Paradise News

Category: Opinion

  • Governor Ayade has done marvelously well – Barr Archibong, Chief Undiandeye

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Senator Ben Ayade 

    The monumental projects being deliberately undertaken by the administration of Senator Ben Ayade in Cross River have been described as unconventional and mind-bulging targeted at building a strong and virile economy and give the people of the state a first world standard of living.

    Speaking on Monday while answering questions during a radio programme, “Ayade’s Cross River” anchored by Beatrice Akpala, Solomon Asha and Emmanuel Ulayi, on the 105.5 Paradise FM on the topic, “The developmental strides of Ayade’s Administration”, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Barr. Rosemary Archibong and the Senior Special Adviser, Public Relations, Chief Tony Undiandeye, explained that the Ayade’s projects and programmes were derives from an ambitious mind committed to transforming the lives of his people.

    Barr. Rosemary Archibong on her part said that Governor Ayade within a short span of 17 months has been able to conceived unimaginable projects such as the Bakassi Deep seaport, the super high way, the garment factory, the rice city, the Green Police, among others with the garment factory which is reputed to be among the largest in the world completed and waiting commissioning in spite of the numerous distractions, asserting that the other projects will certainly see the light of the day at the end of the day.

    The Information Commissioner said that though the state is down the ladder in terms of allocation from the federation account, it has under the pragmatic leadership of Senator Ayade done wonderfully well and above other states including being regular with the payment of workers’ salaries, completion of a project as huge as the garment factory, completion of the monorail and the Calabar International Convention Centre (CICC), made great progress in other key projects and the provision of an enabling environment for both local and international investors to operate, among others.

    She stated that at the time most states could not pay salaries due to the biting recession, Governor Ayade has carved a niche for himself by thinking out of the box and has sustained the Carnival Calabar and even expand the carnival with this year’s theme still revolving around the Climate change, to include the African dishes, disclosing that so far 25 countries have already indicated interest to participate in the 2016 carnival as against 11 who participated in last year edition.

    Barr. Archibong said that the managers of Information in the state like the Ministry of Information with its Giant strides magazine, Cross River Radio and Television (CRBCTV), Cross River Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Nigerian Chronicle and Weekend Chronicle, the office of the Senior Special Adviser on Public Relations, The office of the Senior Special Assistant and Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, the Governor Online Media unit and the office of the Special assistant on Electronic media have so far done excellence well in the reportage and dissemination of information about government projects and programmes to the people.

    “We are doing everything to get the perception of Cross Riverians restructured, re-engineered and re-positioned for success. It is based on this that I set up the Orientation Committee to ensure inclusiveness, and extending to the market woman, religious groups, Local Government areas, Senatorial districts and others, just as recently we organized a training programme tagged,” I can Do spirit” for information managers in the Ministry of Information and Orientation”, Barr. Archibong maintained.

    The Commissioner explained further that the recent reception for the governor by Cross Riverians at the airport was a clear indication of the warm feelings the people have for their governor for what he is doing and that all appointees stand firmly with the governor, and called on all the people to remain solidly behind their beloved governor and always pray for him.

    Also responding to questions, the Senior Special Adviser, Public Relations, Chief Tony Undiandeye, said that Governor Ben Ayade has done tremendously well with his revolutionary steps in re-engineering the and restructuring the Basic/foundational education of the state with ongoing planned massive infrastructures where billions of naira have been voted in for that purpose as approval for the employment of 1000 teachers has been given and steps towards realizing that has gone far coupled with his deliberate step to reposition the agriculture sector in the areas of rice, cocoa, palm seedlings and cotton farming to feed the garment factory.

    Chief Undiandeye also disclosed that Ayade has taken a giant step in the areas of primary health care with massive renovation and upgrading of facilities and the introduction of the Cross River health Insurance, the AyadeCare where those who subscribed will be taken care of in the event of ill-health of any type, while salaries of workers have been paid up to date while the governor has given a marching order for the salaries of the Local Government staff to be paid.

    He stated that there has been smooth transition in Cross River from 1999 to date as massive projects started by Mr. Donald Duke such as the monorail was sustained by Imoke’ administration and completed by Ayade, while the CICC started by Imoke has equally been completed by Ayade, as he has gone a step further by departing from the mundane in the conception of his projects and upgrading of infrastructures in the state.

