Paradise News

Category: Metro

  • LIVE UPDATE on Calabar unrest

    By Frankie Ifop

    Welcome to the Live feed update on Calabar unrest. Always refresh your browser for update.

    Since Friday, October 23, 2020, Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, South South Nigeria has been laid siege by a group of hoodlums which has turned into a mob action, sweeping the city apart.

    From looting COVID-19 warehouses to destroying and burning businesses and government MDAs (Ministries, Developments and Agencies), residents of Calabar are sleeping with one eye opened while holding their hearts on their hands, waiting for the cup to pass by.

    The level of vandalisation, arson and looting in the nation’s paradise is second to none, in Nigeria. They are looting people’s homes and businesses too.

    Below are the damages incurred so far by the hoodlums in Calabar;

    1. Cross River State Property Investment Limited, CROSPIL office, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate – Looted on Friday, October 23.

    2. State Emergency Management Agency, SEMA office, Barracks Road – Looted and burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    3. The Nigerian Labour Congress, NLC office – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    4. Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC office, Marian Road, burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    5. Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency, CTRA office (100 Marian), Marian Road – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    6. Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    7. Atakpa Police Station, Watt Market – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    8. Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    9. Calabar Discount Mall (harbouring Valuemat Supermarket and other stores), Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    10. Ministry of Works warehouse, Ekorinim II – looted and burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    11. Cross River State Roll back Malaria centre, Barracks Road -looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    12. Bulavaard joint owned by APC chieftain, Ntufam Hillard Ettah, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    13. First Bank, 8 Miles – vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    14. West African Examination Council, WAEC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    15. Federal Psychiatric hospital, Calabar Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    16. Access Bank, Mayne Avenue -vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    17. Senator Victor Ndoma Egba’s House, Asari Eso – looted and burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    18. Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Asari Eso – looted vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    19. Cross River Garment Factory, Goodluck Jonathan bypass – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    20. Ayade Fuelling Station, Murtala Mohammed Highway – looted and set ablaze on Saturday, October 24.

    21. Senator Gershom Bassey’s House, Mayne Avenue – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    22. National Identity Management Commission, NIMC office, Murtala Mohammed Highway – set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    23. National Television Authority, NTA, Murtala Mohammed Highway – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    24. University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, UCTH, Etta Agbor – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    25. Cross River Agric Development Project, IBB way opposite Margaret Ekpo International Airport – looted on Friday, October 23.

    26. IDH Hospital, Chamley area – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    27. Empowerment warehouse, Henshaw Town – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    28. University of Calabar, UNICAL Publishing Center, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    29. UNICAL Microfinance Bank, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    30. UNICAL Main Library – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    31. Most Banks and Shops/Transport Companies, Ettah Agbor – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    32. Lafarge (former UNICEM) Trucks loaded with cement – hijacked on Saturday, October 24.

    32. Ibedmore Phone Shops, Calabar Road – set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    33. Calabar Mall (harbouring SPAR Supermarket and other stores), Cultural Centre – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    34. Cold Stone Store and Domino’s Pizza, Ndidem Usang Iso Road, Marian – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    35. Shops in Watt Market, Watt – looted, vandalised and some set on fire on Saturday, October 24.

    36. Carnival Calabar Treasury House (speakers, lighting, stage, carpets, mics, amplifiers, etc) – looted on Saturday, October 24.

    37. Mbukpa Police Station, Mbukpa – burnt down on Saturday, October 24.

    38. Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Area Councils – looted and vandalised on Friday, October 23.

    39. First Bank, Highway by Ekorinim – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    40. H20 Calabar, Mary Slessor by UNICAL Main Gate – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    41. Accountant General Office – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    42. All Progressives Congress, APC office, Marian Road – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    43. Nigerian Chronicles Newspapers office, Barracks Road – burnt down on Friday, October 23.

    44. World Health Organisation, WHO and Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme (AyadeCare) offices, Barracks Road – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    45. Government Secondary School, Henshaw Town – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    46. Peace Mass Transport, PMT Park, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    46. Spark Shop Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    47. Eco Bank, Mary Slessor Avenue – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    48. UDEC Phone Shop, opposite UNICAL, Etta Agbor – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    49. Pensioners Office, Asita Ita Street – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    50. Cross River State Water Board Limited (CRSWBL) Residences, Ndidem Usang Isong Road, Marian – looted and vandalised – on Saturday, October 24.

