Ayade. If he wants it, he has to fight for it as it would not just be thrown into his laps, as most of his supporters believe.

    The battle for Ayade, who is a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governor, is on many fronts. It is pertinent to point out that the governor is actually serving the term of the northern senatorial district in an unwritten agreement within their party and a section of the political class in the state. Donald Duke from the south served from 1999 to 2007. Liyel Imoke from the central took over until 2015, when Ayade from the north came on board. But despite sentiments that the north must complete its turn no matter what, it is clear Ayade’s feet must be on the ground else he would be swept off.

    Many proponents of this zoning system, who feel the governor has not done well and should not be returned, however feel that someone else from the north should take over; while more pervasively among the political class are the ideas that the whole zoning arrangement be jettisoned and a governor elected on merit.

    Ayade’s battle begins from home, where three of his kinsmen have come forward to topple him in next year’s election. Ayade who hails from Obudu Local Government Area, despite having support there, still has a lot of disaffection towards his administration. It has been a source of worry for the governor’s supporters that such level of opposition could come from his hometown, as it suggests he may not have a grip on things. The three from his local government seeking his job include Mr. Paul Adah, a former House of Representatives member. Adah, also a former Commissioner in the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) is believed to be a strong grassroots politician. Another is Mr. Venatius Ikem, a former local government chairman and commissioner in the state. Ikem was recently attacked in Obudu while declaring his intention to run for governorship position by political thugs and this, many felt, was because he posed a threat to the present administration. The state government had however denied being behind the attack. Ikem however went on to successfully declare and even unveiled his blueprint for the development of the state. The third person from Obudu seeking to be governor next year is a much younger Mr. John Upan Odey. A banker by profession, Odey believes there must be a leadership shift. Also from the northern senatorial district, but from Obanliku Local Government Area is Mr. Tony Ushie. He is a Geoscientist in the oil and gas sector. Having worked as a seismologist and later as an exploration manager of an oil and gas firm in Lagos, Ushie, currently a geophysical consultant, has decided to throw his hat in the ring. He says his objective is to re-engineer the state to enable it function without depending on federal allocation.

    From the central senatorial district, there are speculations that the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Pastor Usani Usani, from Yakurr Local Government Area is also gunning for the job. Also said to be interested is incumbent Senator John Owan-Enoh from Etung Local Government.

    In the southern senatorial district, pioneer Commissioner of the NDDC, Prof Eyo Etim Nyong, from Odukpani Local Government Area, is also set to run. Sources said he has since begun consultations across the state.

    Also from the south is the Nigerian Ambassador to the Republic of Uganda, Etubom (Dr.) Nya Asuquo, who has declared his intention to run.

    According to the 70-year old envoy from Odukpani Local Government Area, he was in the race because the present administration has failed the people. Asuquo said governance was not a function of age but the ability to deliver, adding that age comes with experience.

    So far all the oppositions mentioned are from the All Progressive Congress (APC). Within the PDP despite the endorsements, there are still indications that there still would be a scramble for the ticket of the party.

    A group of PDP members from the state had recently carried a protest to the national secretariat of the party in Abuja to protest that there should be a level playing field for anyone interested in the party’s ticket.

    The National Secretary of the party, Ibrahim Tsauri, was reported to have assured them that there will be no imposition of candidates.

    The protesters in their numbers, who were led by one Ken Bassey, were in support of Mr. Emmanuel Ibeshi for governor. They carried banners to register their protests and position. Ibeshi, a former governorship aspirant in the state, is a former National Publicity Secretary of the party.

    It is believed that many more may also find courage to come out to jostle for the ticket as time goes on.

    Political analysts in the state also believe that beyond the growing number of contenders, Ayade’s style of governance may likely hurt him in next year’s elections. Towards the end of last year, it was reported that he was abandoned by his party the PDP in a court matter.  Mr. Joe Agi, who came second in the PDP primaries, had in a pre-2015 election matter dragged the governor to court, claiming among other things that Ayade paraded different age declarations and by the constitution of the party was not qualified to be the candidate of the party.

    Some stakeholders believe that though the matter was resolved in the governor’s favour at the Supreme Court, the alleged abandonment by his party at that stage is still a bitter reminder that many of the supposed allies of the governor in the party still suspect his alleged romance with the APC. In fact, at a time it was widely speculated that he was going to dump the PDP for the APC.

