Paradise News

Category: Politics

  • NDDC Chairmanship And The Challenge Before Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba (SAN, OFR, CON) By Richard Romanus

    It’s been 16 years after the Niger Delta Development commission (NDDC)was established with a core mandate of improving social and environmental conditions of the people  of Southern region but one question that seems to be begging for answer is; Whether or not, the commission has achieved it’s mandate.

    It is true that successive administrations,before the establishment of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC),had made concerted effort towards alleviating the poverty and suffering of the people through the establishment of  Niger Delta Development Board (NDDB), Niger Delta Basin Development Authority (NDDBDA) and Oil Mineral Producing Development Areas Commission (OMPADEC),all at different periods and regime. However, all of such efforts were either thwarted by either lack of sincerity of purpose by those saddled with the responsibility or lack of funding by the same government.

    Comparatively, the Niger Delta Development Commission since its establishment by President Olusegun Obasanjo,unlike others have tried to live up to its core objectives especially in the areas of roads, skill acquisition and transportation but I dare say that more could have been achieved if all that have had the opportunity to serve in one position or the other at different times in the commission, do so with the interest of the people of Niger Delta at heart first before their interest.

    The commission has over the years been denied of people of impeccable character and integrity which is why some of the many projects and programmes that have been introduced by the commission,some with very good chances of impacting positively on the people and region had failed.

    Some of the several schemes, successive management of NDDC have floated to deceive the people, include, NDDC mass transit scheme where drivers were given substandard vehicles for hire purchase, Construction of fake roads that cannot withstand one heavy rainfall,procurement and sharing of solar power streets lights amongst the top brass of the commission  to the detriment of most communities in the Niger Delta that could have needed it most among others.

    A closer look at how the commission has operated since its establishment, reveals how the focus of its several management embarks more on gigantic projects that will satisfy their interest in terms of monetary gains and not a type that will have direct impact on the very same people the commission was meant to Carter for.

    The appointment of Senator Victor Ndoma Egba at a time, the Niger Delta region is witnessing renewed crises is commendable and apt as he is one of the few Nigerians who go out of their way to ensure that,things are done correctly and valuable impacts are left behind  in any office they occupy. His record in the Senate is there for any Nigeria to see.

    Therefore,His invaluable advise and recommendations to Mr President on how to appease the people of Niger Delta after a long period of neglect and underdevelopment of the region is expected of him since his new assignment affords him the opportunity to interface with people.

    Furthermore, with his huge experience in the public service, one expects that, the commission under his watch fully assumes it’s powers and functions of formulating policies and guidelines for the development of Niger Delta as well as Conceive,plan, and implement in accordance with set rules and regulations, projects and programmes for the sustainable development of the area especially in the field of transportation, roads construction, industrialisation, water supply and electricity, agriculture, fisheries, housing and urban development among others.

    It is now the responsibility of the new Chairman to ensure that he puts a stop to the numerous sharp practices of members of the board and commission that has hampered it from making considerable impact.

    It was Former President Goodluck Jonathan, during the commemoration of the Isaac Jasper Adaka Boro in London who said ” we cannot achieve the goals we have set for ourselves if we don’t act as one people. Societal growth is delayed if not guided by the compass of collective vision and a well defined destination”. The new board and commission must ensure that, the commission’s projects are evenly distributed devoid of party politics and favouritism as it is only then, the Niger Delta of our dream can be realise.

    On his part, they is an urgent need to appoint new people as aides in order to reflect Change while he avoids the mistake of reappointing certain people who were with him at the Senate because like somebody rightly posited, most of them were his greatest undoing.

    With him as the new NDDC chairman, I believe that, the Ovukwa woman in Obubra Local Government Area,that urgently needs a motorable Road to enable him carry his farm produce to the market will get attention while the oderegha man also in Obubra Local Government Area whose only source of drinking water is ‘ibaja’ or ‘Chicago’ will be rest assured that help is on its way. What about other interior communities in the Niger Delta region where development seems to be elusive, it is my believe that, the new board of NDDC under the Chairmanship of Senator Victor Ndoma Egba will give every state, local government, ward and community a sense of belonging after all CHANGE has come.

    May the dark patches in the Niger Delta give way to light.

    Richard Romanus is a public affairs commentator from Cross River and can be reached on 08117135257.

  • Akwa-Cross Elders Meets With LEADER Of Biafra Youth League In Uyo

    It was recently noted that elders from Akwa-Ibom and Cross River State (Akwa-Cross) summoned the President of Biafra Nations Youth League (BNYL), Comrade P Chimezie Obuka, but many has been wondering what could be the reason.