    51. Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, NSILT, Calabar – looted and vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

    52. Auditor-General’s Office, Calabar – vandalised on Saturday, October 24.

  • BREAKING: WAEC, NTA, NIMC offices, Duke’s Hotel on fire in Calabar

    BREAKING: WAEC, NTA, NIMC offices, Duke’s Hotel on fire in Calabar

    By Frank Ulom

    Hoodlums have set ablaze West African Examination Council, WAEC’s office on fire in Calabar, Cross River State.

    The incident, THE PARADISE NEWS reports happened today, Saturday, October 24, 2020, in the late morning hours of the day as other places were also touched.

    The other places include National Identity Management Commission, NIMC office, and Former Governor Donald Duke Daughter’s Hotel (Nella Gardens), which share fences with WAEC, along Murtala Mohammed Highway, Calabar Municipality local government area of Cross River State.

    Our Reporter also learnt that the National Television Authority, NTA Calabar was also affected, as hoodlums ransacked the TV station.

    “Currently, as I am talking to you, WAEC office on the highway is on fire. The office is being burnt by hoodlums. NIMC office and Nella’s Garden were also affected. The fire is escalating through the buildings along that line. NTA is also affected and hoodlums are destroying the office”, an eyewitness who passed the area at about 11:35am told PARADISE NEWS.

    On Friday night, Independence National Electoral Commission, INEC office at Marian Road, closed to Fire Service office was set ablaze and the building completely razed down.

    The trouble started on Friday, October 23, 2020 when residents discovered a warehouse loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives at CROSPIL Warehouse, Bishop Moynagh Avenue, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

    Ever since then, SEMA Warehouse at Barracks Road, Ministry of Works Warehouse at Ekorinim II, Garment Factory warehouse at Goodluck Ebele Jonathan bypass, and several others have been attacked and looted.

    Businesses such as Cold Stone creamery, Calabar Discount Mall harbouring Value Market Store, Calabar Mall harbouring SPAR Supermarket, Boulevard Joint at Etta Agbor, First Bank at 8 Miles, Watt Market, World Health Organisation (WHO) office, Calabar Municipality and Calabar South Area Council Secretariats, and other places have been affected.

    Meanwhile, the governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade on a statewide broadcast today (Saturday), said the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked.

    According to the governor, “on the issue of palliatives being kept in warehouses, every state will have palliatives in their warehouse. Let me thank and acknowledge CACOVID for the massive supply of all these palliatives. Note that as you empty your stock, they restock. This keeps coming for Cross River State. Our last receipt was on October 12th, just last week. We were also told clearly that they (CACOVID) wanted to do a press briefing when they are handing over the palliatives. So there was a directive that this last stock Cross River got should not be shared until they come. The weigh bill is available and it has been released for all to see. It shows that the stock arrived on the 12th of October, 2020. Unfortunately by then this tension had started building up and we were already waiting on them to come. I also want to recall that we do the distribution of palliatives in Cross River State in a sequence.

    “We started with traditional rulers and churches, then we moved to local government by local government via senatorial districts. We had done distributions in the northern senatorial district and in the central senatorial district. The next batch of distribution was to be for the southern senatorial district. So the stock in question is for distribution in the southern senatorial district. As can be seen in a lot of videos on social media and Cross River Broadcasting Corporation, each time we distribute, we target widows , we target the aged, we target people who do not have money, people who cannot work. We target those who can fish no more, those who can no longer fish because they are aged and do not have loved ones .

    “If you watch the videos of our distribution, it is systematic. It is through churches and churches target the vulnerable and so as a young man who is 18, 20, 25, remember that the food you are picking belongs to our aged parents, a widow somewhere. There is hunger in the land and I know this very well. That is why our emphasis had been on mass employment, recruitment, salary payment, pension payment and creating jobs and focusing more on appointments. Today, we have over 6000 political appointees. I do not need that much number of appointees. So it is for food on the table. It may not have reached you but somebody somewhere may have been reached. We have just approved employment for another 20000 people and have made it very clear this should not be for politicians. I believe that in the course of time you will see the sincerity of my intentions”.

