Paradise News

Category: Opinion

  • Cross River State Speaker blames communal crisis on ego

    The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo has blamed the outbreak of Communal clashes in the State on egotism.

    Lebo made the remarks when the people of Ofutop community in Ikom Local Government Area paid him a courtesy visit to register their displeasure against their brothers from Okom in Obubra , on what they described as wanton destruction of property and their farmland.

    The Speaker said that Crises develop from the ego of political leaders who see themselves as champions but however commended the people of Ofutop for their maturity and their peaceful approach to the resolution of the problem.

    He advised that the solution to their problem lies with the heads of the communities, the chiefs and Youths who must reject wars.
    Earlier, the leader of the group and Chief Medical Consultant, County Hospital Ikom, Dr. Mike Nkwam, said the situation has become worrisome and unbearable, nothing that the Ofutop people are counting so much loses as a result of the destruction.

    Nkwan said they came to make peace and also seek the intervention of the government in order to facilitate peaceful co-existence between the Okom and Ofutop communities.

    The Member representing Ikom 1 State constituency, Hon. Fred Osim, commended his colleagues for their time and contribution to the amicable resolution of his constituency issues and assured that peace would reing.

    Also, the Member representing Obubra 2 State Constituency, Hon. Elucate Okora Ekom, said they would broker peace between the two communities having listened to the Ofutop and Okom communities.

    Watch Video Below…

  • MDAs defend 2016 revised Budget Estimate before Committee on Finance and Appropriation

    Chairman, House Committee on Finance and Appropriation, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonah Williams has said the purpose for the appearance of MDAs before his committee was to allow them offer explanations for the need to adjust their proposed estimates in the 2016 supplementary budget.

    Williams said this at the ongoing review of the 2016 supplementary budget estimate presented to the House by the State Department of Budget.

    The Chairman maintained that the review become necessary in the view of the realities of the economic recession that is setting in and advised relevant MDAs to consider their proposed adjustments in line with the possibility to access funds between October and March, 2017 for the completion of their intended projects.

    Williams who said the input of the MDAs was required since the Committee adjustments may not suit them, also called on the Chief Executives of the MDAs to bear in mind that the 2017 Appropriation Budget would be presented by His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade before the end of October 2016 and that they could roll over projects which funds will not be accessed before the implementation of the 2017 budget begins.

    Speaking on the need to adjust the budgetary provisions for the State Electrification Agency , the Director General of the Agency, Dr. Jake Otu-Enya, a two time member of the State House of Assembly said he was seeking the consideration of the House of Assembly to approve an additional sum of N480million to enable the execution of projects mapped out for the 2016 fiscal year among which are electrification of Ebrutu communities and installation of transformers in the northern and central senatorial districts.

    On his own part, the Commissioner for Education, Goddy Eta gave reasons for the adjustment of his ministry’s budget to include salary payment of primary school teachers, conduct of examinations, funding of scholarship programmes, comprehensive renovations of Secondary Schools and inspection of educational services.

    In defence of her ministry proposed supplementary budget, Commissioner for Climate Change and Forestry, Dr. Alice Ekwu disclosed that his Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade had approved additional Budgetary provision of N1.2billion as against N260million for the training of initial recruited 1,000 green police and fresh recruitment of additional 1,000 green Police, emolument and kitting up of the recruited personnel while N2.1billion is for the planting of 5million trees yearly.

    Responding to questions from the committee, Commissioner for Gas and Petroleum, Rt. Hon. Itaya Nyong, immediate past Deputy Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, explained that issues that required adjustments in his ministry’s budget estimates include official accommodation for the ministry, fuel scarcity among others.

  • CRSHA finally intervene in NACRISS election crisis

    The Cross River State House of Assembly has amended and adopted recommendations of the House Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution on the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS) World Wide election that led to two factional executives and members of the Association.

    Advising the substantive elected president of NACRISS, the Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt, Hon. John Gaul Lebo, said he should not take the decision of the House as victory but as intervention for peace and justice.

    Lebo, called on the NACRISS president to devise measures for peaceful coexistence by reaching out to the other aggrieved group since they are responsible to the entire students of tertiary institutions in Cross River State and not see themselves as bosses.

    Following a motion moved by the chairman of the Committee on Judiciary, Public Service Matters, Public Petitions and Conflict Resolution on the National Association of Cross River State Students (NACRISS), Hon. Nelson Ofem, member representing Yakurr I State Constituency and seconded by Hon. Itam Abang, member representing Boki I State Constituency.

