Category: Opinion

  • CRSHOA Speaker commends Nigerian Optometric Association, CRS Chapter for Philanthropy

    Hon. John Gaul Lebo 

    The Speaker, Cross River State House of Assembly (CRSHOA), Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo, has commended the Nigeria Optometric Association for their role in the recruitment of medical doctors who specialize in eye care.

    Lebo made the commendation when the chairman and members of the Nigeria Optometric Association Cross River State Chapter called on him to inform him of their forthcoming event to mark ‘’World Sight-day’’ coming up on October 13th, 2016.

    He referred to the contribution of the House towards the Cancer Research Bill, promising that the House will in the same vain partner and supports their Association to enhance the success of their forth coming programme.

    Earlier, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Optometric Association, Dr. Kelechukwu E. Ahaiwe said the purpose of commemorating the World sight day is to prevent blindness in the world and to draw attention of the Government and private individuals to the activities slated for that day to enable them participate.

    He further added that the Association has budgeted over five hundred thousand Naira (500,000.00) for the purchase and distribution of at least 300 pieces of eye glasses to commercial road drivers and other persons with eye challenges in the State and will partner with the road safety Commission, Transport Commission and also train teachers on how to detect any form of eye problem among their students.

    The Chairman used the medium to implore the Hon. Members to establish Laws condemning fake medical practitioners giving out eye glasses in rural areas and allow the Association’s medical Doctors to perform this duty. He went further to invite the Speaker and other members of the House to grace the Annual event.

  • Read Cross River State House of Assembly Speaker’s Independence Day Speech

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

    Independence Felicitation:

    On behalf of the entire Honourable Members of the Cross River State 8th Legislative Assembly, I wish to felicitate their Excellences the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Muhammadu Buhari (GCFR) and Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo (GCON); the Governor of Cross River State, Prof (Senator) Ben Ayade and his Deputy, Prof Ivara Esu on the occasion of Nation’s 56th Independence Anniversary.

    As we celebrate this national birthday, we believe with no strand of doubt in His Excellency, governor Ayade’s motivated vision to liberate the state from economic strangulation.

    We envisage a Cross River that will be truly financially independent through your administrative engineering, even as we look forward to an effervescent Cross River/Nigeria economy in the nearest future.

    This is our desire. This is the desire of the people of Cross River.

    God bless Nigeria!

    God bless Cross River State!!!

    Signed:
    Rt. Hon John Gaul Lebo

    Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly

  • 50 paragraphs of President Muhammadu Buhari’s 56th Independence Anniversary Speech

    1st October was Nigeria’s independence anniversary day, and the Country’s President, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a speech of exactly 50 paragraphs. Please read below… 

    1. Today 1st October is a day of celebration for us Nigerians. On this day, 56 years ago our people achieved the most important of all human desires, freedom and independence. We should all therefore give thanks and pray for our founding fathers without whose efforts and toil we would not reap the bounties of today.

    2. I know that uppermost in your minds today is the economic crisis. The recession for many individuals and families is real. For some It means not being able to pay school fees, for others it’s not being able to afford the high cost of food (rice and millet) or the high cost of local or international travel, and for many of our young people the recession means joblessness, sometimes after graduating from university or polytechnic.

    3. I know how difficult things are, and how rough business is. All my adult life I have always earned a salary and I know what it is like when your salary simply is not enough. In every part of our nation people are making incredible sacrifices.

    4. But let me say to all Nigerians today, I ran for office four times to make the point that we can rule this nation with honesty and transparency, that we can stop the stealing of Nigeria’s resources so that the resources could be used to provide jobs for our young people, security, infrastructure for commerce, education and healthcare.

    5. I ran for office because I know that good government is the only way to ensure prosperity and abundance for all. I remain resolutely committed to this objective.

    6. I believe that this recession will not last.

    7. Temporary problems should not blind or divert us from the corrective course this government has charted for our nation. We have identified the country’s salient problems and we are working hard at lasting solutions.

    8. To re-cap what I have been saying since the inception of this administration, our problems are security, corruption and the economy, especially unemployment and the alarming level of poverty.

    9. On Security, we have made progress. Boko Haram was defeated by last December – only resorting to cowardly attacks on soft targets, killing innocent men, women and children.

    10. Nigerians should thank our gallant men of the Armed Forces and Police for rescuing large areas of the country captured by insurgents. Now, residents in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States, as well as several neighbouring states go about their daily business in relative safety. People can go to mosques, churches, market places in reasonable safety.

    11. Commuters can travel between cities, towns and villages without fear. Credit for this remarkable turn-round should go to our Armed Forces, the Police, various sponsored and private vigilante groups, the local traditional leaders. Security is a top to bottom concern and responsibility.

    12. Besides Boko Haram, we are confronting other long-running security issues, namely herdsmen vs farmers, cattle rustling, kidnappings. This Administration is firmly resolved to tackle these challenges and to defeat them.