  • LIVE VIDEO: Residents uncover 3 hidden COVID-19 Palliatives warehouses in Calabar

    By Frankie Ifop

    Residents of Calabar, Cross River State capital, have discovered three (3) hidden warehouses loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    PARADISE NEWS gathered that the residents who are in full jubilation get to know about the warehouse following the incident that occurred in Lagos, during the #EndSARS protest.

    According to LIVE recordings, it is like Christmas in Calabar, even when it is not yet December in the nation’s paradise.

    Sources said the palliatives which include food stuffs, electronics and other items that were supposed to be distributed to citizens of the state were locked in three warehouses located at CROSPIL office, Bishop Monagh Avenue, State Housing Estate; SEMA Warehouse, Barracks Road; and Ayade Power Plant, Parliamentary Extension, Calabar, Cross River State capital.

    “The palliatives have been there in warehouses since April and even when another tranche was added, nothing was shared. Instead, they were sharing amongst themselves and keeping some for the 2020 Byelections in Northern Cross River State”, a source who spoke under anonymity said.

    Our Reporter also learnt that Police and Soldiers were helping the residents out, especially the vulnerable and disabled people.

    However, Martha Agba, Senior Special Assistant to Governor Ben Ayade on Humanitarian Affairs, said the state has already commenced the sharing of the palliatives but ward by ward.

    “The COVID-19 Palliatives were not being locked out as people are saying, there are being shared to Cross Riverians. We have already sharing them. It is ward by ward”, Agba said.

    Meanwhile, the state governor has imposed a 24 hours curfew in the state, starting from 6pm today, Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it”, a statement by Mr. Christian Ita, Special Adviser to Ayade on Media and Publicity quoted the Governor saying.

    See Live Video feeds below;

    Residents carting away COVID-19 Palliatives in a hidden warehouse at CROSPIL office, Calabar, Cross River State on Friday, October 23, 2020.

  • BREAKING: Ayade imposes 24hrs curfew in C’River after residents discovered hidden COVID-19 Palliatives warehouse

    By Frankie Ifop

    The governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade has ordered the imposition of 24 hours curfew in Cross River State.

    PARADISE NEWS gathered that the order came in shortly after residents discovered hidden warehouse loaded with COVID-19 Palliatives on Friday, October 23, 2020, in Calabar, the state capital.

    Sources said the palliatives which include food stuffs and other items that were supposed to be distributed to citizens of the state were locked in a warehouse at CROSPIL office, Bishop Monagh Avenue, State Housing Estate capital.

    A statement signed by Mr. Christian Ita, Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, on Friday said the #EndSARS protest has been hijacked by hoodlums.

    “Following the hijacking of the peaceful protest against police brutality in the state by hoodlums, the state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has imposed a 24hr curfew in the state starting from 6pm on Friday, October 23, 2020.

    “Residents of the state are advised to observe the curfew as security agents have been mandated to arrest anybody who flouts it”, the statement read.

    Watch Videos below;

  • BREAKING: Nigerian Senator Rose Oko dies in a UK hospital

    BREAKING: Nigerian Senator Rose Oko dies in a UK hospital

    By Frank Ulom

    The Senator Representing Cross River State Northern Senatorial District in the National Assembly, Sen. (Dr.) Rose Okoji Oko, has died at age 63.

    THE PARADISE NEWS learnt that Sen. Oko, the only female Senator currently in the Red Chambers from Cross River died last night at a United Kingdom (UK) medical facility due to illness.

    An Aide to the Late Rose Oko confirmed the sad news this morning while expressing shock over the death of his pay-mistress.

    Meanwhile, Patrick Ikorgor Okoroji, a close relative to the late Senator who also confirmed the news, said: “Heartbroken to hear of the passing of my dear cousin, Senator (Dr) Rose Okoji Oko after a long-fought battle with physical affliction.

    “You gave your best to your world now that it has pleased the Almighty God to call you home may your soul find eternal rest in Heaven. Adieu, Distinguished Senator Dr Rose Okoji Oko.”

    Born on September 27, 1956, Rose Oko was a one-time Member representing Ogoja/Yala Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representatives under the umbrella of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Nigeria’s 7th class of the National Assembly.

    Oko was elected as the first female representative from her constituency in June 2011 and sat as Deputy Chairman House Committee on Education.

