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Tag: Ita-Giwa

  • Ita Giwa to FG: Don’t waste resources appealing Bakassi judgment

    FORMER Presidential Adviser and Bakassi leader, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has advised the Federal Government to channel the resources meant for appealing against judgment that ceded oil rich Bakassi Peninsula to Cameroon to resettle the people.

    Ita-Giwa described the attempt at appealing the judgment as effort in futility. The ex-lawmaker made the remark when she went to give relief materials to the returnees. Her words: “The Federal Government should resettle us. And that is why I say the issue of going for an appeal on Bakassi is an exercise in futility and it would only drag the suffering of the people more. It has been overtaken by time.

    That money they would have wasted for appeal should be used to resettle the people. We have our solution. We have found our place. We have registered there as voters. All we need is for government to come and develop the area. That is all. “I would not allow myself to be pushed to a situation where I would neglect the people who need me. I would not let the blackmailers poison my mind against the people. This Calabar people are not the ones that need me because they are comfortable.

    It is the innocent ones like these ones recently sacked by Cameroon that need me and it is because of them that I have been preaching for years for us to develop Dayspring.” She added: “I got an invitation from the police headquarters in Calabar, that I was planning a big demonstration for Bakassi that would threaten the peace in the state because I am very popular and that it can get out of hand and can result in clashes and all of that. That is not true. What I am planning now is my official declaration as a card-carrying member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state, which is normal. I cannot apologize for that.”

    The returnees who were allegedly sacked by the Cameroon government from the ceded peninsula equally appealed to the Federal Government and other relevant authorities to expedite action on their resettlement and also provide immediate palliatives to ease their suffering. Speaking, the national coordinator for the Bakassi Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), Prince Aston Inyang, said: “The condition has remained the same since the returnees got back. Senator Ita-Giwa has tried by giving money, food and water to our people. Our condition is deplorable. We have even been chased away from the council headquarters where we were even squatting. We are right now trying to clear a place in Ikot Effiom, where we can squat until help comes to us.”

  • Ita-Giwa urges resettlement of Bakassi indigenes

    Ita-Giwa urges resettlement of Bakassi indigenes

    Bakassi leader in Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has described as unfortunate reports of maltreatment of Bakassi indigenes in the ceded peninsula in Cameroon, saying it is a wake up call for the urgent and proper resettlement of displaced persons in Dayspring.

    The former presidential adviser stressed that “all the Bakassi people need to do is to be united in our demand for where our people should come and be resettled.”

    Speaking with The Nation in Calabar yesterday, Ita-Giwa said it was regrettable that the Green Tree Agreement, a treaty by the Nigerian and Cameroonian governments, had not been adhered to.

    Last week hundreds of Bakassi indigenes who still lived in the ceded Bakassi landed Ikang jetty in Cross River alleged that almost 100 of them had been killed by gendarmes following incessant harassment by Cameroonian authorities.

    Ita-Giwa said: “That is very unfortunate. For years I have been saying that that the Green Tree Agreement has not been adhered to and in fact that for many years we have been crying that if Nigeria had developed Dayspring then these people would not have waited there long enough to be maltreated by the Cameroon government. They all would have come back. We are just saying they should just develop that land for the people because it is convenient for their way of life, which is fishing.”

     

  • Ayade, Ita-Giwa trade words over alleged threat to life

    Ayade, Ita-Giwa trade words over alleged threat to life

    Former Presidential Adviser and Bakassi leader in Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, yesterday raised the alarm over her life.

    In a telephone interview with The Nation yesterday, Ita-Giwa alleged that Governor Ben Ayade was sponsoring demonstrations against her, because of her insistence on the probe of relief materials for some displaced people of Bakasssi.

    Her words: “Almost all my life I had been agitating on the issue of Bakassi and most times I have been at loggerhead with the past governors over the issue. But in all my life through out this struggle, no governor,  Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, ever organised, or incited some people against me,thereby threatening my life and my wellbeing. This is the first time a governor is organising demonstrations against me and hiring people against me.  Whenever you organise a demonstration against somebody, the person they are demonstrating against, his or her life is in danger. That is why I don’t want to organise any demonstration. I would never organise any demonstration because I don’t want to put any body’s life at risk.

    “No government has tried to gag us, neither has any governor picked its employees to organise demonstrations against me. If anybody organises any demonstration against any individual, you have put that person’s life at risk.”

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to governor, Christian Ita, accused Ita-Giwa of attempting to divert attention from counter-claim by some indigenes of Bakassi accusing her of age-long diversion of materials and the resettlement fund meant for the rehabilitation of the people.

    “Rather than respond to the claim by Bakassi indigenes that she has over the years been diverting their relief materials and funds, Senator Ita-Giwa has resorted to blackmail the governor in a bid to divert attention from the accusation by the indigenes that she has been diverting their relief materials.