    According to the BNYL Deputy PRO Mmeyene Etim Archibong, present were elders from Bakassi, Etung and Calabar in Cross River. Speaking in Uyo was Obong Maurice Peter of Esit Eket LGA of Akwa Ibom who disassociated Akwa-Cross from Avengers Militant threats, stating that he remain united for Biafra which belongs to them.

    He added that his people should not be dragged into any divisive agitation aimed at damaging all efforts to actualize Biafra.

  • Cross River State Will Do Better If We Stop Taking Party Affiliation Too Personal

    I saw this piece of writing on the net in which I’d like to share to you all. It’s something that is currently happening around us but most of us seems to put a face of neglect which is quite absurd to all insanity.

    A guy which I won’t like to mention his name posted this on his social media network, saying: “Let’s celebrate our sons and daughters regardless of party.
    “Many state government do celebrate with their sons and daughters when given federal top level appointment. Why has cross river state “government ” not celebrated these names officially?
    1. Chief of naval staff – Ibok  Ita Ibas.
    2. Head of service – Angela Oyo Ita.
    3. Minister Niger delta – Usani Uguru Usani.
    4. Special adviser(prosecution) – Chief Okoi Obono-Obla.
    5. NDDC chairman – Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba.
    6. Member NDDC – Chief Sylvester Nsa.
    “To celebrate them, it is a way of showing our love and appreciation for them. It also means growth and change in our dear state. I stand to be corrected.” He said.
    Looking at his statement, the writer is somehow correct, as I, myself have seen it severally as it happens even at the lower levels within us. The reason we never stand strong in any post tied up with other states is that we lack support to each other; we’d rather fight ‘against’ instead of ‘for’ for our brothers. This will continue to reduce the face and name of Cross River State in the world as little do we stand to support each other.
    Let’s stand up Cross River today to support and cherish our very own even if the position they hold worth nothing. A name is better than an ass buttocks. Political parties are nothing but a means to shift the peoples ideology from the government so the politicians themselves will do whatever they like with the people’s right. Fight and stand for a good leader, name, growth and not a mere political party.
    Expect more from me soon, best regards.

  • Photo: Check out a Police station in Otukpo LGA of Benue State

    Don’t know what to write, whether to laugh to…Hahahaha. A deteriorating police station? Can’t still believe this is in Nigeria. Funny enough, in the state where they’ve been massive killings from herdsmen and tribal conflicts.

    An eye witness send this photo to Calabar Reporters with the following caption;

    “Actually this is one of the Police Station in David Mark home town, tell me how cattle rustler will not invade? The constituency allowances for 16 years was meaningless!!! Just passing bye sha!”

    Too too bad for a nation like Nigeria to still have this rusty thingy as a Police station, even a police post. See Photo after the cut…

  • US based organisation to partner CRSG on the promotion of bio-fortified foods

    An organisation based in the United States (US) known as Harvest Plus international through her Ambassador and Nollywood Veteran Actor, Segun  Arinze told the Cross River State Commissioner, Dr. Inyang Asibong that they will partner the state’s health ministry to hold the 2016 annual nutrition food fair in Calabar.

    A United States based organization is set to partner the Cross River State government on the promotion of bio-fortified foods says its ambassador and Nollywood veteran actor, Segun Arinze.

    According Segun Arinze, aka Black Arrow, the visit is as a bid to seek partnership for the hosting of the event which will promote bio-fortified foods, Arinze said that, “harvest plus international has decided to hold the 2016 annual nutrition food fair in Calabar. We are using film, music and comedy to pass our message on bio-fortified foods.

    “We will partner with the ministry of agriculture and the creative industry for the hosting”.

    Acocrding to CrossRiverWatch, the event is scheduled for November 1 – 4, 2016, which will see the likes of Aki (Chinedu Ikedieze), Pawpaw (Osita Iheme) and other guest artists to grace the event with foodstuff fortified with zinc such as banana, plantain and maize to be showcased.

    Asibong who lauded the organization for its initiative, describing it as apt, noted that, “We have been charged by the governor to go beyond our offices to sort for partners to drive our programs.

    “I must sincerely laud your organization’s decision for choosing Calabar for this year hosting, the importance of nutrition cannot be over emphasized, we are glad you have come” she said.

  • Joseph Odok dares Gov Ayade to stop illegal extortion of poor citizens as he appears before Mobile Court

    Governor Ayade must stop illegal extortion of poor citizens of Cross River State or arrest me, Joseph Odok dares Ayade with a one week ultimatum.