    The House resolved that the purported re-run election led by John Adamson on 20/8/2016 is declared unconstitutional, illegal, and null and void.

    The House also resolved owing to the constitution no provision to suspend the constitution, the suspension of the constitution therefore remains null and void.

    In view of the circumstances of the case, having taken into consideration the interest and purpose of the association, the House resolved that the election held on 13th August, 2016remain valid as the executive committee of NACRISS World Wide.

    The House resolution erected that the former exco should hand over all properties including finances belonging to the Association.

    In the same vein, the House Committee on Education is mandated to ensure the full implantation of the resolutions of the House.

    In the same development, the Special Assistant to the Governor on Student Affairs should remain as a liaison between NACRISS and the Government and should not interfere in any Student Union activity.

  • CRSHA calls on State Government to urgently intervene in the Odukpani crisis

    The Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to urgently constitute a Judiciary Panel of inquiry made up of seasoned Crossivarians to establish the remote and immediate cause of the crisis that has led to the loss of lives and properties in Odukpani Local Government Area with a bid to finding lasting solution.

    The resolution was reached at the Plenary of the State House of Assembly following a motion by Hon. Bassey Akiba, member representing Odukpani State Constituency.

    The resolution called on the State Security Adviser to urgently constitute a joint security task force to patrol the areas in Odukpani where the crisis is going on to safeguard and protect further loss of lives and properties of the people.

    It further directed that the Chiefs, Community leaders, youth leaders, appointees of Government and heads of security agencies should be invited to meet with the House on Monday 17th October, 201 at 10 am.

    The State Emergency Management Agency SEMA was also to urgently avail displaced persons in the area with necessary assistance to ameliorate.

    Contributing earlier to the motion, the Deputy Speaker and member representing Calabar South State Constituency, Rt. Hon Joseph Bassey, said the House needs to urgently meet with security agencies in the State to restore peace in the area pointing out that Odukpani is the main gateway into the State Capital.

    The Deputy Speaker said he was pained and sad at the level of violence going on in the State, particularly, Calabar South where cultism thrives, denoting that “every cultists is a potential kidnapper and armed robber”.

    Bassey opined that security agencies are yet to live up to their responsibilities even when they have been empowered by the passage into law of the anti kidnapping law and home land security law.

    Rt. Hon Ogana Lukpata, member representing Yala II, Rt. Hon. Etang Williams, representing Yakurr and Hon. Christian Agbor decried the crisis situation in their constituencies where lives and properties are being threatened.

  • Cross River Speaker advice FG to hand over Prisons to States

    Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker, Hon John Gaul Lebo

    The speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo has called on the Federal Government to hand over Federal prisons located in States to be managed by State Government.

    Lebo said this when members of the Cross River State Chapter of Prisons Fellowship visited him to intimate him on the workings and challenges of the fellowship.

    He pointed out that the State Government support for Prisons within the State is constrained due to the fact that prison allocation is being deducted by the Federal Government from State allocation and it’s managed by the Federal Government.

    The speaker added that Government is putting up necessary framework to decongest prisons in the State and since there is no parole in the criminal justice law, the House plans to address related issues when the criminal justice bill which is on the floor of the Cross River State House of Assembly is passed next week.

    Lebo who said he is supportive of the Cross River State Chapter of the Prisons Fellowship and maintained however, that it was the prerogative of the State Governor to render logistic support for prisons and that he would confer with His Excellency, Prof Ben Ayade to intimate him on their challenges.

    Earlier, the Chairman of the Cross River State Chapter of the Prisons Fellowship, Otunba Sunday Onalaja notify the Speaker that the Afukang prison was made to host 450 inmates but presently houses 820, lamenting that some of them sleep on the floor due to inadequate accommodation.

    Otunba Onalaja maintained that the prison fellowship which also provides assistance for inmates in other prisons across the State can no longer cope because of the increase in number, and were therefore seeking the State Government’s intervention.

    He said the situation is pathetic and that in the past, the State Chief Judge often visited prisons to decongest them where necessary but that it has not been done for a long while.
    “Some of the inmates are just there for simple cases without trials such people should be freed”, Onalaja charged.

  • Governor Ayade’s performance in office delights PDP

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Cross River State says it is delighted by the performance of Professor Ben Ayade as governor of the state.