    On the comparative advantage of Cross River over other states, Chief Undiandeye the serene environment, a secured atmosphere and environment, the hospitable nature of the people combined to attract investors to the state and that recently the governor released more security vans to ensure adequate security in the state especially during the festive period when the state will have visitors from more than 25 countries who will participate in the carnival.

    The SSA Public Relations said that a town hall meeting for Local Governments is being planned for November and shall dove-tailed to December where they shall meet with the people and stress the need for maximum cooperation from the people as they explained government activities to them, besides the normal effort they have been putting to communicate government activities to the people of the state, adding that the administration has 48 months and only 17 months have been spent, stressing that Ayade’s leadership meant well for the state, disclosing that rehabilitation of feeder roads/streets will commence as the dry season set in.

    Chief Undiandeye reason that with the having about 50 percent of the nation’s forest reserves coupled with the interest the Ayade administration has shown in the area of Climate Change and environment being himself a professional and expert in that field, and haven woven it into the Carnival Calabar, Cross River stand to benefit immensely from the carbon credit fund.

    Ayade government is focus, it is a government with ideas, a serious minded government, a government driven by commitment and empathy. Ayade radiates warmness, he has done marvelously well, Undiandeye stated, and called on the people to continue to support Ayade’s administration.

  • National Sports Festival: Between Pageantry and Sporting Events

    Governor Ben Ayade with the recent Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria 

    By Ifere Paul 

    Welcome to Prof. Ben Ayade’s Cross River where the state government will decline from hosting an international and national sporting events but can splash millions of taxpayers money on a day pageantry show.

    A state where pageantry is perceived to have more economic viability and importance to the state and her citizenry than sporting events.

    On assumption of office, Ayade outrightly banned the Obudu Mountain Race competition and has declined from hosting this year’s national sports festival.

    Recalled that, since Ayade assumed office, the state has hosted two pageantry events; Most Beautiful Girl in Nigeria and the Mother and Daughter Pageantry events in October and December last year respectively.

    In one of the shows, the later precisely, the Governor splashed eleven million naira (N11,000 000) on the eleven participants. That is, for contesting alone, you are entitled to one million naira appearance bonus. What a lucrative business!

    While some government officials are trying hard to justify this unexpected show of misplaced priority by this administration, they should recall that when the governor banned the Obudu Mountain Race competition, he defended his decision that government can’t continue to sponsor events that has no economic benefit to the state and Cross Riverians.

    One would imagine the benefits the state and Cross Riverians got from the two pageantry events which cost the state approximately over N50 million to host.

    This development has shown that it’s either the governor’s advisers are not advising him well, not good enough or he doesn’t listen to advice at all.

    We can’t continue to hide under the excuse of “no money” to dismiss events of great importance with high economic benefits while we waste taxpayers money on frivolous things.

    As a government, Ayade must set his priorities right and avoid doing things that will not only satisfy him as a person but protect the overriding interest of Cross Riverians.

    On no account should we sacrifice sporting activities for pageantry because the relevance of the former to the socioeconomic development of any state and nation cannot be quantified.

  • Open letter to His Excellency, Prof Senator Ben Ayade, Digital Gov of CRS Part 1

    Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State inspecting the Calabar Monorail for commissioning 

    By Daniel Agbor 


    PART ONE!

    YOU WILL SOON BE IN THE GUNNESS BOOK OF WORLD RECORDS

    Dear Sir!

    I write to congratulate and thank you for being our governor. Indeed, I want to thank you for working so hard to bring in foreign investors who have graciously signed up to 30 MOUs with the state. Indeed this is a feat that no other governor in this country have achieved. Don’t mind those wicked people who say the MOUs are fake, they are just jealous of your achievements sir. But some people are saying that it looks like Ifere Paul and Okoi Obono-obla have scared you from signing more. Please sir, don’t mind them, EFCC or not, it should be memoranda all the way.

    I also want to commend you for the cleanliness of Calabar and it’s environs. As someone who I suspect was high said the other day, that there is refuse all over Calabar as a result of heavy enjoyment because you pay wages on time. Dear Sir don’t mind the wicked people. I have driven all over town and I have not seen refuse anywhere. Any dirty seen is the one enemies of progress are importing just to make our digital governor look bad.