    Joseph Odok appears before Cross River State Mobile Court as an agent of Civil disobedience:

    The mobile court has become a milking ground for the government that is ready to extort and chase away all businesses in cross river state. In a series of court judgement dolled out by the mobile court sitting at CUDA office, calabar,  Joseph Odok watch with pain the government milking millions of naira from poor businessmen and women for flimsy grounds ranging from failure to fumigate business premises, failure to obtain health safety certificate. Poor people of Cross river state were made to pay fines ranging from 100,000 to as much as 350,000 naira

    Today Bar Joseph Odok’s client Buddyz venture, Atekong was charged 160,000 for failure to fumigate and obtain health and fumigation certificate. Joseph Odok in his address to the court vowed the option of civil disobedience and told his client never to pay any fine as he refuses to recognise a Court founded in extortion than on equity.

    The charge on innocent Cross River State citizens is due to breach of environmental and safety laws according to the mobile court judge in his ruling. It is a fact that the Cross River State government has been the major agent of pollution in recent times. The governor has failed woefully in keeping the environment clean. He who goes for equity must go with clean hands.

    It is a fact that the government of cross river state has failed to pay his agent and most of his agents including the commissioner for education has become an agent of extortion and oppression to feed their greed.

    Worrisome is the fact that most businesses are closing down because of high tax charges and extortion. In the same vain, the economic realities in the state are so harsh that extortion will further close down business and be a security risk as more and more people are taking to crime as an option for survival. Disappointingly, most funds extorted from poor cross river state citizenry are not judiciously used. There are cases of the commissioner of education extorting from JSS III and SSS II for a mock exams that is yet to be conducted.

     In the same vein, the DOPT, VIO, and mobile courts extort so much today with no tangible results. Calabar remains dirty despite extortion from the ministry of environment. Our gutters are blocked occasioning flood, yet a failed government, will still be in the habit of extorting from it’s citizens. Even when taxi drivers and lorry drivers pay heavily in terms of roads, our roads remains dilapidated and death traps.

    From the above reality of extortion, I Joseph Odok, offer myself for arrest or I will from next week Tuesday, 9th August begin massive act of civil disobedience. It is my resolve to disrupt all operation of mobile court anywhere in calabar. I will take responsibility and will not evade any arrest or intimidation in the cause of carrying out my resolve for civil disobedience.

    I enjoin interested and concerned citizens of cross river state to join me in my struggle for justice and the liberation of our people. The time is 8 am on Tuesday the 9th of August, the venue is CUDA office, Edim Otop, Close to Doris O. An injustice to one is an injustice to all.

    The battle is drawn and the government must stop acting an extortion machine in times of harsh economic conditions.

    Joseph Odok
    Social Change Agent

  • Nigeria’s First Aso Rock lives on in Calabar (Photos)

    The structures that housed the offices of Lord Lugard and other early administrators and colonial officials of Nigeria are still intact in Calabar, the Cross River capital. You can still see the massive offices that served as Nigeria’s first ‘Aso Rock’, where both the Northern and Southern Protectorates of Nigeria were administered from before it was amalgamated by the same Lord Lugard in 1914.

    Materials used in erecting the structure, were all brought in from Britain, with the experts to build it. The one-storey edifice was built in 1884 in Old Calabar. Now called Old Residency, it was originally known as the Government House, and it accommodated the early British administrators of the Niger coast territories.

    The Old Residency is situated between the residence of today’s chief judge of Cross River State, that of the deputy governor, and with presidential lodge in front. The building, in 1950, also served as ministerial guest house. After the Nigerian Civil War, the Old Residency accommodated offices of the then new South Eastern State of Nigeria.

    The building was declared a national monument in 1959 and has been renovated over time by the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in 1986.

    Credit is given to Dr. Ekpo O. Eyo, the first Nigerian who became director of antiquities of the commission and later director general in 1968 till 1986 by which time the place was open to the public. He influenced the retention and upgrade of the Old Residency to present national status. The pioneer surveyor of antiquities at the commission, a Briton, was Mr Kenneth C. Murray from 1943 to 1968.

    Curator of the museum, Mrs Anna Effiom said the first man that occupied it was one Consul Hewett, who now has a street named after him in Calabar. She said the Old Residency is now used as a national museum, adding that after Hewett, many other colonial administrators and key government functionaries had offices and lived there with their families.

    Today, the museum is a tourists site, attracting thousands of visitors who wants to sight the the items and machineries used in the colonial era.