    Also the disaffection is believed to be due to his moves to establish a new political structure in the state in order to flush out the old. Many believe this is the main reason behind the appointment of thousands of appointees across the state. This has not gone down well with the old order, which to a great extent still have considerable influence on the politics of the state. Many of the leaders of the old order had however dumped the PDP for the APC.

    It appears the governor now realises that despite his young army, going against old political structures would be difficult and so he has tried to make moves to woo the old order (those still in the PDP) again. For instance, his recent romance with former governor, Liyel Imoke, has been explained in this light. Imoke is said to be unhappy with the governor’s style of establishing a new political order. However it is believed that Imoke is at the moment only playing along with the governor and when the chips are down would let him hang to dry. Imoke, always known as cool, calm and calculating, had been always known to keep his moves close to his chest. Surprises have always been part of Imoke’s game plan. Those who know him well, say he does not just wave slights to his person casually.

    Other factors that pose challenges to the governor include the new political structure in the country and state. This is because this would be the first time in the present democratic dispensation that Cross River State would be going into an election as an opposition state. The government in the state is PDP, while the national government is APC. Before now, the ruling PDP was always in charge of all the political apparatus, hence it was with little effort they managed to bulldoze any kind of opposition rearing its head. This is believed would no longer be the case with the APC in charge at the national level.

    Also before now, all the political heavyweights in the state were all in the PDP. However, today, almost all of them from across the three senatorial districts of the state are members of the APC. Ayade it appears is left with very few political heavyweights behind him. He however has an army of young supporters in his appointees.

    There is also a feeling of disillusionment among the general populace in the state about the governor’s “castle in the air style of governance”, always mentioning several grandiose projects that are not matched on ground. The people believe that all the accolades the governor is getting are just from people outside the state who only know him through what is sold in the media and not what is exactly on ground. “This particular knowledge about the governor is only known by people who are on ground in the state or who have good knowledge of how the state operates. And it is those who have no power to make him return or sack him in the next election that have this information,” a resident of Calabar, Samuel Edem said.

    The governor also seems to have a faceoff with National Assembly members over claims by the state’s NASS caucus of highhandedness and non-inclusiveness.

    The lawmakers from the state in a letter to the National Chairman of the PDP in October last year had warned that unless something urgently is done to remedy the situation, the party stands a poor chance in the 2019 elections. The lawmakers were bitter that the governor allegedly hijacked the state congresses to the exclusion of elders and stakeholders.

    It is believed that Senator Owan Enoh, who was a member of the PDP, decamped to the APC because of this.

    There are indications that the governor might be troubled because of the obstacles that seem to be in his way. For instance after his recent return from one of such many trips abroad, where he says he goes in search of investors, the governor had reportedly in meetings with all his aides warned them not to romance with any opposition or face dire consequences. It was equally learnt that the PDP leadership in the state in similar meetings had also echoed the governor’s directive, saying no one should do anything that would jeopardize Ayade’s second term bid.

    However, some PDP stakeholders have reacted to this, saying such directive was undemocratic and an attempt to muscle opponents.

    A group under the Fix Cross River Initiative (FCRI), through its spokesman, Mr. Joseph Oyama, for example, said barring appointees from interacting freely with any gubernatorial aspirant in the party is tantamount to returning to the dark era of impunity.

    “It is unfortunate that this directive to appointees and party faithful is coming at a time the national leadership is embarking on a massive reconciliation process of aggrieved members and calling on all to come out and stand in for elections,” Oyama said.

    Reacting, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Odama Egbung, denied that the governor or the party have threatened party members with sanctions if they support other governorship aspirants.

    “The party or the governor cannot give such instructions because PDP of today is not PDP of yester years where there was impunity. The party only appealed to stakeholders in a meeting with them not to abandon zoning to reduce tension,” he said.

    A supporter of the governor, Godwin Akpama, in his contribution, said it was only fair that Ayade continues in the spirit of equity, noting the efforts he has been making to develop the state.

    At the moment the ball has been set rolling and only time would tell if Ayade would continue as Cross River State governor beyond next year.

     

  • FG bereft of ideas, says Lamido 

    FG bereft of ideas, says Lamido 

    Former Governor of Jigawa State, Sule Lamido, has said the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government is bereft of ideas on how to move the country forward.