    All this talk about your wonderful projects is as a result of envy. Our super highway is 20 kilometers wide. That is first in the history of mankind. Don’t mind detractors who say your real target is timber for export. What do they mean Sir? Don’t mind them, do you look like a poor man? Even if they don’t know, we know, that you have a history of stupendous wealth from childhood.

    The wicked people accuse you of refusal to tour the state since you became governor. Don’t mind them Sir, they don’t know that you must finish touring the whole world before you visit those villagers. Why should you go to LGAs when there is nothing happening there. After all, all the chairmen live in Calabar hotels where they lavish the monies that you kindly allow their local governments.

    (To be continued)

  • The Missing Link between Cross Riverians and Government Programs

    Governor Ben Ayade interviewed by Journalist at a Construction site in Calabar

    By Solomon Asha


    Donald Duke major focus was to create many small businesses providing passive income. Many failed to key into his programs and today, all these businesses are suffering. The problem is not in the programs but in the people. These many businesses came into an environment where people think averagely and want to rather have many jobs providing earned income.

    Today, the average Cross Riverian who so much believe in getting jobs to earn more income, see their refusal to participate and take over the small businesses mostly in tourism and other areas, as failure of government to keep financing them year in year out so they can just sit and earn income.

    It is sad, that for over 10 of the Carnival Calabar, without government participation, the entire show would be gone. When people refuse to invest and only want to earn, government at some point become overloaded, because the ideas of private investors are not coming in to keep the programs alive. No innovations, no improvement because with or without, people hope on earning income not investing.

    In reverse, fluctuations in income, is use as a benchmark to compare success of one government against another, without even a consideration in expansion, change in demands and economic variables.

    In all the above, what Governor Ayade came with was simplicity of terms and methods. Explaining in simple terms that which people have not been comprehending. Letting us to understand that the first Law of success is not, “Never make things simple when you can make them complicated.”

    His Words, “Signature Projects” made me realise as Fuller once said, “words’ are the most powerful tools invented by humans.” I also realised that words are the fuel to our brain, our greatest asset, and also our greatest liability.

    I see first hand why the Bible stated, “And the word became flesh.” Taking a new meaning. Governor Ayade forbade us from 29th May 2015, from using the words, “I can’t afford it.” “I can’t do it.” And rather disciplined us to ask, “How can we afford it.” Or say, “How can I do It.” He has made us to realise that our lives are the sum total of of our words.

    We can no longer be pawns, victims or slaves to doubters, conspirators in political circles, who look at all true growth as impossible because it will free us and expose use to true wealth. Those who have stock our wealth in Capital Gains ventures and today, are eaten up by inflation and want to remain dependent on our commonwealth by wanting to be in power through any means.

    These Signature Projects; Superhighway, Deep Seaport, Garment Factory, Pharmaceutical Factory, Rice City, The Embedded Power Plant, 600 birds per day Poultry Farm, Cocoa Processing Firm and lots of others are the key to our freedom and light to our path way.

    These projects are not here for political reasons, but they are here to change our environment not only in wealth but also to change our orientation and approach to wealth creation.

    The more therefore, we miss the opportunity of taking advantage and keying in, we will remain only income earners and slaves to those who through their positive spirits recognise their growth as relative to every positive outcome of any program, be it from APC or PDP.

    Join the train and let make a difference for Yes Ayade Can do it with Us.

  • Understanding Ayade’s essential humanism by Desmond Orjiakor

    Governor Ben Ayade with Investors at the Proposed Cross River Rice City

    Much of the significant critical issues in the keenly contested 2015 governorship election in Cross River State were centred on the qualities and pedigrees of the contestants. This became necessary as it was glaring that a precedent had already been set in the quality of materials the state had thrown up as governors since the current political dispensation began in 1999. Mr. Donald Duke (1999-2007) and Senator Liyel Imoke (2007-2015) represent a bold testimony to the emerging trend of enthroning young and brilliant people at the apogee of political leadership across the world. And like his predecessors, Senator Ben Ayade is a man of composite vision, who has indeed enunciated a new governing philosophy and a new set of ideas that can act as catalysts in moving the state to greater heights.