    Also, there is a restaurant and wine bar at the museum where local and English delicacies are prepared; while the wine bar serve the coolest drink in the city.

    History lives in Nigeria’s first Aso Rock, the old Residency Calabar.

    If you are thinking of tourism, think Cross River State.


    ~George Odok Jnr

  • Dollar exchanging for N380 and Crude Oil Price at $40 per barrel, the economy is hard on the common man – Inok Solomon

    The Structural Adjustment, Income Adjustment, Feeding Adjustment, National Adjustment and all other Adjustments required to carry on in this perilous times hard to deal with, have one message for us all.

    If for instance, a man earns N 80, 000 as Salaries in 2014 with the Naira exchanging for N160 per  dollar, today that worker is expected to cut down by more than half his effective demand power. Because at 2014 his income power in dollars is 80,000 ÷ 160 = 500 dollars per month and today in 2016,  80,000÷380 =210.5 dollars per month. He can’t buy what he bought before with his salary.

    That is trouble number one: now this man works in an Oil Producing firm which major business is in Crude Oil, the firm at 2014 sell crude oil for $120 per barrel against $40  per barrel in 2016. That is a two time cut down.

    Now assuming we are the workers, it is practical to demand for increase in wages to meet up with the Exchange rate and keep our demand relatively constant or a little downwards.

    What if we are heads of these firms? The pressure becomes heavy on the Firm, as income drop and demand from workers increase couple with other cost of production.

    The firm can’t pay staff, workers are under fear pressure of likely staff down sizing and layoffs. Fela call it, “double wahala for death body.” Spencer say, “Trouble solve is a trouble double”.

    Economic Consultant and experts start conjuring with their gods of Money and Forex. Devalue the Naira! No do not Devalue the Naira! Diversify the Economy! No! Band importation of Rice, Pamkade and office pins! No! How did we even get into this situation? It is “Corruption;” ok then face corruption and do loot recovery. Soldier go, Soldier come! The rich speak in tongues,  and the poor request for miracles.

    My people, the truth is we are on a Cross Road, only the brave keep on the race.

    Politics will say bad management,  failure, only hope is in 2019 decision to change leaders. But can a good driver make a bad old car system work better?

    Every condition, every experience of life is the result of our mental attitude. We can do only what we think we can do. We can be only what we think we can be. We can have only what we think we can have. What we do, what we are, what we have, all depend upon what we think.

    The secret of all power, all success, all riches, is in first thinking powerful thoughts, successful thoughts, thoughts of wealth, of supply. We must build them in our own mind first, desire for them, have faith in them and work along that mental attitude.

    Until we have this mental attitude, we will depend on petty things that are only but the secondary causation of our economic depression, “Money.”

    What is money? Robert Collier call it, “a mere idea of mind,  a token of exchange.”

    The paper money we have in our pockets is supposed to represent so much gold or silver currency. There are billions upon billions of this paper money in circulation, yet all the gold in the world amounts to only a few billions. Wealth is in ideas, not in money or property. We can control those ideas through our mental attitude of the mind.

    No amount of money paid to workers will push the dollar down, but an idea of producing pins cheaper than before in Nigeria can.

    Cross Riverians,  we are paid salaries as at when due. Yet the economy is still hard. Reason is our ideas are not meeting with the demands of the day.

    Assuming we have a Deep Seaport,  that will employ 4 out of our 5 dependants, our saving power increase and we gain goodwill and support too from those we have sustained till the time of job. Decisions of money you take alone can now be for 5, more persons with financial power, the less the problem situation on an individual. Life expectancy increases as thinking and hard times reduces.

    What of your relatives in the villages where no roads have ever passed through? Today, the superhighway exposes more opportunities in these communities and put jobs opportunities at their door post. Being a corridor rout for the deep seaport,  Companies doing import and export business will want have warehouses,  processing and repackaging firms, fabricating firm, technicians, professionals and all kinds of labours, skilled and unskilled will be left open.

    And the greatest advantage is, with this Superhighway, and the likely congestion of Calabar and environs, workers can comfortably live in their various communities and transport to work by day.

    Let think outside the box and solve our economic depression.


    ~Inok Solomon

  • Cross River State flags off Smart School programme in Calabar

    As part of measures to ensure that secondary schools in the state are Information and Communication Technology (ICT) compliant and fully digitized, Cross River State Government has commenced its Smart School programme with a pilot scheme at Government Secondary School, State Housing Estate, Calabar.