    The leadership of the party, which paid a visit on the governor in Calabar said the governor remains extremely popular with the people of the state on account of his sterling performance in office.

    Led by its chairman, Ntufam Edim Inok Edim, the party expressed its confidence in the governor’s leadership.

    “Your Excellency, we want to usethis opportunity to pass a vehement and unequivocal vote of confidence on your visionary leadership; and in particular, on your people-oriented policies, programmes and projects in the state,” said Edim.

    He said the visit was necessary so as to “once again demonstrate our unflinching support to your administration as the unbeatable governor of Cross River and leader of the Peoples Democratic Party.”

    Stating that the state was getting better under Ayade’s leadership, the party chairman commended the governor for the state health insurance scheme known as Ayadecare, which he said is for the benefit of all Cross Riverians.

    Additionally, he lauded Ayade for some of the many wonderful innovations he has introduced to the state since he was elected as governor.

    His words: “Many of your innovations to transform the economic status of our dear state are trending positively and creating waves in Cross river state and beyond.”

    While urging him to ignore detractors, the party said he remains popular with the people on account of his policies.

    In his response, Governor Ayade expressed appreciation to the party for the visit and restated his commitment to the people of Cross River.

    He said his vision and projects have the blessing of God and “God can never let them die because they are intended to serve and improve the lives of the people.”

    He urged the party to continue to support his administration with prayers while lamenting the many distractions that have trailed his government.

    “In the state distractions have become destruction. It is not who we are known for as Cross Riverians. Here in Cross River our heritage is to be civil and decent. For me I have made a choice to learn from the criticisms of critics. I am being critized for doing something right. The ultimate focus is to serve the people. This visit gives me inspiration and hope.

    “We should forgive, tolerate and accept the inadequacies of our brothers who are fond of critizing. As a government and a party we remain focused on our campaign promises to our people,” he stated.

  • Mistake people make as it concerns Gov Ayade and his Performance index by Paul Ajie

    Governor Ben Ayade Projects 
    By Paul Ajie

    Without holding brief for Governor Ayade, apart from governors who are serving their second terms in Office who operate on loans as well as a few states who don’t depend on federal Allocations like Lagos, Rivers and Anambra state amongst others. I dare critics to mention few states which are doing well in every aspect of governance at this trying times of abject recession.

    We pass through Ebonyi State and clap for the governor for doing very well but we forget so easily that right from the inception of this administration, Ebonyi workers have been receiving 50% of their salaries as part of their sacrifice if any meaningful development must take place in the state, a thing that cannot happen in cross river state. try it critics will skin you alive.

    Apart from the fact that am a staff of this government, I will make bold to say that Cross River State has a peculiar problem in terms of revenue inflow.

    The previous administration left the state with an unprecedented debt profile, in that a greater part of our slim allocation services this debt at source. It will interest us to note that the Local Government Allocations that most Governors celebrates with is not the case now in cross river state, as past leaders tempered with them in terms of loan which has Left Ayade with the heat of making-up their income if their salaries must be paid. The question I often ask Ayade’s critics is that, why have they for once not put it here for their gullible fans the total amount of monthly allocation that enters the state vis a vis the state salary wage bill.

    The position of Uncle Ray Murphy would have been more weightier if he had outlined the numerous contracts the president has commissioned in the same span of this administration.

    The president has admitted that the country is passing through very though times which has seriously affected his performance index.

    For the federal government to result into issuing out bailout to state in other for them to clear backlog of salaries is an indication that all is not well with states.

    It’s predicated on this premise that I will say singling Ayade out for not commissioning till this moment is an error of omission.

    Apart from some local government staff & some primary school teachers I mean some because am aware some have been paid which makes the seat at home order a solidarity one for their colleagues who have not received their four months salaries due to some technical errors. Governor Ayade has been saying it time without number that even if he cannot execute any project because of paucity of funds, let workers get salaries as at when due, a feat he has maintained even with his over 862 appointmentees the highers in the country.

    We have three categories of Governors in Nigeria as it stands today giving the economic difficulties as regards administrative performances:

    (1)Those who can pay salaries & still execute projects,

    (2)Those who Pays salaries and carry out palliatives and also seek partnership for tomorrow’s prospect AND

    (3)Those who do project and don’t pay salaries or pays half salaries.