    Just under sixteen months after his inauguration as governor, Ayade has demonstrated that he was prepared for the job and that he had studied and appreciated all the challenges the state is faced with before stepping in. He has lined up programmes and policies, commenced implementation of projects, which when completed, would move the state to its pride of place even without oil. At a time when the Calabar/Ikom Federal Road has become a death trap, when transiting from any other part of the state to its capital or vice versa has become a nightmare with several man-hours being lost to embarrassing craters and potholes, the governor completed the design and the de-bushing of the 260km Calabar-Katsina-Ala superhighway after President Muhammadu Buhari performed the groundbreaking ceremony last year.

    As a strong commitment to his vision to developing the state, he was able to bring President Muhammadu Buhari to Cross River State to flag off the event in spite of Mr. President’s tight schedule. He is the first governor and one from an opposition party in the present administration to attract the president to his state. According to the ebullient governor, this road will reduce the journey from Calabar to Obudu, currently 8 hours, to just about two hours and reduce incessant carnage on the existing road and also facilitate quick movement of cargoes from the South to the North and vice versa. With the existence of more than one thousand kilometer-network of feeder roads built by the immediate past government across the state, this Ayade’s initiative would help facilitate the movement of farm produce from local communities to urban centres.

    Because of his insistence on human capital development, Ayade places emphasis on industralisation that consequently creates employment opportunities for the people. He has established the Calabar Garment Factory, one of the biggest in the world. The factory alone has generated about 3000 jobs.

    Ayade has also established the state Green Police through which 1,500 people have been engaged. He has maintained a very cordial relationship with organized Labour in the state through prompt and regular payment of salaries. The Calabar Pharmaceutical and Cosmetics Company which will employ 2000 workers is under construction. There is also the Calabar Rice City which is sitting on a 3000 hectares of land with the aim of massively producing highly nutritious and vitaminised rice for local consumption and export.

    It is noteworthy to state here that aside from the completion of the Calabar Mono-rail project, the government of Professor Ben Ayade has completed the 5,000 capacity Calabar International Convention Centre. He has opened up the state to investors and has embarked on new vistas like his forays into solid minerals and real estate development. For constraints of space, the achievements of the government within this short period can be reviewed in a subsequent piece.

    Again, it would be recalled that Calabar the capital of Cross River State was the first political capital of Nigeria. This became possible because the early European missionaries who came into the interior coast of West Africa discovered our territories through water. Yet it is very unfortunate that almost two hundred years since the exploration and more than fifty years after their departure, the Calabar port is as shallow and as dry as a swimming pool in a living home. This is attributable to the failure of the Federal Government to dredge the Calabar River to the Atlantic Ocean. Over the years, internal wrangling between the Federal Ministry of Transport and the Federal Inland Waterways has resulted in failure of government to develop the waterways and a lull in economic activities along the coastal axis especially in the Calabar metropolis. Ayade, aware of what the state stands to gain if the Calabar Port functions optimally, has commenced the processes for the construction of the Bakassi Deep Seaport. This would encourage and promote export trade from the state and bring about expansion of business and economic activities across the state.

    Another landmark action taken by Ayade since his assumption of office as governor is his investment in the psychology of workers in the state. Before he came in the saddle, irregular payment of salaries was threatening the joys of workers in the state. But upon assumption of office, Ayade introduced a fresh initiative to tackle the problem. He invited all stakeholders including banks operating in the state to a brainstorming session to proffer solution to the problem and came up with the resolution that henceforth, workers would get their salaries on the 25th of every month.

    The governor, however, surpassed that by paying even earlier than the date he officially declared. For instance, on a number of occasions he had paid salaries on the 13th, 20th and surprisingly on the 1st of May as a gesture to and solidarity with the organized labour. He has paid the salary up to date to pave way for the new order and has thus motivated workers in the state to put in their best and support his new vision for the state.

    Upon his assumption of office, Ayade discovered that he was inheriting an aging workforce in the civil service. What did he do? He swiftly lifted the 23-year old freeze on recruitment and ordered fresh intakes as a way of reinvigorating the jaded civil service. This is in addition to other job creating opportunities that are beckoning.

    The dynamism and intellectual reasoning that Ayade has brought to bear on government business just within months of his ascension to the exalted throne is legendary.