    She was later elected as the first female Senator in 2015 and reelected in 2019 to represent the people of Cross River State North Senatorial District.

    Until her death, the Late Sen. Oko was the serving Chairman, Senate Committee on Trade and Investment.

    In 1989 at the age of 33, she was appointed as Commissioner of Education, Cross River State; a position she held till 1991. In that same period, she served as for Chairperson Better Life Programme, Cross River Chapter from 1990–1991.

    In 1993 she was appointed Director General, National Defence & Security Council, Cabinet Secretariat under the military presidency. She held this position simultaneously with the National Commissioner, National Electoral Commission (NEC) now known as Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

    Between 1993 and 1994 she was appointed Director General, Provisional Ruling Council again under the then Military Presidency. In 1995 she was appointed (NCFR) now known as National Commission For Refugees Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons. In 2002 she retired.

    She was survived by children, grandchildren and many relatives.

  • Group urges Nigerians to boycott Carnival Calabar if Jalingo, Odok are not released from detention

    By Frank Ulom

    A group under the aegis of Coalition of Cross River State Civil Society Organisations, CCRSCSO, has urged Nigerians and the International community to boycott Carnival Calabar 2019, if detained Journalist and Activist, Agba Jalingo and Joseph Odok, Esq., are not released in the next 48 hours.

    This was made known in a press statement signed by Anthony Bissong Attah, Iso Edim, Richard F. Inoyo, Ukorebi Esien, Efio-Ita Nyok and Simon Utsu on Wednesday, December 25, 2019 and made available to THE PARADISE NEWS.

    According to CCRSCSO, who said “no conditions” should be attached to the release of the journalist and activist, boycotting the Carnival will show a solidarity stand and a call for Freedom of the Press.

    The statement also pointed out that this year’s Carnival-themed “Humanity” should be scraped out as it doesn’t define the festival following the arrest and detention of Jalingo and Odok for over 100 days.

    The group said: “In August 2019, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State, Sen. Ben Ayade, unveiled the theme of the Carnival Calabar 2019 to be —Humanity. However, in the same month of August this year, human rights activist, Agba Jalingo was illegally arrested at his Lagos residence by officers of the Nigerian Police and detained. In the following month of September, Joseph Odok’s arrest was effected. Each of them has spent over a hundred days in detention whereas their trial is yet to commence.”

    The CCRSCSO who said they visited Jalingo and Odok on Christmas day in the Custodial Centre in Calabar Correctional Service, Afokang, Calabar, also demanded the replacement of the newly inaugurated Commissioner for Humanity, Blessing Egbara, if she failed in her first official appointment.

    “We issue a 48-hour ultimatum demanding the release of the duo activists; Agba Jalingo and Joseph Odok Ph.D., without conditions.

    “That if (i) above is not met, we demand that the international community and the generality of the Nigerian public in solidarity with the incarcerated journalist and activist, boycott the 28 December 2019 Carnival celebration in Calabar.

    “The first official assignment of the newly inaugurated Commissioner for Humanity in Cross River State, Blessing Egbara, is to comply with (i) above.

    “Should the Honourable Commissioner for Humanity fail in her first official assignment, we call on His Excellency the Executive Governor of the State, Sen. Prof. Benedict Ayade, to immediately replace the Humanity-themed Carnival Calabar 2019 with something else in order to avoid a contest of semantics and prevent the misrepresentation of human right reality within Cross River State to Nigerians and the international community”, the CCRSCSO resolved.

    They also alleged that the State Government is planning to incarcerate another group of Activists to confirm his tyrannical rule which no one has been bold enough to question.

    “We want to notify the powers that be in the state, that we are aware, from our intelligence, that there are 6 activists in your hit list you have marked down to give the Agba Jalingo/Joseph Odok treatment beginning from January 2020. But be rest assured that Cross Riverians are watching, and the world is observing as well – we will not be deterred”, they maintained.

  • FAD FM: We’ve never sought for Gov’t funding since inception – CEO

    By Obeten Godfrey

    The Chairman and CEO of FAD Group, Mr. Fidelis Duker, has said that his organisation, FAD 93.1 FM Calabar, has never sought government funding since its inception in 2017.

    Duker disclosed this at a media parley held last Thursday at the station’s headquarters in Calabar, to commemorate the organisation’s two-year anniversary.