    13. A new insurgency has reared up its head in the shape of blowing up gas and oil pipelines by groups of Niger Delta Militants. This Administration will not allow these mindless groups to hold the country to ransom.

    14. What sense is there to damage a gas line as a result of which many towns in the country including their own town or village is put in darkness as a result? What logic is there in blowing up an export pipeline and as a result income to your state and local governments and consequently their ability to provide services to your own people is reduced?

    15. No group can unlawfully challenge the authority of the Federal Government and succeed. Our Administration is fully sympathetic to the plight of the good people of Niger Delta and we are in touch with the State Governments and leaderships of the region. It is known that the clean-up of the Ogoniland has started. Infrastructural projects financed by the Federal Government and post amnesty programme financing will continue.

    16. We have however, continued to dialogue with all groups and leaders of thought in the region to bring lasting peace.

    17. Corruption is a cancer which must be fought with all the weapons at our disposal. It corrodes the very fabric of government and destroys society. Fighting corruption is Key, not only to restoring the moral health of the nation, but also to freeing our enormous resources for urgent socio-economic development.

    18. In fighting corruption, however, the government would adhere strictly by the rule of law. Not for the first time I am appealing to the judiciary to join the fight against corruption.

    19. The Third Plank in this Administration’s drive to CHANGE Nigeria is re-structuring the economy. Economies behaviour is cyclical. All countries face ups and downs. Our own recession has been brought about by a critical shortage of foreign exchange. Oil price dropped from an average of hundred USD per barrel over the last decade to an average of forty USD per barrel this year and last.

    20. Worse still, the damage perpetrated by Niger Delta thugs on pipelines sometimes reduced Nigeria’s production to below One million barrels per day against the normal two point two million barrels per day. Consequently, the naira is at its weakest, but the situation will stabilize.

    21. But this is only temporary. Historically about half our dollar export earnings go to importation of petroleum and food products! Nothing was saved for the rainy days during the periods of prosperity. We are now reaping the whirlwinds of corruption, recklessness and impunity.

    22. There are no easy solutions, but there are solutions nonetheless and Government is pursuing them in earnest. We are to repair our four refineries so that Nigeria can produce most of our petrol requirements locally, pending the coming on stream of new refineries. That way we will save ten billion USD yearly in importing fuel.

    23. At the same time, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and the Central Bank have been mobilized to encourage local production of rice, maize, sorghum, millet and soya beans. Our target is to achieve domestic self-sufficiency in these staples by 2018.

    24. Already farmers in thirteen out of thirty six states are receiving credit support through the Central Bank of Nigeria’s Anchor Borrowers Programme. Kebbi state alone this year is expected to produce one million tonnes of locally grown rice, thanks to a favourable harvest this year. As part of the 13 states, Lagos and Ogun are also starting this programme. Rice alone for example costs Nigeria two billion USD to import.

    25. The country should be self-sufficient in basic staples by 2019. Foreign exchange thus saved can go to industrial revival requirements for retooling, essential raw materials and spare parts. It is in recognition of the need to re-invigorate agriculture in our rural communities that we are introducing the LIFE programme.

    26. Government recognises that irrigation is key to modern agriculture: that is why the Ministries of Agriculture and Water Resources are embarking on a huge programme of development of lakes, earth dams and water harvesting schemes throughout the country to ensure that we are no longer dependent on rain-fed agriculture for our food requirements.

    27. In addition, government is introducing Water Resources Bill encompassing the National Water Resources Policy and National Irrigation and Drainage Policy to improve management of water and irrigation development in the country. We are reviving all the twelve River Basin Authorities, namely;

    I. Anambra – Imo

    II. Benin – Owena

    III. Chad Basin

    IV. Cross River

    V. Hadejia – Jama’are

    VI. Lower Benue

    VII. Lower Niger

    VIII. Niger Delta

    IX. Ogun – Osun

    X. Sokoto – Rima

    XI. Upper Benue

    XII. Upper Niger

    28. The intention is eventually to fully commercialise them to better support crop production, aqua –culture and accelerated rural development.

    29. This Administration is committed to the revival of Lake Chad and improvement of the hydrology and ecology of the basin. This will tune in with efforts to rehabilitate the thirty million people affected by the Boko Haram insurgency in the Lake Chad basin countries.

    30. The second plank in our economic revival strategy is centred on the Ministry of Power, Works and Housing. The Ministry will lead and oversee the provision of critical infrastructure of power, road transport network and housing development.

    31. Power generation has steadily risen since our Administration came on board from three thousand three hundred and twenty four megawatts in June 2015, rising to a peak of five thousand and seventy four megawatts in February 2016.

    32. For the first time in our history the country was producing five thousand megawatts. However, renewed militancy and destruction of gas pipelines caused acute shortage of gas and constant drop in electricity output available on the grid.

    33. There has been during the period June 2015 to September 2016 big improvement in transmission capacity from five thousand five hundred megawatts to the present seven thousand three hundred megawatts.