    AYADE falls on the second group as a first timer who believes in stomach infrestructure, touch Governor Ayade where state civil servants are, you would not go free as they confessed as never had it so good.

    Like those who love president Buhari would plead for patience as tough times don’t last for ever, so would I plead for patience for Governor Ben Ayade.

    The Allocation Donald Duck Recived when we had 76 oil wells or 13% derivation funds is not what Ayade gets today.

    The gentleman agreement allocation Imoke received from Akwa Ibom State as a sister state organized by GEJ after the lost of 76 oil wells is not here today. So it cant never be the same. It’s often said, not how you start but how you end.

    Our Garment factory will soon start generating money courtesy of Governor Ben AYADE.

    Paul Ajie is the Personal Assistant to the Governor on Youth Affairs.

  • If these documents are true, then Governor Ayade could be in trouble come Dec 9th

    We stumble upon this post including some classified document of Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State – as concerned Cross Riverians, we decided to share them.
    The documents were leaked by one Ifere Paul who wrote:
    He landed at the airport like a saint. He spoke like a saint. He mentioned and called the name of God 49 times in a speech watched and televised live by CRBTV.
    He put his trust on the Zion and Tribe of Judah. But will swear by his dead parents.

    A man who screamed the name of God 49th time should swear by the same God he called. But instead he tried to paint his innocence on the unsuspecting public.
    He tried to manipulate the people. He tried to buy his way out of it all without any apology.

    He wasn’t even remorseful. He paid for a coffin to bury Joe Agi SAN. He tried to cheat God. And blame Joe for everything that has happened to him.

    He lied under oath and wants me to believe his innocence? How can a man be born again and again and again? That is Ben Ayade for you. Nothing about Ben Ayade is real. From his birthdays to his MoUs.

    Below is evidence of a man with three different Birthdays.
    1. As a student: 2nd March, 1966.
    2. As a Senator: 2nd March, 1969.
    3. As a Governor: 2nd March, 1968.




    All evidence here are from the Supreme Court of Nigeria. But in this case you be the judge.
    What’s your verdict?
    Free him or Jail him?

    Somehow pathetic and we’re short of words….Cross River State is really becoming digital!

  • President Buhari’s Kitchen and other Room comments on the Wife and the Future of Nigerian Women

    Richard Romanus 

    By Richard Romanus


    Quite a lot of reactions have continued to trail, President Mohammadu Buhari’s comments on his wife in far away Germany where he was reported to have told journalist that,his wife belongs to the Kitchen, the sitting room and the other room,presumably the bedroom. It will be recalled that, the president’s wife, Aisha Buhari has in an interview with BBC, alleged that, the president has abandoned those who worked to bring the husband to power, and suggested the Government has been hijacked by a few individuals who now wield sweeping powers.

    For me, duelling on Mrs Aisha Buhari’s Frank interview is like a song that is on auto repeat. Apart from the president’s apologist, consisting of his appointees, especially his media aides, some members of the President’s Party, the All Progressive Congress APC) and a few Nigerians who have allowed politics and party affiliation be cloud their reasoning and sound judgement, majority of Nigerians know that, Aisha Buhari has spoken nothing but the truth. It is as a result of such genuine complains and observations by majority of Nigerians ever since this Government came on board that some of them are now been referred to as ‘ the Wailing Wailers’ by the President’s praise singers. The truth they say is bitter, but it must be told and that is exactly what, Mrs Buhari has rightly done.

    Now back to the president’s comments about his wife. I can tell you authoritatively that, I for once, was never surprised about such a statement coming from Mr President. This is because, the president and his party have never given Nigerians any reason to believe that, they value women and recognises their role in Nation building .We have a President who out of 36 ministers in his cabinet, has only six women as ministers, out of about15 Special Advisers so far appointed,only three are females while the female politicians in the APC also seem to be the worst hit in the ongoing re-constitution of federal government boards and parastatals as 97% of the appointments seem to favour their male counterparts. In the National Assembly, only eight out of 23 female National Assembly members serving both in the Senate and House of Representatives are of the APC. How then do Nigerians expect a President with such a bad record of women empowerment not to make such a disgraceful statement about his wife?