    For those who had been to Cross River State from the administration of Donald Duke to the last days of the Imoke years, it was indisputable that Calabar was the cleanest state capital in Nigeria. The story is told of how a United States-based Nigerian from Enugu state visited Calabar during the 2013 annual Calabar Carnival and Christmas Festival. Within just two weeks of his stay in Cross River State, having been treated to the traditional hospitality of the people, the palatable cuisines and, above all, the environment, topography and landscaping, the young man went back to California to pick his wife and two kids to Calabar where they have now made their permanent place of abode. Calabar still remains one of Nigeria’s very clean cities as Ayade personally supervises the evacuation of refuse. Everywhere, the governor is seen giving instructions or directives to people to carry out one assignment or the other while he implements some himself.
    His administration has also commenced the city capping exercise, to increase urban afforestation and green areas across the city of Calabar.

    Yet, undoubtedly, Senator Ayade, a renowned professor of Microbiology could not have manifested such populist ethos out of the blue. At the Seventh Senate where he represented Cross River North Senatorial District, until recently when he stepped aside to contest the governorship primaries of his state, Ayade was one of the most active voices. As a parliamentarian who was at home with the condition of his people, his contributions to debates and sponsorship of bills were always proofs of his undying love for the poor and the downtrodden in Nigeria. Whatever action he undertook in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly was always a direct reflection of his compassion and feelings for the man in the street. Before he left the senate in which he was inaugurated on June 6, 2011 as a greenhorn, Ayade’s prodigious output of bills was overwhelming.

    He sponsored a total of eighteen (18) bills, the second highest in the life of the Seventh National Assembly. Some people may assail his style as too liberal because of his penchant for getting things done immediately. But his preference for innovative, non-bureaucratic way of governing is more democratic than the old government model- centralized, top-down, offering standardized services delivered by public monopolies, which worked well during the colonial era but no longer fits the needs of our increasingly diverse society in the Information Age. Not only does the governor run an all-inclusive administration with open door policy, the man is a model of civilised political culture. As he is poised to complete these projects and generate employment for our teeming graduates, Cross Riverians should drum up support for this philosopher King and should not allow anything to distract him.

    Dr. Orjiakor is an Abuja-based commentator on national issues.

  • We are not tired of Ben Ayade as Governor – Cross River Youths echoes

    In a show of strong support for Governor Ben Ayade, Cross River chapter of the Nigeria Youths Council, (NYC), today, revealed that they are not tired of the incumbent as governor of the state and vowed to stand and sink with him on his legal matter at the Supreme Court. 

    Cross River Youths during their council meeting 
    The council stated that their vehement support for Governor Ayade is premised on his outstanding and overwhelming empowerment of the youths in the state.

    Disclosing this in calabar, when he led the 18 chairmen of the NYC in all the local government areas in the state on a courtesy call on the Commissioner for Youths and sport, Asu okang, comrade Ushie Bartholomew, chairman of the forum said this governor is a youth’s friendly governor and we will not allow anything to truncate his tenure.

    Ushie, who further posited’ we have mobilised ample support for Governor Ben Ayade and we believe in him 100 percent. We would stand with Ayade to the end. They usually say youths are leaders of tomorrow but Ayade has made the youths leaders of today. It is only in Cross River state in the whole of Nigeria that we have 80 percent of the political appointees as youths.’

    Reacting on the expected supreme court ruling slated for December 9, the chairman of the Youths forum, said any attempts to stop Governor Ayade is an attempt to stop the teeming youths of Cross River state.

    His words: ‘Governor Ayade has given Youths ample opportunities and the youths are with him and we have vowed to stand, sink and support him in every ramification and we would demonstrate our unparallel love and commitment to the governor tomorrow when we come out en-mass to receive him as he arrives the state. We would follow him to any length and come out in our numbers. We would shut down caLabar to show Ayade is fully in charge .

    ‘This governor is a Youths friendly governor and we will not allow anything to truncate his tenure. We have mobilise ample support for the governor and we believe in him 100 percent .We would stand with Ayade to the end. Ayade has made Youths a leader of today .it is only in Cross River that you have Youths as 80 percent of the political appointees.’ He added

    Responding an excited Commissioner Asu Okang, thanked the youths for the visit and their support and assured them that under Governor Ben Ayade, led administration, the young people of the state will continue to enjoy and play active leadership role in the state.