    34. There were only two system collapses between June and December 2015, but due to vandalism by Niger Delta militants the over-all system suffered 16 system collapses between March and July 2016 alone. As I have said earlier, we are engaging with responsible leadership in the region to find lasting solutions to genuine grievances of the area but we will not allow a tiny minority of thugs to cripple the country’s economy.

    35. In the meantime, government is going ahead with projects utilizing alternate technologies such as hydro, wind, and solar to contribute to our energy mix. In this respect, the Mambilla Hydro project, after many years of delay is taking off this year. Contract negotiations are nearing completion with Chinese firms for technical and financial commitments.

    36. The project is to be jointly financed by Nigeria and the Chinese-Export-Import Bank. In addition, fourteen Solar Power Projects have had their power purchase agreements concluded. Hence the plan to produce one thousand two hundred megawatts of solar electricity for the country would be realized on schedule.

    37. And in line with the objective of government to complete all abandoned projects across the country, the Rural Electrification Agency’s projects needing completion are provided for in the 2016 Budget. Bringing electricity to rural areas will help farmers, small scale and cottage industries to integrate with the national economy.

    38. Roads Construction and Rehabilitation has taken off. The sum of twelve billion naira was allocated to this sector in the 2015 Budget, not enough even to pay interest on outstanding unpaid claims.

    39. Notwithstanding the budgetary constraints, the current budget allocated two hundred and forty billion naira for highway projects against twelve billion naira in 2015. Many contractors who have not been paid for three years have now remobilized to sites. Seven hundred and twenty point five billion naira has so far been released this budget year to capital projects.

    40. The Ministry of Power, Works and Housing has received one hundred and ninety seven point five billion naira. Work on the following highways has now resumed.

    1. Dualization of Calabar – Itu Road in Cross River/Akwa Ibom States.

    2. Dualization of Lokoja – Benin Road, Ehor – Benin city, Edo State.

    3. Re-construction of outstanding sections of Benin – Shagamu Express way, Edo/Ogun States.

    4. Expansion works on Lagos – Ibadan Dual carriageway, Ogun/Oyo States

    5. Rehabilitation of Onitsha – Enugu Expressway, Anambra/Enugu States.

    6. Rehabilitation and Reconstruction of Enugu – Port Harcourt Dual carriageway, Abia/Rivers States.

    7. Rehabilitation of Hadejia – Nguru Road, Jigawa State.

    8. Dualization of Kano – Katsina Road, Kano State.

    9. Dualization of Kano – Maiduguri Road, Borno State.

    10. Dualization of Azare – Potiskum Road, Azare – Sharuri Road, Bauchi State.

    11. Rehabilitation of Ilorin – Jebba – Mokwa – Birnin Gwari Road, Kwara State.

    12. Construction of Oju/Lokoja – Oweto Bridge over River Benue, Benue State.

    41. Other major highways are in the queue for rehabilitation or new construction.

    42. Already contractors have recalled about nine thousand workers laid off and Government expects that several hundreds of thousands of workers will be reengaged in the next few months as our public works programme gains momentum.

    43. On railways, we have provided our counterpart funding to China for the building of our standard gauge Lagos -Kano railway. Meanwhile, General Electric is investing two point two billion USD in a concession to revamp, provide rolling stock, and manage the existing lines, including the Port Harcourt-Maiduguri Line. The Lagos-Calabar railway will also be on stream soon.

    44. We have initiated the National Housing Programme. In 2014 four hundred million naira was voted for Housing. In 2015 nothing. Our first budget this year is devoting thirty five point six billion naira. Much of the house building will be private – sector led but Government is initiating a pilot housing scheme of two thousand eight hundred and thirty eight units uniformly spread across the 36 states and FCT.

    45. We expect these units to be completed within 4 – 6 months. These experimental Nigeria House model Units will be constructed using only made in Nigeria building materials and components. This initiative is expected to reactivate the building materials manufacturing sector, generate massive employment opportunities and develop sector capacity and expertise.

    46. The programmes I have outlined will revive the economy, restore the value of the naira and drive hunger from our land.

    47. Abroad, Nigeria’s standing has changed beyond belief in the last 18 months. We are no longer a pariah state. Wherever I go, I have been received with un-accustomed hospitality. Investors from all over the world are falling over themselves to come and do business in Nigeria. This government intends to make business environment more friendly because we can not develop ourselves alone.

    48. All countries, no matter how advanced, welcome foreign investments to their economy. This is the essence of globalization and no country in the 21st century can be an island. Our reforms are therefore designed to prepare Nigeria for the 21st century.

    49. Finally, let me commend Nigerians for your patience, steadfastness and perseverance. You know that I am trying to do the right things for our country.

    50. Thank you and may God bless our country.

  • Governor Ayade staying the course of good governance

    Professor Benedict Ayade, Governor of Cross River State 

    By Bisi Adeola

    In the face of obvious distractions, Governor Ben Ayade continues to stay focused in his resolve to transform Cross River State economically and socio-politically.