    Lamido who was in Calabar, the Cross River State capital, to solicit for support as the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential flag bearer in next year’s election said it was for this reason he was offering himself for service to salvage the country from collapse.

    Lamido who visited Governor Ben Ayade described the PDP as the party owned by Nigerians with genuine concern for the welfare of all Nigerians irrespective of their tribe or religion as in the case by the ruling party.

    “Today we witness the collapsed of governance because they were not prepared in the first place. They only came together to grab power at the centre without proper planning, that is why today we have hunger-haram in the country,” he said.

    Read Also: I am not desperate for Nigerian Presidency, says Lamido

  • Ayade ’s critic docked for social media comments

    Ayade ’s critic docked for social media comments

    A social critic in Cross River State, Mr Paul Ifere, known for his strong criticisms of Governor Ben Ayade was Monday docked for comments he made on Facebook and WhatsApp at the Magistrate Court 1 in Calabar.

    Ifere, a member of the All Progressives Party (APC), was reportedly picked up in Abuja last Thursday by policemen and driven to Calabar where he was kept in custody in the State Police Headquarters in a manner that has drawn protests and criticisms from various quarters, who attributed the development to a witch-hunt by the state government.

    Ifere was arraigned in court yesterday in the court presided over by Chief Magistrate E.E. Edogi.

    A four-count charge, two apiece in two separate charge sheets, brought against Ifere by the Commissioner of Police, bordering on misdemeanor where read in court to the accused, who pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

    Lead defense counsel, Utum Eteng, who led five other lawyers moved a motion for bail to be granted his client, saying the charges were not only ridiculous before the law but clearly bailable.

    The prosecution counsel, Barrister Ofem Mbang, leading three others told the court that he has no reasons under the law to oppose the bail application.

    Granting the bail, the magistrate asked the defense counsel to present a surety for the bail and the state Chairman of the All Progressive Congress APC, Chief John Ochalla was presented and he agreed to surety the bail conditions given.

    The bail conditions as given included a deposit of one million naira and a surety by a known chief executive of a company or an organization, who should be resident in Calabar and has a landed property.

    The first charge sheet with numbers MC.1140C/2017 was about a Whatsapp message to one Goddy Akpama on August 17, 2017, which was said to be with intent to intimidate and threaten him and his reputation and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 366 (a) of the criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol.3, Laws of Cross River State of Nigeria.”

    The second count of the same charge also bordering on the same message to Goddy Akpama was for an offence of misdemeanor punishable under Section 375 of the criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol.3, Laws of Cross River State of Nigeria.

    The second with two count charges as well with number MC 1141C/2017 bordered on his Facebook post which he made and published on the 8th and 9th of July 2016.

    It read, “Breaking news: More Robberies and Kidnappings coming your way. That is the price you pay where a Governor shuttles the world signing MoUs, meanwhile there was no homeland security or police to fight the robbers”.

    “…Ifere Paul, knowing this to be false, with intent to raise false alarm and cause fear among citizens, residents, inhabitants, visitors and members of the general public in Cross River State and thereby committed an offence punishable under section 59 (1) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol.111, laws of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004.”

    The second count on the second charge number also bordered on the same Facebook post and publication by Ifere Paul and said to punishable under section 51 (c) of the Criminal Code, Cap C16, Vol.111, laws of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004.”

    The matter was adjourned to November 21st, 2017.

    Read Also: 23 year-old in prison for stealing TV

     

  • Niger Delta: Every part of the country matters – Osinbajo

    Niger Delta: Every part of the country matters – Osinbajo

    VICE President Yemi Osinbajo assured that Niger Delta people will benefit maximally from the wealth and natural resources of their land.

    He said every part of the country mattered to the President Muhammadu Buhari administration.

    Osinbajo spoke yesterday on Bonny Island, the headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State while inaugurating the construction of the strategic 40-kilometre Bonny-Bodo-Ogoni Road, conceived by the Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s regime but abandoned.

    The road is to be jointly financed by the Federal Government and the Bonny-based Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) Company Limited.

    The vice president, who arrived Port Harcourt International Airport, Omagwa at 12:05 p.m., was accompanied by Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola; senator representing Rivers Southeast Senator Magnus Abe and Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) Dr Dakuku Peterside.