    Imagine if, Dr J.C Akunyili, Husband to late Prof Dora Akunyili had restricted such a beautiful soul to his Kitchen, Sitting room and other room,imagine if husbands to the Okonjo Iwealas, Omobola Johnsons, Arumnah Ottehs, Florence Ita Giwas, Margret Ekpos to mention but a few of this world had restricted them from pursuing their calling and dreams because to them, the whole duty of their wives is to cook for them, watch Television if any in the sitting room and satisfy their sexual urge in the bedroom, it means, they would have succeeded in denying Nigeria, the world class figures they are today.‎

    Again, such remarks from a President of a country that called itself ‘Giant of Africa’ in far away Germany confirms to the world that, indeed, Nigeria has been taken ten years backward with the President Buhari Presidency. If today, in a developed country like the United States of America (USA), a woman in the person of Hillary Clinton is at the poll position to succeed President Barrack Obama while in Germany, where President Mohammadu Buhari unfortunately made such a discriminating remark, is lead by a woman,why can’t our President begin to think of creating more avenues where Women contributions and role in our fledging democracy can easily be felt? Why can’t he be an advocate of women be it in politics,Economy, or otherwise instead of indirectly telling them that, their responsibilities starts and ends in the Kitchen and the other room?

    The president himself cannot wish away the fact that, women have,for the four consecutive times he has contested for the Nation’s number one seat, played an integral role in the elections be it materially,physically and politically hence the need to reward such roles by way of creating an environment where they can be anything anywhere including President. Henceforth, women must be considered for appointments while the few currently serving in his administration are also accorded the privilege of being part and parcel of the president’s entourage to official visits outside the country.

    He must emulate his immediate past predecessor in the person President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who it is on record had the largest number of women in his Government and the result of that is seen through the different international roles most of them now play in the in the international scene. This way, President Buhari would have been able to reassure Nigeria women that, apart from their traditional duty of cooking for their husbands and satisfying their sexual urge, they are also as important as their male folks in the Nigeria project.

    ‎Finally, the place of women in any endeavour can never be over emphasised and given their enormous contributions to socio-economic and socio-political development in Nigeria, there can be no meaningful advancement where Women are excluded let alone restricted in the kitchen, sitting room and other room.‎

    Richard Romanus is a public Affairs Commentator from Oderegha in Obubra LGA of Cross River States.

  • Cross River State: The Labour or our Heroes past in Vain?

    Once upon a time, we had the old Cross River State (CRS), made up of today’s Akwa Ibom State and Cross River State, in the old Cross River State, we had Asbestonit company in Oron, we had the Calabar cement company, calcemco in calabar, we had the Peacock paint, we had the Oku Iboku paper mill, we had the Pamol rubber estate and the Cross River Estates limited, CREL, we had the qua and agbokim water falls, we had the obudu cattle Ranch, we had the Dr pepper bottling company in Eket, Mobil in Eket and Alscon in Ikot Abasi. We had Palmil industry in Abak. We had companies all over the old cross river state and established metro hotels all over the state and had our bank the Mercantile bank an airport and a standard stadium. We had the Calabar Rovers FC, we had the Jetimo FC in uyo and secondary schools played a vibrant Governor’s cup. You can add the ones you remember.

    Today, with better education, more exposure and more intense prayers, more anointed men of God, we have two states created from the old cross river state and they were created for supposedly better management and administration. Today we have seen how those companies are better embezzled into oblivion, the employment they created disappeared, the hope they gave lost and their contributions to social development ceased.

    Where are the leaders who thought out and built the state housing estate on Marian , the state secretariat and the federal housing? Where are the leaders who built the the police and Navy barracks and the customs barracks? Who built the prison, where are those leaders, where are their spirits, what did this generation do wrong?

    Do we have leaders yet have a prison that animals can’t survive inside? Do we have leaders yet we don’t have better housing plans that everyone is now stealing to be able to rent a home? Do we have leaders and no sensible person wishes to send their children to a public schools, the same public schools that produced this evil greedy spirits who pose as leaders? Haba! Something is wrong with us.

    We didn’t have so many churches but we had higher morals, we didn’t have so many political office holders but we had better leaders, we didn’t have so much exposure to better training facilities but we had better administrators. We have failed ourselves, failed posterity, failed God!

    Today we pay higher tithes, and attend church services every other day, we attend more than one church in the hope that we will prosper, yet we are poorer socially, poorer morally and poorer spiritually. We are poor because we are collectively selfish, self centered and evil in our hearts as a people. Looking around now, one is forced to ask, is the Labour of our heroes past now in vain?