    Over the the past couple of months, he has set about laying the necessary legal frameworks for a more egalitarian society with the passage into law bills that are meant to ensure inclusiveness in the enjoyment of good governance.

    His passion and commitment to make a difference in the lives of his people is being appreciated both within and outside the country.

    This has been demonstrated in various ways including awards and recognitions.

    One of such recognitions was from the organised labour which acknowledged Governor Ayade as the best labour friendly governor in the country.

    Lauding the governor then, Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress, Comrade John Ushie, had disclosed: “The Organised Labour has resolved to single you out as the Best-Labour Friendly Governor. We have resolved that on May Day, we shall formally honour you with an award.’’

    He explained that Ayade was chosen for the award for a number of reasons including prompt payment of workers’ salaries and the courage to embark on economy changing projects like the 260km superhighway, the Bakassi Deep Seaport, the Calabar Garment and Textile Factory and the establishment of Green Police.

    According to him, “Since your assumption of office, every 20th to 25th day of each month, workers smile home with their salaries. We have gone through the records and across all other states, we have also found that you have surpassed your colleagues in Nigeria and have gone far to surpass the Federal Government, especially in the area of prompt payment of salaries.

    “We will not deceive you as we will speak out on anything we feel strongly about. As you know, Labour leaders cannot be coerced, and nobody will instigate us against your government. We also believe that nobody will instigate you against us,” he added

    Responding, Governor Ayade applauded the organized labour in the state for the honour and promised to do more for workers, despite the downturn in the nation’s economy.

    “I thank you for all your kind words. For labour to find me worthy of an award is indeed humbling because you are a union that cannot be bought.”

    In the same vein, Ayade was honoured as the best governor in the whole of south-south by the South/South Pen pusher Forum for his positive approach to governance. This was besides several other awards.

    Often when leaders are honoured with awards of excellence, it is so much about the motivation to do more than a reward or recognition for exemplary performance.

    As a mark of distinguished leadership, only recently he became the first governor in Africa to be honoured with the 2016 Image Award by the Hollywood Magazine in Los Angeles.

    The award was for his immense contribution toward the development of the entertainment Industry in Africa amongst others. ‎

    Ayade was specifically recognized for establishing ‘CALLYWOOD’, a film industry aimed at identifying young and talented Cross Riverians and nurturing them to stardom.

    Speaking on the award and why the Governor was deserving of the diadem, ‎Prather Jackson, Editor of Hollywood Weekly Magazines had this to say: “We are impressed by other great works of Governor Ayade that we have been carefully intimated about which include the 260km Superhighway, Bakassi Deep Seaport, Cross River State Green Police, and most overwhelmingly, the Calabar Garment factory.”

    One of the sponsors of the award, Azamosa Esohe James, said it was commendable especially as it was being given to a sitting Nigerian governor for supporting the entertainment industry.

    “I can tell you that Cross Riverians and the entire Nigerians, particularly those in the entertainment industry will embrace this award.”

    Apart from projects like the garment factory for which he has earned plaudits, the governor has laid the foundation for rapid industralisation of the state.

    For instance, his administration has advertised for bids for the building of a rice mill in Bansara, Ogoja Local Government Area, a cocoa processing plant in Ikom and Banana Plantation in Odukpani for export.

    Additionally, the governor is set to perform the foundation laying ceremony for the construction of Canadian School in Obudu, even as construction work on the Calabar Rice City is to take full swing.

    It also expected that Calabar will become the first Nigerian city to enjoy 24-hour power supply by December when a 20 megawatt power plant is completely installed.

    The equipment was received recently by the governor in Calabar.

    In spite of the curve balls seeming being thrown his way, Governor Ayade’s purposefulness of mind has continued to steer him in the direction of bringing about a positive change in the economic fortunes of his people.

    It is his refusal to be distracted that has enabled him to initiate policies and programmes aimed at reconstructing the socio-economic architecture of the state.

    In the end, society will not judge him by how many times he was frustrated by adversaries but rather by his lofty accomplishments in the face of sundry human strictures. It is this obvious awareness that has made him stay the course. And he will, by all means reach the finish line. And he will do so in grand style, with his unassailable achievements speaking loudly for him.

    Adeola wrote in from Ikoyi, Lagos

  • Governor Ben Ayade’s greatest Sin (Must Read)

    By Inok Solomon


    “One of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change.”

    Governor Ayade greatest Sin today, is his commitments to awake the too many people failing to remain awake during this period of social change. His commitments to inject into the political system new blood. His engagement of the teaming youth of Cross River into the political playground.

    “Every society has its protectors of status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent who are notorious for sleeping through revolutions.”

    Too bad, that the protectors of political status quo, had for long kept the youth far from getting a grip on the real game and build a future that can serve them to greatness. Political groups had all turned to fraternities of indifferent, not minding the collapse and decay in the general system as long as they remain in power and in control.