    He disclosed that the government has initiated a lot of commendable programs and projects in the state to boost youth’s empowerment.

    Asu okang promised that Governor Ayade will ensure all their demands are met as the governor is committed to further uplifting the plights of the youths in the state.

  • Catholic Church launches Anti-Corruption Project in Calabar

    Voices for Compliance and Legality (VOCAL), an initiative of the Catholic Caritas Foundation (CCF) that seeks to support the anti-corruption fight in Nigeria, has been launched in Calabar, Cross River State. 

    Archbishop Joseph Ekuwem, Catholic Archbishop of Calabar 
    At the project launch, performed by the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Calabar Diocese of the church, Archbishop Joseph Ekuwem, Nigerians were enjoined to work at strengthening all her institutions so that the anti-corruption fight will yield fruits. Ekuwem particularly frowned at the nefarious activities of some Nigerians and their endless desire to portray the country in bad light, adding that honest Nigerians in most cases have had to unfortunately bear the brunt for the unpatriotic and corrupt practices of a negligible few.

    On the perception among the comity of nations that corruption is synonymous with Nigeria, the Archbishop told newsmen that, “Yes there is corruption in Nigeria and of course everywhere…the difference is the level. There is no country that is free from corruption, none. Tell me one and I will give you good examples because corruption is a part of human weaknes”. 
    He specifically thanked the European Union for providing funds for the project and prayed that those charged with the responsibility of executing the project will pursue it to a logical conclusion.

    Earlier, the Programme Manager, Catholic Caritas Foundation of Nigeria, Cletus Aloke, informed the large gathering of guests at the launch that Cross River State was chosen for the project because she was consciously making efforts to tackle corruption with legislation that seeks to strengthen her institutions.

    The project will be executed by the Calabar Centre for Justice and Peace Initiative, under the supervision of the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, and fully funded by the European Union. It is thought to have a life span of 11 months in the first instance.

  • Let us like Governor Ayade, heal with words and create attitudes for realities

    By Solomon Inok

    “Words Form Our Attitudes, Attitudes Form Our Reality.”

    Robert Kiyosaki said, “Life is attitude.” If you want to change your life, first change your words, which will in turn change your attitude.

    The Bible clearly stated, “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks.”-Luke 6:45.

    I will never be rich, this government will not succeed, all those in this government are political babes. These are the words of a person with a poor person’s attitude. Change is impossible, the reality of the Deep seaport and superhighway are all impossibilities. The chances for people like this is that, they struggle financially all through their lives and remain poor.

    Poverty is relative, any political rich person, still living in a rented apartment, in his or her State after serving in government for more than 8 years is a complete example of a poor person, no matter the circumstances.

    Some will say, “it’s takes money to make money.” No, Money begins with words, and words are free.

    The greatest failure in our system is the lack of believe and trust in our own words.

    Churches are rich yet churches sell no commodities than ‘words.’

    No matter how hard we try, no matter how hard we work, one thing is constant, “America remain great because of the positive attitude of Americans toward America.” In the real sense of it, “America is bankrupt.”

    We must change our Attitude to gain value. Value that will in turn add up to our currency, products and services and national integrity at large.

    The greatest fear of America today is a likely situation where many countries will start refusing to use the Dollar as a standard of international monetary measurement.

    We must grow both in words and actions, out of political divides during Campaign and Elections and embrace true collective governace for growth and development.

  • Governor Ayade’s Dreams, Cross River State only Hope

    By Inok Solomon 


    When the Oil Price started falling, the naira was admitted in one of our hospital with no proper medical equipments. Inflation began to creep into the economic system. People knew something was wrong, but without much to turn to, we did not know what was wrong. The amount of money said to be stolen by past administration, made inflation a visitor to every household. Then the Oil Price took cover for fear of been stolen too. 
    President Buhari called His economic native doctors, and they started mixing the monetary policies. Interest Rates, Foreign exchange rates, Stock market, Stolen money returns, Banks rates, EFCC rates. The more the mix, the more Inflation is gathering momentum.