    The programme, which is in partnership with Samsung West Africa Electronics Ltd., will ensure that seven secondary schools spread across the state benefit from the over N50million worth of computer laboratory.

    Apart from the Smart School programme, the partnership is expected to give rise to the establishment of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.

    Read Also | Governor Ayade Commissions Samsung Smart School In Calabar (Photos)

    Flagging off the Smart school program, Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, represented by his deputy, Prof Ivara Esu, said the initiative was a testimonial that signed MoUs by the administration were beginning to come to fruition.

    Prof. Esu said: “The project is focused on training the trainers and Calabar will soon be a smart city, “adding that “fibre optic cables have been laid, relevant contracts have been prepared and very soon, wherever you are, you will be able to access the internet.”

    He charged the beneficiaries to use the facilities wisely in order to meet the demands of the 21st century technology and for the centre not to colonise its gains but allow others to benefit as well.

    Making the presentation thursday, Samsung Managing Director, represented by Head, Enterprise & IT Business, Mr. Rotimi Agbola, affirmed that the initiative will make quality education delivery a reality in the state.

    His words: “Education is a basic human right and it is something Samsung takes seriously. We also believe that Cross River State and Samsung Electronics share same goal in improving education, hence our smart school and global lining concept is going to impact on the lives of the people.”

    He noted that the school will focus on the “training of 50 teachers in basic computer literacy, provision of teachers with access to tools, empowerment of teachers to access digital contents as well as conducting assessment of students progress and providing them with learning tools from any location.”

    Explaining that the Smart School in Calabar is among the first three of ten ICT laboratories which Samsung intends to roll out across the country in the nearest future, the Managing Director said: “Guidance from teachers who understand the technology will be the first step for students to gain the skills needed in a rapidly advancing ICT world.”

    Lauding Governor Ben Ayade for his passion for the full digitisation of the state, the state Commissioner for ICT, Chief Offu Aya said: “Long before coming into office, Governor Ayade realised that one of the major tools required for the liberation of the state from the quagmire of poverty was to build a robust knowledge economy with ICT as the critical enabler.”

    According to Education Commissionewin Mr. Godwin Ettah, “the smart education program has three folds which include the training of 50 teachers to retrain their colleagues, negotiating with Samsung to provide ICT centres and the building of a Samsung Technology Academy in Cross River state.”

    Ettah hinted that “arrangements were in top gear for the establishment of two ICT centres in each of the 18 LGAs in the state to move Cross River from having a minimal four JAMB centres to 36.”

  • My Resignation from the Office of Special Adviser to the Governor of CRS!

    I have been inundated by reactions mainly positive as well as enquires as to why I, on the 18th of July 2016 resigned from the appointment that Prof Ayade graciously extended to me as his Special Adviser, Strategy and National Contact! And I believe I owe my friends and enemies alike an eplanatiom of sorts.

    First of all, let me state that every citizen is duty bound to serve his state when called to do so and it is on that basis that I accepted the appointment in the first place. CRS is our state and it is in dire need of its best hands particularly at this time when things are so difficult.

    However, as I stated in that letter of resignation, my opting out, is not a repudiation of my state, it is rather my own way of helping the state cut expenses so givernment can pay the salaries of the thousands from CUDA to Sports Commission who are owed several month wages as well as pensioners who are also owed several months pensions.

    As I said, I never received a mandate nor any assignment since I was appointed yet I had received wages for about 4 months when some of the truly needy and hard working civil servants were yet to be paid. In my considered view, that is immoral and I want no part of that!

    Added to that is that any adviser worth his salt has no reason to remain in office if his advice is neither considered nor even reckoned with. This is even more imperative if the principal is obviously not performing as well as he could have!

    As everyone who knows me personally can attest, I hold myself ready and willing to serve my people and my state in any capacity as long as I can make a meaningful contribution to the development of my state. An appointment for appointment sake is certainly not acceptable to me. And that was the case with the appointment I just resigned from.

    Furthermore, my late father, Chief I.  I. Morphy would definitely have frowned at my involvement with any matter or administration whose credibility and integrity is in question. And being a student of Light, I must continue to hold myself to the highest ethical standards!

    I hope this can put to rest all the unnecessary speculation about my personal decision to leave. I urge my friends to put to rest speculations on this matter. Right now, I am serving my people as a mentor, a chief, a guide and way-shower and that is more than sufficient and satisfactory to me.

    Thanks for your love. May the Infinite continue to guide and illuminate our various paths as we take decisions worthy of posterity!

    Your brother,

    Ray Ugba Morphy