    “Today, our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adjust to new ideas, to remain vigilant and to face the challenges of change.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

    How long will we have to remain thugs? How long will we keep destroying our very future with our own very hands? Blinded by the deciet of those who had created for themselves and their children Heavens on earth while we hang outside their gates chastised by their dogs and gatemen who are our own brothers?

    Is a man who steal education for us as slaves, knowing with that we will come to understand the true meaning of freedom, become our enemy? Will we sell him out to our slave masters just to gain the title of slave overseer yet a slave?

    “The freedom and human capacities of individuals must be developed to their maximum, but individual powers must be linked to democracy in the sense that social bitterness must be the necessary consequence of individual flourishing.”-Henry Giroux.

    “Darkness cannot drive out hate; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”-Martin Luther King. Jr.

    There are risks and costs to a program of action. But they are far less than the long range risks and costs of comfortable inaction.-John F. Kennedy

    Cross River Youth, can our saviour become a sinner to us? We need to as a matter of fact, realise as true what Bertrand Russell said, “The wish to preserve the past rather than the hope of creating the future dominates the minds of those who control the teaching of the youth.”

    Mahatma Gandhi pointed, “If we are to reach real peace in this world..We shall have to begin with the youths.”

    This is a time for bold measures. This is the Cross River State, and we are the generation.

    Arise Cross River Youth!

  • Nigeria 56 years of Independence: Governor Ayade urges Peace, Unity

    Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has urged Nigerians to demonstrate utmost gratitude to God as the country marks 56 years of nationhood.

    Ayade who made the call in a statement signed by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Chief Press Secretary, Mr Christian Ita, said 56 years of Independence as a nation was a precious gift from God. He urge Nigerians to pray for the continuous unity and stability of the country.

    His words: “Fifty six years is a watershed in the history of a nation. There is no doubt that we have come a long way and achieved so much as a people. We have every reason to be thankful to God for the peace, unity and security we have been enjoying.”

    While urging Nigerians not to take the prevailing peace in the country for granted, Governor Ayade reminded: “There are many countries in the world today that peace has not only become an essential commodity, but also a rarity. That we have remained one united country in the last 56 years is a strong statement of our indissolubility and a preference for peace over war.”

    The governor further enjoined Nigerians to team up to build a greater and prosperous country where everyone will be proud of.

  • Campaign of calumny against Gov Ayade, a failed venture by Beulah Asuquo

    Governor Benedict Ayade of Cross River State 

    By Beulah Asuquo

    It is natural for people to constantly criticize those in power and authority whether they be elected officials, political appointees, heads of departments and so on. Undoubtedly, it is not out of place for citizens to criticize their leaders as policies and programmes deployed by those in authority directly or indirectly affects the socio-economic wellbeing of their immediate society.

    The essence of constructive criticism is important to every society to check leadership and policy makers, however mischievous political gladiators can employ destructive criticism aimed at destroying their opponents for selfish and personal reasons.

    When an administration has had the kind of awards in good governance and adjudged the best in the country by countless renowned/global outfits as the administration of Senator Ben Ayade home and abroad, one will imagine this administration shouldn’t have any kind of negative/destructive propaganda.

    Unfortunately, in the midst of men of goodwill, in the midst of men who are driven by the desire to move their society forward are desperate and greedy men, blackmailers corrupted by their selfish desire to achieve their goals even if it means destroying the state.

    For the avoidance of doubt, In Cross River State, a desperate cartel has emerged and are on a campaign to destroy the administration of Senator Ben Ayade. The mandate of the evil machinery they formed is spread falsehood, propaganda, outright lies against the current administration and confuse the gullible public.

    Unfortunately, most of their recruits on the social media have exhausted all the lies they can possibly muster, as the public have identified them as cheap crooks; the more they spread their cheap lies and propaganda, the more the administration is achieving landmark successes and receiving awards.

    When other states are owing salaries running into months, exposing their state workers to untold hardship saddled with this era of hyperinflation amidst the recession; how this administration has been able to pay salaries with the occasional zero allocation from the federation is a wonder. It is public knowledge that Cross River has the lowest allocation but workers receive their salaries between 18th and 25th of every month.

    When other states are trying to cut down their workforce for lack of funds to pay salaries, the Cross River State administration have lifted the embargo on employment, MDA’s are currently employing.

    The ongoing recession doesn’t appear to be affecting anyone in the state, the prompt payment of salaries has ensured there is enough money in hands of the common man. The state has become the envy of other states.

    Currently trending all over the country is the Cross River State Health Insurance Scheme christened “AyadeCare” which the governor signed into law a couple of weeks ago. This is one health reform likely to cause a socio-medical revolution in Nigeria and in Africa as a whole.

    It has been confirmed that many states and the federal governments are already making numerous inquiries about the programme in a bid to adopt it as a national model.

    “AyadeCare” which is aimed at providing a platform for the poor who cannot afford quality medical healthcare, accessing unlimited medical healthcare with just one thousand naira per month is an absolute service to humanity.