    Duker who is also the Regional Secretary General, Federation of Pan African Filmmakers, said the station was not set up for government patronage, and that the organisation have been running independently since its inception and would continue to do so in the years to come.

    “This place was not set up for government patronage. We’ve gone past that stage. We’ve run this place independently, and we will continue to run the station independently.

    “FAD FM is owned by the people, the people have the right to talk. FAD FM does not belong to the owners, it’s owned by the public and we are open to supporting as many as possible to air their views.

    “This station was created for the people, it’s not for any individual, it’s not for any politician,” said Duker who is also the CEO of Abuja Film Festival.

    Continuing, the CEO said the emergence of the station has redefined broadcasting and has brought pride to the state.

    “FAD FM has brought pride to Cross River State, FAD FM has come and it’s doing its own bit, giving the people the mic to say their minds; and for me, I believe that is the platform that the people, Cross Riverians need to follow,” he reiterated.

    Throwing light on the economic patronage of the station in the last two years, Duker said: “We have never sought government funding since we started operation. I have never for once in the last two years influenced the editorial policy of FAD FM.”

    He went further to disclose that FAD 360 TV, a subsidiary of FAD Group will begin operations before the end of the year with its headquarters domiciled in Calabar.

    On the level of preparedness for the takeoff of the TV station, He said: “Television is so technical and cumbersome. For the TV we don’t want to rush into it. We are definitely starting this year. We want to make the quality and standard local but an international standard. Equipments are on the ground, we are building capacity. We need to train people to handle those equipment before we finally take off.”

    When asked whether the station has broken even throughout its two years of existence, Mr. Duker had this to say:

    “We have not broken even, not yet because no profit yet, we will! Our target is 5 years. we are not at a loss, and we are not regretting, For us, we have seen it; we have a bright future, and we will get to our destination in due course.”

    “That the station is a commercial station established for profit making, there are times the organisation looks for major issues that affect the society and the populace.

    He assured that the station will witness a new face as it lifts up towards the years to come.

    On what the future holds for the station, the Marketing Manager, Mrs. Temitokpe Duker said, “In the last 2 years, it has been pretty challenging, but we have persevered. We used to have problems paying salaries, but right now we have a plan – a master plan on how we take care of the bills.

    She attributed the success of the station to perseverance and value addition, a feat she said has sustained the station.

    “We have never put money in front of what we’re doing. If you provide value, the money will come. We are here to give value, we are here to serve the people, and we are unshaken in terms of survival.

    “This is the basement of the scene for FAD. In the next couple of months, our Lagos and Abuja stations will open, and in the next few years we will have physical offices in virtually every station,” Mrs Duker said.

    The station which began transmission in September 2017 will be marking it 2 years anniversary by September 1.

  • Cult clash: 3 shot dead in Akwa Ibom State

    By Emmanuel Umoh

    The raging war between two cult groups, Vikings Confraternity and Black Axe has claimed the lives of three persons in Eket Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State.

    THE PARADISE NEWS gathered that one of the deceased identified as Mr. Ubong Etuk was killed in a gruesome manner after being shot in the head.

    It was further gathered by our correspondent that the two groups had been chasing each other’s shadows for the past three months before the weekend clash that started in a motel at Afaha Uqua Eket.

    One was killed at Liverpool Road, another in Uqua Village, while the third person was killed at a sit-out at Atai Ndon Village, all in Eket.

    Further information has it was that the clash leading to the death of three cult members started on Sunday when a member of Vikings Confraternity unleashed terror on a member of the Black Axe with machete cuts.

    The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Odiko MacDon, who confirmed the incident, urged members of the public to go about their normal businesses without fear as the Police are on top of the situation.

  • Gershom Bassey’s billboard phone numbers belong to Mortuary attendant – Commentator

    Gershom Bassey’s billboard phone numbers belong to Mortuary attendant – Commentator

    A renowned social Commentator has said, that the two phone numbers listed on the Senator representing Cross River South at the National Assembly, Senator Gershom Bassey’s billboard stationed at Efio-Ette roundabout in Calabar, the state capital belong to a mortuary attendant.

    Efio-Ita Nyok who is also the publisher of NegroidHaven.Org, a popular online blog analysed the lapses behind Senator Bassey’s approach on politics, adding that effective leadership doesn’t follow lies.