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade received Prof. Osinbajo at the airport with Secretary to the Rivers State Government (SSG) Chief Kenneth Kobani.

    In Bonny, Osinbajo said: “November 1 will make it exactly one year after Niger Delta leaders, under the aegis of the Pan-Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) met with President Muhammadu Buhari, where he discussed the new vision of his administration with them.

    “On my own part, I have toured many Niger Delta communities to tell them about the new vision of the present administration, ably led by President Buhari.

    Yemi Osinbajo at Niger Delta
    Vice President, Prof. Osinbajo was welcomed by Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade at the Airport

    “Under the new vision, the people of Niger Delta will benefit maximally from the wealth that comes from their land. Every part of Nigeria matters to us as a government. What this country produces will be enough for all of us, if we manage the resources prudently.”

    The vice president also stated that the new road would create jobs in and around Bonny and Bodo communities.

    He said: “This road will create jobs for engineers, it will create jobs for artisans and it will create jobs for food vendors. The construction of this road will transform a lot of lives in and around Bonny and Bodo communities.

    “The construction of this road will alleviate the suffering of many travellers to and from Bonny Island. I rejoice with the people of Bonny and Bodo over the flag-off of the construction of this road project.”

    Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike reiterated that over the years, residents of Bonny were yearning for the construction of the road to link the coastal community with the upland areas of the state.

    Wike was represented by Deputy Governor Ipalibo Harry-Banigo.

    Fashola said: “This 40-kilometre Bonny-Bodo Road will have three bridges in between. A 1,000-metre bridge will across Ogbogbo Creek, a 640-metre bridge will be against Nabie Creek, and a 550-metre bridge will be against the Ake Creek.”

  • Police station burnt in clash with Navy

    Police station burnt in clash with Navy

    The Akim Police Station along IBB Way was torched following the clash the police had with men of the Nigerian Navy late Tuesday night.

    A misunderstanding between a policeman and a Naval rating along the traffic light along IBB Way by the UJ Esuene Stadium had snowballed into a clash between the two security agencies that saw men of the Navy storm the police station and rain hails of bullets on the structure.

    At least two policemen and a naval official were killed in the ensuing shootout it was gathered. Several others sustained gunshot wounds. The Navy and Police authorities were however mute on the exact number of fatalities on either side. It could not be immediately ascertained if any civilian was caught in the crossfire.

    In the process the police station was set ablaze, a police patrol vehicle and another vehicle inside the station were also burnt.

    It was gathered that the police in the pandemonium had to open the cells and free suspects in custody so they would not be killed in the fire. The walls of the police station that were still standing were riddled with bullet holes.

    The gun battle had engulfed most of the IBB Way from the police station to the UJ Esuene Stadium about half a kilometre away. According to residents, the gunfight lasted over three hours.

    Vehicles and other property of members of the public were damaged in the incident.

    The situation had led to a security council meeting between Governor Ben Ayade and service Commanders in the state, after which the governor said they would ensure normalcy is returned.

    He regretted the incident and promised to take full responsibility for all the associated damages on both sides.

    Commander of the Nigerian Navy Ship, Victory in Calabar, Commodore Sid Jubril also regretted the incident, saying they intervene promptly to check the escalation of the problem.

    He said that culprits in the incident would be properly investigated and appropriate sanctions meted on them.

    He said the incident in no way indicated that the police and Navy have a good relationship.

    Commissioner of Police. Mr. Inuwa Hafiz also said, “Yesterday’s fracas has nothing to do with the relationship between the Police and Navy. It was just a misunderstanding amongst our junior officers that led to the incident which we quickly stepped in to address.

    “All the service commanders in the state are one and active partners in progress, particularly on issues of security and protection of lives and property of the citizenry.”

    He assured that the matter will be thoroughly investigated and culprits brought to book.

     

     

  • Supreme Court upholds Cross River gov’s election

    Supreme Court upholds Cross River gov’s election

    …Says court can’t determine party membership

     

    The Supreme Court has upheld the election of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State.

    The court, in a unanimous judgment by a five-man panel, dismissed an appeal raised by a lawyer, Joe Agi (SAN) against an earlier decision of the Court of Appeal, which upheld Ayade’s election.