    This administration also has secured a partnership with DANA (an Indian manufacturing conglomerate) to collaborate with the state government to develop a pharmaceutical outfit in Calabar to be known as CALAPHARM pharmaceutical to manufacture drugs locally.

    When CALAPHARM becomes operational, it is going serve as the only drug manufacturing plant in the south-south and south east with massive capacity for employment.

    What more, the Calabar Garment Factory has already received so much accolade from the National Union of Textile Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN); the Minister of Labour, Dr. Chris Ngige was stunned by the sheer size and sophistication of the Calabar Garment Factory when he visited; a factory reckoned to be the biggest in Africa with the capacity to employ about 3,000 workers. For three thousand persons to be taken out of the army of unemployed is a startling number accounting for garment and textile sector.

    The Inspector General of Police Ibrahim Idris has expressed the intention of the Nigeria Police Force to partner the Cross River State Government on the Calabar Garment Factory by sewing uniforms for its officers and men.

    I can go on and on with projects and good policies that will revolutionize Cross River State which this administration has piloted. The governor has travelled the world over wooing investors and indeed his trips were very successful. In the next three to four months, Cross Riverians will start witnessing the implementations of all the MOU’s which the governor signed. There will be lots of job opportunities for our teeming youths, Cross River State will be transformed before our very eyes.

    When a man has done well, he should be encouraged to do more, our governor has shown character, wisdom and a clear path to revolutionizing our dear State. He should be given all the support needed.

    For those who out of selfish personal goals have sworn never to see any good in others, those whose occupation is to malign, destroy and assassinate the character of others including pulling down their own society or state just to get some sense of satisfaction, I say, change from your evil ways; It is not so difficult to give peace a chance. Stop this evil campaign of calumny.

    Beulah Asuquo is the Vice President, Pan African Good Governance Council, Nigeria District.

  • Governor Ayade and his removal of allowances since his assumption in office


    By Joseph Odok 


    Cross River state has been greatly impoverished since Mr. Ayade Benedict assumed office as the governor of the state. Instead there is a cut in allowances and reduction in pay of political office holders and elected offices ranging from councillors, local government chairmen, and state legislators. Today the local government councils are growing weeds as the governor has not executed any project in any local government council nor is money provided for funding existing structures in any local government in the state.

    The reality of cut in pay affects all MDAs in cross river state as overhead, allowances and monies for stationeries rarely been paid since Ayade’s assumption into office. Governance in cross river state works only in social media through announcement of one MOU or the other, advertisement and shortlisting of names for employment into one office or the other. All set dates for the take off of all projects have meet fulfilment only in the lips of hungry media aides; paid to do propaganda that gives ayade space to embezzle state’s money using the channel of Frank Ayade, the co governor of Cross River State.

    One of the most underfunded yet sensitive area is the educational sector as government schools have been abandoned. The sole preoccupation of Ayade in the area of schools is the constant screening exercises that creates opportunity for Ayade’s aides to divert monies from discovered ghost workers with an understanding to share with the governor.

    Revocation of Lands through Ayade’s in-law Dr. John Inyang also is a normal routine. This has recently made the radical and no nonsense cross river state commissioner for justice Barr Abang to threaten resignation if the illegalities are not checked. Barr Abang must have known the implications of such illegalities to the integrity of his professional. I think the intention of Ayade is to use his office to fraudulently get lands for his family using the office of his in-law the commissioner for Lands and Urban development.

    There is also the removal of teaching allowances from Education inspectors deployed from secondary Education board to the inspectorate department of Cross River State Ministry of Education. The inspectors are supervisory teachers who move to schools to supervise and correct teachers in the classroom. The are placed on secondment and not given allowances besides their salary because of the extra job of supervision. It is rather shocking that the government of Ayade do not know that only a teacher can supervise a teacher. The teaching allowances of the inspectors deployed from the secondary schools has been removed on a flimsy excuse that they are receiving their salaries. This is pure blindness because these teachers are only on secondment. Presently, these inspectors cannot talk because of threat from the government even when the governor continually deny them of legal rights, they are intimidated to remain silent.

    Recent revelations have shown that cross river state is not really as poor as presented by Ayade and more people now see the connection between the state of cross river state economy on Ayade’s assumption into office and the governor’s statement that cross river state is rich in potentials.

    The government is yet to tell the citizens of cross river state what it has done with the huge income that has accrued to the state coffers since his assumption in office. It is on record that on assumption in office, the Cross River State rubber stamped legislators approved about 50 billion naira soft loan for Ayade. Liyel Imoke left about 12 billion naira: more than 6 bullion it got from GEJ for resettlement and compensation of the Bakassi indigenes and support for fund raising Liyel Imoke got from Revenue Mobilization and fiscal commission and some other donors for the completion of the international conference centre. The 7.8 billion Ayade got from federation government intervention funds. Monies that accrues from federation account and the increased internally generated revenue from multiple taxation and extortions from mobile courts.