    In his recent article title, ‘BASSEYGATE: RECOMMENDATIONS TO SALVAGE THE SPIRALING PUBLIC REPUTATION OF A NIGERIAN LAWMAKER’, Nyok was able to say the phone numbers on the billboard weren’t connecting at the time of his article, adding that the one that connected was answered by a Mortuary attendant.

    According to him, “I understand that distinguished Senator Gershom Bassey was accosted on Wednesday 24th January 2018 by a handful of constituents mainly youths at the gate of his Akai Efa, Calabar residence and demanded that the lawmaker tell them when his twin phone numbers will finally connect. Can somebody deny this piece of information, please? Hmmmm!

    “Before I proceed in my unplanned commentary, let me first express my profound disappointment with the trend of criticism that has greeted the twin phone numbers published at Efio-Ette Junction, Calabar.

    “The question is, why publish a set of phone numbers to the public that have not been registered (Sen. Bassey particularly admitted this when he entertained Calabar South Constituents at his residence in Akai Efa recently)? Why publish phone numbers to the public when you know they ain’t yet connect-able?

    “Publishing these phone numbers at such a time as this, particularly considering the fact elections are drawing near implicitly suggests that you have been deliberately elusive. Put differently, as a public officer, a majority of your eager constituents have not been able to relate with you: for two years and six months!? And when you finally agreed to meet with them, it’s through a perceived scam!? No! This is totally condemnable!

    “Follow me, please, let’s see whether we locate a solution to this your in-accessibility: Where’s your constituency office sir? If there are any, how many are in the seven local government areas that constitute Cross River Southern Senatorial District? Supposing it’s just one, don’t you think it should be seven as well to allow for easy access to the Distinguished? Should it be just one unpopular building?

    “Fast forward to the phone lines – I can’t leave them: When the lines finally connect, something disappointing happens: a mortuary attendant I learnt took the call – I have not confirmed it though: so, can’t the ‘landed eagle’ beckon with one of his flapping wings to any of his job seeking constituents and pay them to take these thousands of calls!? Hmmm!” Nyok wrote.

    Apart from Sen. Gershom Bassey punditically, Nyok also gave some Recommendations. Read his recommendations below;

    “They say a criticism is constructive when it offers solutions, while I am not a proponent of this sentiment, for germane purposes, let me bulge:

    *Open 7 constituency offices in the 7 LGAs of ‘the south’ beginning from the riverine areas of Bakassi through Biase.

    *Employ ‘desk officers’ who are answerable to your Chief of General Staff (CoS) reportedly Ekanem Samantha Bassey.

    *Equip these offices, particularly installing a dedicated phone line. That is to say, the not-connecting-twin-phone-numbers should be increased to 7.

    *Train those desk officers for courtesy while taking calls, etc.

    *Publish the addresses of these anticipated 7 constituency offices to the public.

    *These constituency offices should be an information hub acquainting your constituents of your activities in respect of representing them at the Red Chamber: your bills, motions, itinerary, developments programmes, etc.

    *For those who don’t feel like going to the constituency office, set up a website for the same purpose above —beyond being the ever-landing sorry, landed eagle, I propose you become a digital Senator.

    *Employ a website administrator who will update the site of your official activities. Coco-Bassey Esu, though after serious training in public relations, may come in handy here. Sequel to his brief training, he can be under monitoring for a while to check for foul linguistics expressions and other related uncouth tendencies. Victor Inyang readily comes to mind for this monitor and tutelage.

    “With the above free consultation, I think your challenge of inaccessibility will be greatly corrected as your public image, which I honestly doubt is in a positive light, with the exception of your family and cronies will improve”, Nyok added.

  • Pastor whose two sons were shot by gunmen on Easter Monday has buried in Calabar (Photos)

    The two sons of Rev. Nicholas Wayih, Pastor of Independent Baptist Church of Calabar, killed by gunmen on the Easter Monday night have been layed to rest.

    The deceased whose names are Archibong Murphy and Ekpenyong Murphy were buried at the Hawkins Cemetery in Calabar on Friday 29th April 2016.

    The burial triggered another day of mourning for Pastor Wayih and his wife and members of the church. The young men were buried side by side.

    “No man can question God. He gives and He takes,” said the aggrieved pastor.

    See more photos below…