    Today, a new word is flying the vocabulary air: “STAGFLATION.” Meaning, the economy is not only inflating as prices of goods and services are going Higher by day, but the economy is stagnant. People and businesses are not making more money, yet inflation is growing, things are getting more expensive.

    Prices are increasing, yet wages are not keeping up with inflation. At the same time, people are losing their jobs in the thousands by day.

    Today, those who knew something was wrong with our money, and wanting to get rich quick, invested heavily on capital gains. Even so much of the money stolen from the federation accounts into private hands, entered into Capital Gains ventures, like stock, bonds and many quick hits. Today, inflation had crashed the stock market, and render so many poor including our stolen monies.

    The government in an attempt to remedy the situation, is now printing money in the form of Bailouts. Bailouts for salaries, Bailouts for Pensions, Bailouts for Gratuities and Bailouts for Banks, Bailouts for the Stock market. Big question is, where are the monies deductions over the years for pensions Trust Funds? Inflation have rendered all useless because investors directed all into quick money making ventures of capital gains. In like manner our so much oral stolen monies.

    For those who understood Governor Ben Ayade from His inaugural day, 29th May, 2015. Intuitively understanding that the Naira was becoming worthless, His Signature Projects were pointers for people to stop saving money and begin investing in things that appreciate with inflation.

    To take the first step for the state and create such an environment, He directed His efforts to the Garment Factory, Pharmaceutical Factory, Rice City, Bakassi Deep Seaport, Superhighway and lots more.

    Basically, His intentions is to open the state to a Cash Flow society, where individuals can see opportunities right in front of their door post, and live away from the old system of: Go to school, get a job, work hard, save money, your house is an asset and your biggest investment, live below your means, get out of debt, invest for the long term in a well diversified portfolio of stocks, bonds and mutual funds, that have one pit fall, retire, and the government will support you, live happily ever after.

    Total nonsense and the greatest deciet of mankind. Inflation and recession sweeps all under the carpet in one night. It is only a rule to keep the 80-20 standard. The principle that state that, for many events, about 80 percent of the effects come from 20 percent of causes. The entire riches of Nigeria is owned and controlled by just 20 percent while the 80 percent work to keep the 20 percent up.

    Governor Ayade is saying, there is good news for those who are ready to move on into the brave new world. This is the best of times for those willing to study, learn quickly, work hard and not join the chorus of negative people.

    Recession is a reset blessing, we need to learn from the past to succeed in the future. This is our time to become what we want to become if we want to.

  • Cross River Northern Senatorial District Youths Forum insist on Governor Ayade

    The Northern Senatorial District Youths Forum has re-echoed their strong support for the Governor of Cross River state, Prof Ben Ayade, insisting their call is a huge demonstration of the numerous democracy dividends the state have enjoyed under his administration. 

    To this end, they maintained that the several awards the governor has received from all over the world are clear testimonies that governor Ayade is doing wonderfully well.

    Speaking on behalf of Northern Cross River Youths Arise for Governor Ben Ayade, comrade Justin Ilefa, deputy chairman and William Efane, publicity secretary, said the whole of Northern Cross river state are with governor Ayade.

    ‘It is insanity for any Northern Cross riverians to rejoice over the fate of his Excellency, Governor Ayade at the Supreme Court. This issue is our collective matter, all of us from the northern part of the state are in this together and the God of heaven will never forgive those peddling falsehood on this issue for their petty selfish gain and amusing themselves already by celebrating what God has not ordinate.

    ‘By the grace of God this governor has come to stay and he will complete his 8 years whether they like it or not by the power of God almighty. We are eager and excited and looking to the final confirmation and validation of Governor Ayade mandate again on the December 9 which will signal the final burial of the opposition and those hoping to reap where they never sow in cross river state.’ They thundered

    They also used the opportunity to condemn vehemently the unnecessary ambitions of some characters in the state which goal is to derail the progress and developmental strives of the Governor Ben Ayade led government, assuring that cross river state is safe with the digital governor.

    In their words: ‘we call for urgent need for all of us to support our course and give governor Ayade the needed support to carry the state forward. This governor is actively delivering the democracy dividends in the state already, and we are concern and committed to his success because his success is our success. The people of cross river gave him this mandate and it is our right to protect this mandate as people of Northern Cross River. We should be more united as a people than seeking for what divides us.’ They added