    Despite these huge funds that have acrued to the government, cross river state is in a backlog of debt: Pensioners are yet to be paid; the state and local government staff have not been promoted for more than 6 years; severance allowances of passed and present appointees have not been paid; no project has been executed and completed by the governor besides parades with MOUs and media propaganda.

    The news of a possibility of the termination of Ayade’s government by Joe Agi seems to be celebrated by some people who have grown despondent of anything good coming from the Ayade’s government. Only time shall tell, but the liberation of cross river state seems nearer than ever contemplated

  • Cross River State may Lose $30m World Bank CADP Investment

    Cross River State Government House 

    By Inyali Peter

    In what can be best described as an utter wickedness and greediness on the side of Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, the state is set to loose about $30 million world bank funded Commercial Agriculture Development Project (CADP).

    This is as a result of the governor’s refusal to sign the CADP list of successful candidates for training of the last set of people in the current agreement simply because all his candidates who predominantly are his family members failed to make it at the interview stage.

    It is so unfortunate that this is happening after the panel had awarded more slots to Obudu, Ayade’s local government to accommodate some of the names from government house in the list.

    CADP is a fully funded world bank program aimed at improving Agriculture produce in Nigeria by commercialization of production, processing and marketing outputs among small and media-scale commercial farmers and Agro-Processors.

    The program is a five years renewable investment program which has been running in Nigeria since 2009. Cross River became one of the states to benefit from the project in 2011 and the agreement for the current tranche is set to expire by December this year.

    As a state which pride itself as investors destination in Nigeria, one would have expected the self acclaimed ” digital ” governor to do everything within his powers to renew the agreement. But unfortunately, the lack of vision and foresight characterized in the Ayade’s administration is likely to deny the state opportunity for renewal.

    Part of the agreement is that funds released for states must be exhausted within the period of the agreement to be qualified to bid for renewal. And in situations where the funds are not used, World Bank who still have direct control of the account domiciled in the Central Bank of Nigeria will retrieve the money and block every opportunity of possible renewal.

    Early this year, thousands of Cross Riverians mostly youths and women who are the major target in the program applied for different value chains to include, Cocoa, Oil Palm and Poultry available in the program for the state. Qualified candidates were invited for interview and six hundred people were selected to participate in the training for their respective value chains.

    After training, the world bank would disburse funds in the form of grants and also provide equipments for them to start up their own businesses.

    This batch was supposed to be the last for the current agreement so it was panned to be a fast process to avoid the sponsor (world bank) retrieving what is left in the state CADP account operated by the Central Bank of Nigeria.

    The process was going on smoothly until the list of successful candidates was sent to the governor for his approval which is part of the requirement for world bank to disburse funds for the successful candidates.

    The Governor in his usual egocentric and self-centered manner declined from signing the list for a simple reason that all his candidates who are mostly his family members and political appointees were not in the list.

    Several attempts to convince the governor to give the approval has heat the rock as he has vowed to rather have world bank retrieve the money and block the state from possible renewal than sign a list that doesn’t contain all his interest.

    How the governor has consistently put his personal interest ahead of the overriding public is what has left the applicants and Cross Riverians wondering.

    With the increasing unemployment rate across the country, governments at all levels need to be proactive and responsive to issues of public interest such as this. This project would have instantly created about six hundred jobs for Cross Riverians.

    The state was selected among Kaduna, Lagos, Kano and Enugu in the first place because it is believed that Agriculture employs about 80 percent of the state labour and contribute highly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). But that was in past and not Ayade’s administrations which has killed virtually all the programs in the agriculture sector.

    The state cocoa estate in Etung local government area has been hijacked by Calabar based politicians and Ayade aides who know little or nothing about cocoa farming. Cocoa farmers are crying that they have lost a full year farming season owing to the disagreement with government over the allocation process.

    And now, Ayade has not only damaged the opportunity for the state to engage young jobless graduates but has also greedily terminated an agreement that other states are seriously struggling for.

    While the other four states are in serious negation on how to renew the deal, Ayade is thinking of how to monopolise the whole system for his family members at the detriment of the public.

    Democracy is generally referred to as “Government of the people, by the people and for the people” not government of the family, by the family and for the family. This is the best time for all well meaning Cross Riverians to rise against this wickedness melted on our jobless graduates by a betrayal of public trust-Ayade.

    As the federal government is working round the clock to diversify the economy, Cross River state can place herself as a key partner for the development by running a transparent CADP. Cross River state belongs to all of us not a particular family. The governor’s family is a part of Cross River, not the entire Cross River.

    In this era of no tolerance for corruption, Ayade must come clean from the many fraudulent allegations hanging on his neck especially as it concerns the development of agriculture in the state.

  • Nigeria at 56 : How Independent is our Independence?

    Happy Independence Day Celebrations 

    By Inyali Peter

    Many of my constant readers, well wishers and haters have called and texted to express their dissatisfaction over my decision not to write on this year’s Nigeria anniversary. My initial decision not to write was hinged on the fact that there is nothing really new to write about.