    Agi had participated in the governorship primary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) on December 8, 2014, from which Ayade emerged as the party’s candidate for the 2015 election.

    Agi later challenged Ayade’s victory in the primary and his eventual victory at the election, raising issues of age and party membership.

    It was Agi’s contention at the trial court that Ayade was not a valid member of the PDP, as at when he participated in the primary, because he allegedly defaulted in his dues.

    Agi also queried Ayade’s candidacy on the ground that he falsified his age.

    He claimed that Ayade falsely represented his date of birth in his nomination form submitted to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and other records as March 2, 1968 and March 2, 1969.

    He sought Ayade’s disqualification on those grounds, and prayed the court to among others, disqualify Ayade and void his election.

    The Federal High Court, Abuja dismissed the suit for lacking in merit. Agi appealed to the Court of Appeal in Abuja, which, in a judgment on February 5, 2016, also dismissed the appeal, a decision Agi later appealed to the Supreme Court.

    Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, who read the lead judgement of the Supreme Court Friday, said it was not the responsibility of the court to determine who is a member of a political party.

    The Judge said political parties are like voluntary association and that the issue of determining who is a member is internal to the political party.

    She said since there were evidences that the PDP cleared Ayade to contest election as its candidate, it was not for the court to begin to inquire how the party arrived at its decision.

    On the issue of age, Justice Ogunbiyi said since the discrepancies noted in Ayade’s documents were not intended to circumvent the constitutional requirement of 35 years (for a person ruling for governorship position), they were immaterial.

    She noted that age falsification was criminal offence, which needed to be adequately proved by the person making such allegation.

    Justice Ogunbiyi said the status of a person’s membership of a political party was not “justiciable,” and that since the party, through its state Secretary, confirmed at the trial court that Ayade had paid all his dues and that he remained a member of the party, the court could not hold otherwise.

    She said: “The pertinent question to pose is that who between the appellant (Agi) and the first respondent (the PDP) has the vires to decide who is a member of the party.”

    The judge noted that contrary to Agi’s submission, the endorsement of the word “cleared” on Ayade’s membership card, was sufficient to show that he (Ayade) had paid all necessary dues as stipulated in section 8(10) of PDP’s constitution.

    She noted that as provided under paragraph 48 of the of the PDP’s Guideline for Primary Election 2014, the party’s National Executive Committee’s (NEC’s) decision, conveyed by the state chapter of the party, to the effect that Ayade was a member of the party, was final and binding on all aspirants, who participated in the December 8, 2014 primary.

    Justice Ogunbiyi said: “As I earlier said, a political party is a voluntary association and its decision is binding on its members even if it is deemed unreasonable.The decision of the party on issue like this is final.

    “The court will not substitute its will with that of the voluntary association, whether it is reasonable or unreasonable.”

    Justice Ogunbiyi, who noted the allegation of age falsification “is rooted” in criminality, said Agi failed to prove his allegation that Ayade falsified his age beyond reasonable doubt as required by law.

    The judge said for age falsification to serve as a disqualifying factor for any person contesting for the office of governor, it must be proved that it was done with the intention to meet the minimum age of 35 years, which is the constitutional requirement for any person seeking to occupy the office of governor.

    Justice Ogunbiyi said that neither of disputed the dates of birth (March 2, 1968 and March 2, 1969), which placed the age of the governor at either 45 or 46 as of the time he was nominated by the PDP to run for the office of the governor, conferred any undue advantage on him.

    “The second respondent (Ayade) was said to have stated his date of birth in his nomination form to INEC as March 2, 1968.

    “That means that he was 46 years old as of the time he was nominated and that was 11 years above the constitutional requirement of 35 years.

    “By March 2, 1969, the second respondent would have been 45 years old as of the time he was sponsored by the first respondent (the PDP).

    “He would still have been 10 years above the constitutional requirement age of 35 years for office of the governor.

    “The appellant has failed to prove the intention of the second respondent to circumvent the law in order to ensure his compliance with constitutional age requirement,” Justice Ogunbiyi said.

    The judge noted that sections 14(b) and 15(2) of the PDP’s constitution and Section 31(2),(5) and (6) of the Electoral Act (which provide for the disqualification of any aspirant seeking political office) were to ensure compliance with the requirement on mandatory age for the office of the governor under section 177(b) and section 182(1) of the Constitution.