    “Last Christmas, the governor sent 300 bags of rice and other items to the displaced people of Bakassi. Because it was channeled through her, nobody heard anything about it.”

    The statement added that her grouse this time is that the relief materials were not channeled through her, “hence the heavens must fall.”

    “It is instructive to state that following her allegation, the Department of State Services (DSS) swung into action and after a thorough investigation, concluded that the former presidential adviser could not substantiate her claim. This rendered her false accusation useless.”

    It said by the outcome of the DSS investigation, Senator Ita-Giwa has publicly embarrassed herself.

    While describing the entire episode as unfortunate, the statement said it was however, not surprising by the “antics of Ita-Giwa who once boasted that she uses the media and the Police whenever she seeks relevance.”

    The statement added further that “the governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade is too busy trying to provide developmental projects for the people of Bakassi; some of which are the Bakassi social housing project, Deep Seaport among others than join issues with Ita-Giwa who is seeking relevance at any given opportunity,” the statement concluded.

  • Calabar tragedy: Ita-Giwa plans viewing centre for youths

    Calabar tragedy: Ita-Giwa plans viewing centre for youths

    Senator Florence Ita-Giwa has promised to build a standard viewing centre for the Nyaghassang community in Calabar in honour of victims of the electrocution incident that occurred last Thursday.

    At least seven persons died when a high tension cable fell on the roof of a football viewing centre watching Manchester United versus Anderlecht in the return leg of the UEFA Europa league.

    Ita-Giwa, who laid a wreath in honour of the victims of the incident at the scene, made the pledge said the incident was an indictment on the political class.

    Ita-Giwa, who led mothers of the Efik Kingdom to the scene of the incident, said: “We would build a viewing centre to commemorate the people that died here.

    “What shocked me when I got here was the state of the place where people paid N50 to come and watch football. I am here as a mother but I would not also deny the fact the fact that I am a politician.

    “So these are the kind of things I see as a politician that makes me feel very guilty that the people are not living well in this country, because under normal circumstances these are some of the things a representative should provide. These are some of the things that keep the boys off crime.”

  • Ndoma-Egba hails Ita-Giwa over defection

    Ndoma-Egba hails Ita-Giwa over defection

    The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba, has described the defection of the erstwhile Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as welcome development.

    The NDDC chairman made the remark in a press statement signed by his Special Assistant on Communication, Mrs. Clara Braide.

    Ndoma-Egba said Ita-Giwa’s decision to join the APC came at a time when all people of goodwill were moving over to contribute their quota towards the development of the country, through the party.

    He said: Your coming to the APC at this point in our fledgling democracy is a pointer to your sincere commitment to deploy your wealth of experience, with other democrats, for the betterment of your region and the nation as a whole.”

    The board chairman expressed optimism that judging from Ita-Giwa’s antecedents as a team player, grassroots mobiliser and party faithful, the APC’s gradual push to take over the Southsouth was progressively becoming a reality.

    “We all are aware of the interesting political story of this great woman of note and how she has been able to galvanise the people of her community to pursue a course that they hold dear in a non-political and non-military way.”  He added: “The party can benefit from her immense wealth of experience and tap into her political structure for our party’s greater good. She is a good catch. This move is a further endorsement for President Muhammadu Buhari.”

    Ita-Giwa, popularly known as “Mama Bakassi,” and the strong lady of Cross River State politics, dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, on the grounds that she needed a credible platform to continue her political life and contribute to the advancement of the society.

  • Ita-Giwa hails Buhari’s ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change

    Ita-Giwa hails Buhari’s ratification of Paris Agreement on climate change

    Former presidential adviser, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has expressed support for President Muhammadu Buhari in ratifying the Paris Agreement on climate change.
    She hailed the move as a step in the right direction.
    President Buhari signed the instrument of ratification of the Paris Agreement on climate change on Tuesday, a follow up to the signing of the first draft of the agreement last September.
    The Paris Agreement (French: Accord de Paris) is an agreement within the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change dealing with greenhouse gases emissions mitigation, adaptation and finance starting in the year 2020.
    Ita-Giwa, in a statement in Calabar, however, stressed the need for all stakeholders to urgently embrace the implementation of the terms of the accord.
    She said that implementing the agreement is of utmost importance to Nigerians, especially the Southsouth in view of its peculiar environmental challenges.

  • Cross River elders, Ita-Giwa hail Ayade on award

    Cross River elders, Ita-Giwa hail Ayade on award

    THE Cross River State Elders Forum and some prominent indigenes of the state, including Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, have reacted with excitement to the nomination of the state governor, Ben Ayade, as Governor of the Year by Vanguard Newspaper.

    They said the governor was most deserving of the award, which will be conferred on him on Saturday.

    Chairman of the elders’ forum, Col. Pam Ogar (rtd), said the award was a fitting recognition of the hard work and unsurpassable achievements recorded by the governor.

    According to him, “The governor’s achievements in the last 22 months as governor of Cross River State are unmatched.