    Since I took solace in shaping my world through writing, I have done so many articles on why Nigeria’s independence should be marked not celebrated. But the joy of gaining ironic independence has continued to pull us down from fighting for a true sovereign nation.

    Contrary to what most Nigerians do every first of October, I see the day as an opportunity for us to take a sober reflection on the gains and pains of a geographical construct called Nigeria. A country which was given birth to 56 years ago should not be in this deplorable and pitiable condition.

    Like Cross River state governor senator Ben Ayade would said in his last year’s independence day speech, “Any political independence without economic independence is independence in paralysis”. This is just the reality and a mindset that we should all have on the first of every October.

    When President Buhari assumed office, he took some tough decisions all aimed at building an independent economy for Nigeria. For instance, the ban in importation of rice and other consumable goods is not to bring untold hardship on people like we are all experiencing now but to gradually move us as a people away from over depending on foreign commodities.

    But unfortunately, instead of Nigerians to celebrate the courage and brevity demonstrated by this economic decision, the President has come under serious attacks from some quarter for this. In fact, anybody who is against this policy is not worth celebrating Nigeria’s independence. We must support the strong political will of this government to emancipate us from the indirect control of the colonial masters.

    For me, on a day like this, critical analysis to determine whether we are really free in the freedom we claim to have and celebrate is more important than what has been happening. We need to objectively x-ray if our independence has so far been a classical departure from the concept of the people that fought for it.

    We need to sincerely ask ourselves whether we have an independent nation or a surrogate of the conservative colonial masters. Can we proudly say that we have developed in the pace we are supposed to at 56? Has the independence reflected positively on our economy?

    Are we not ashamed that China, a third world country like ours is leading the world economy today while we are still molding, struggling to win confidence of foreign investors to invest in our economy? These and many other questions should give us reason(s) to engage ourselves in debates towards proffering solutions to our problems rather than ridiculing ourselves in stadia nationwide in the name of celebrating independence.

    If we continue to pride ourselves as an independent nation, our conscience would never be clear to the reality that we still have a long way to go in our quest to becoming truly independent.

    However, it is an established fact that no country can survive in isolation. This is because every nation at one point or the other needs a shoulder to lean on. But this is not to say that a country should be completely dependent on another. Doing so would amount to economic slavery; a description that perfectly fit Nigeria.

    As one of the oil giants in the world, it is expected that Nigeria which pride itself as the giant of Africa would have functional refineries to process its oil product. A country which is the ninth most populated nation in the world is blessed with abundant natural resources which spread across the length and breadth of the six geo-political zones of the country. Surprisingly, her people are living in abject poverty, youths are roaming the streets with great skills and degrees in search of unavailable jobs.

    We should be ashamed as a nation that at 56 we are still celebrating the importation of cloths, drugs, matches, weapons, tooth picks, singlet, socks and in fact almost every basic human need. As a matter of fact, we must stop deceiving ourselves that we are independent and start fashioning out ways that can rightly give us that tag.

    As far as our elites still seek medical attention abroad, send their children and wards to high brow schools abroad using the tax payers’ money, we are still wallowing in acute dependence. In fact, we are slaves to our inertia and mentality.

    Most of our graduates are today drivers to foreigners whose academic qualification is in doubt. This is the country we are celebrating 56 years anniversary; this is a country we believe have been freed from the shackles of colonialism.

    Painfully, I see our independence more as an irony than a reality. We are blessed with natural resources but bereft of quality leadership. If Nigerians can re-direct their efforts invested in fighting each other on the bases of religion, party affiliation, ethnic background and region into judiciously exploring our bountiful natural resources, only then we can have a country that is truly independent.

    It is however pertinent to note that the only remarkable achievement recorded 56 years after independence is being able to stay as one indivisible entity. Another notable achievement worthy of mentioning is the 2015 smooth transition from a reckless democratic government to a more purposeful administration.

    Although Jonathan’s government as professed by the Finance Minister under his administration led us to this economic disaster that we find ourselves, the peaceful transition process orchestrated by him even in the face of defeat is a great achievement in the history of our dear country and will forever go down in the annals of history.

    Now that President Muhammadu Buhari is on the saddle, Nigerians must know that the change he represents can only come to limelight through the collective efforts of everyone. Our mentality must change from thinking of what our country can do for us to what we can do for her. We must accept him as a President that “belongs to nobody but belong to everybody”. Change must begin with us!

    We must begin to look inward for solutions to our problems. Unity of purpose should be our watchword. Personal, regional and religious interest should give way for national interest.

    The President must be seen as a Nigerian president even as we must see ourselves first as Nigerians. All our actions should be guided by our conscience like the President said in his 2015 independence day speech; “Like I said in my inaugural speech, I bear no ill will against anyone on past events. Nobody should fear anything from me. We are not after anyone. People should only fear the consequences of their actions”.

    Reviewed Edition of my Last Year’s Independence Day article for this year.