    “Receiving a governor of the year award from a reputable newspaper like Vanguard has again shown that what he is doing in this part of the country is being seen and appreciated by all.”

    Urging the governor to see the award as an impetus to do much more to advance the lot of the people, he offered prayers for the governor.

    “As the umbrella of  body elders from Cross River, we can only pray for the governor and urge him to do more for the people of the State.

    “We wish him greater achievement for the state and greater opportunity for the people of Cross River. Our prayer is for him to continue to make the dream of the founding fathers of the state come true while praying for his good health.We will continue to support him.”

    On her part, Ita-Giwa views the award as “a clear indication of the governor’s faithfulness and commitment to better the lot of Cross Riverians. Ayade has shown he is ready to make the state a better place. So, l am not surprised with the award and recognition for all his achievements.

    She said the state under Ayade’s watch “is fast becoming an industrial hub, our people have enjoyed massive employment from the governor in his demonstration to ensure all Cross Riverians have opportunity to feed themselves. This award is obviously an award for all Cross Riverians.”

  • Nigeria needs love to overcome challenges, says Ita-Giwa

    FORMER Presidential Special Adviser and Leader of the Bakassi in Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, has urged Nigerians to love each other in order to overcome the myriad of challenges facing the country. Speaking during a Valentine Dinner organized by The Fusion Calabar in collaboration with Big Cola, Ita- Giwa said love should transcend all differences among the people.

    She said, “It is a day to celebrate love, which is fast dying out of Nigeria. True undiluted love that does not crucify, that does not quarrel, that does not see anything bad in each other, which I believe we should all try to bring back to this country. “I am a chronic romantic, so I admire and appreciate what is romance which is what this day stands for. A day to talk about love, and in my opinion, this love should also extend to Nigeria.

    Nigerians should learn to love each other, devoid of political party leanings, or religion or ethnicity. They should bring back that love that does not criticize each, that love that does not judge. The love that appreciates

  • Calabar carnival: Ita Giwa promotes climate change with culture

    Calabar carnival: Ita Giwa promotes climate change with culture

    WITH the victory of her band in the last edition of the popular Calabar carnival, Senator Florence Ita Giwa has promised to ensure that the band continues with its historymaking feat, adding that the band’s victory was the result of intensive advance preparation, rehearsals and research, which she said will forever be a reference point .

    With the victory, the band, Seagull Band, is set to storm Lagos in March to re-enact the spectacular performance and the perfect interpretation of the Climate Change theme that earned it accolades and made it the ultimate winner of the keenly contested carnival.

    The planned Lagos show is exclusively meant to promote the green revolution, a major component of the Climate Change which has been the thrust of the United Nations campaign for a safe global environment. Over the years, the former Presidential Adviser on National Assembly Matters has been in the forefront of sensistising the people and organisations on the need to encourage afforestation and to demonstrate that the continent can provide solution to Climate Change. Famously called Mama Bakkassi, Senator Ita Giwa is reputed for bringing in locals, internationals and institutions to her events.

  • Ita-Giwa opens restaurant in Calabar

    Ita-Giwa opens restaurant in Calabar

    It was gathering of the crème de la crème when a top class restaurant, The Fusion, opened in Calabar, the Cross River State capital.
    Established by a politician and philanthropist, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, the outfit aims at nurturing the “well-being of clients through fine dining”. It also aims to be a melting pot of society, hence the name, The Fusion, according to its proprietor.
    The event was attended by dignitaries from within and outside the state.
    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade promised to support indigenes who invest in the state. He lauded the efforts of Mrs Ita-Giwa, describing her as “a pride and great asset of the state”.
    He said: “We laud you for having the courage to come here and invest in the state. Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, you are a dream and pride of Cross River State. You are one of those great assets of the state. As part of efforts to encourage you, all the bills at the opening of this restaurant will be paid by the state government. As Ben Ayade, I am donating the sum of N5 million. This is to show the people of the state that if they come to invest in Cross River, the government would be there to support them.”
    Beyond serving meals that would take into consideration the wellbeing of whoever eats its foods, Ita-Giwa said: ‘’The Fusion is aimed at uniting all members of the society, hence the name, The Fusion.
    “This place is going to unite children, young and old, forward-looking and hardworking people and so on. We are going to have food that will take your well-being into consideration. You will eat and have energy and look like I do at 70 – still very energetic. I don’t have joint pain, no knee pain.
    ‘’I am the only 70-year-old that does the 12-km Carnival walk. So, if you eat The Fusion’s food, you will be like Ita-Giwa. Everything here is measured.”
    The salt here is sodium-free. The oil here is cholesterol free.
    What I am serving here is what I eat and I like my life; and I want to share,” Ita-Giwa said.
    Other dignitaries at the event were former Cross River Governor Donald Duke; former Kano State Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso and a Senator from Kogi State, Dino Melaye, among others.