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Tag: Ayade

  • Magistrate collapses at Ayade’s office during protest for unpaid salaries

    Magistrate collapses at Ayade’s office during protest for unpaid salaries

    Magistrate Richard Bassey on Tuesday collapsed at the gate of the governor’s office in Calabar during a protest over unpaid 24 months salary.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that 30 Magistrates dressed in their full regalia have been embarking on a peaceful protest at the governor’s office to drive home the demand for their accumulated salaries since Monday.

    They appealed to Governor Ben Ayade to pay the salaries owed them.

    The incident happened on the second day of the protest.

    Bassey’s colleagues revived when they poured water on him and took him to a nearby hospital.

    Speaking to journalists after the incident, the Chief Magistrate of Cross River, Solomon Abuo decried what he described as ill-treatment meted to them by the state government.

    Abuo said since they were employed, they had undergone several screening, adding that the protest was their last resort.

    “We will continue to protest until we are paid.

    “This is very embarrassing, in 2020 one of the Magistrates was arraigned before a fellow Magistrate over his inability to pay rent; most of us can’t pay our house rents and are squatting with colleagues.

    “Is it wrong for one to serve the state as a judicial officer, are we supposed to go through this kind of humiliation,’’ he asked.

    No official of the state government addressed the protesters since the protest began on Monday.

    Justice Eyo Effiom-Ita, Acting Chief Judge of the state, said that he was aware that the Magistrates had not been paid for a long time.

    Effiom-Ita said different presentations had been made to the governor.

    “The governor said he did not give clearance for their appointment, so, he will not pay them; until the governor changes his disposition, there is nothing anyone can do,” he said.

  • Most university girls accusing lecturers of sexual molestation are dullards – Ayade

    Most university girls accusing lecturers of sexual molestation are dullards – Ayade

    Ben Ayade of Cross River said university female students who accused their teachers of sexual molestation are ‘dullards’.

    He urged female students to study hard.

    “As a girl in the university, study hard and no one will take advantage of you because they know that you are worth your onions.

    “Some of the university girls that say they were sexually molested are dullards who visit lecturers privately to beg for marks,” he said.

    Ayade spoke Wednesday in Calabar at the end of a kilometre walk to commemorate this year’s “16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence (GBV)” in the state.

    The walk took off from Cultural Centre Calabar to the premises of the state Ministry of Women Affairs.

    Ayade told women in the state that being married is not a special qualification in womanhood as believed in some quarters.

    Ayade, represented by Ms. Tina Agbor, Secretary to the State Government (SSG), said society made women believe that marriage was a special qualification, making many of them to submit themselves to be hurt.

    “Because the society has told you that for you to be a complete woman, you have to be married, many women are holding on to very wrong and abusive relationships.

    “As a woman, you must add value to yourself for the men to respect you because when you reduce yourself to nothing, the men will kick you around.

    The 16 Days of Activism is an annual event organised between Nov. 25 and Dec. 10 to raise awareness on GBV and harmful practices against women and girls in the state.

    The theme of this year’s event is: “Orange the World: Leave No One Behind, End Violence against Women and Girls.”

    Ayade said while society was now preaching against GBV, women must refuse to be put down, adding that they could only be their own limitations.

    Ms Ann Awa, Chairperson, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Cross River Chapter, said the state needed a well-equipped one-stop-shop where survivors of GBV could get adequate help.

    Awa called on the state government to domesticate the Violence Against Person Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

    She also appealed to the people of the state to report any act of GBV because, according to her, the life of a woman was more important than the ring on her finger.

    On her part, Dr Bassey Nakanada, Chairperson, Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Cross River branch, appealed to government agencies and Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) to help in collation of data to make it easier for planning.

    Represented by Dr Helen Unuareokpa, Nakanda added that MWAN was a major stakeholder in the fight against GBV while encouraging everyone to be part of the process to stamp out violence from the society.

  • Ayade Congratulates Media Magnate, Dokpesi at 69

    Ayade Congratulates Media Magnate, Dokpesi at 69

    Cross River State governor, Prof. Ben Ayade, has described media magnate , founder and Chairman Emeritus, High Chief Raymond Alegho Anthony Dokpesi as an epitome of a true visionary and an astute and exceptional entrepreneur.

    Governor Ayade in his congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita on Dokpesi’s 69th anniversary, said: “As a visionary, you demonstrated an uncanny ability to imagine the future and acted on it, which yielded great results in the process and then using this success for the benefit of mankind.”

    The Governor who lauded the Former Chairman of the Independent Broadcasters Association of Nigeria for his entrepreneurial prowess over the years commended: “Your commitment, tenacity and devotion as an astute entrepreneur and media magnate, over the years have not gone unnoticed as you have birthed many enviable firsts in Nigeria;first indigenous shipping line in Nigeria; first privately owned broadcast station, in Nigeria.Nigeria’s First global TV and Africa’s first ever Satellite TV station as well as the first TV station to run 24-hour broadcasting in Nigeria, among others.”

    Commending Dokpesi’s inspirational leadership, Statemanship and humanity, Ayade said: “At 69, you have touched lives, inspired everyone with your wisdom, leadership, and foresight.

    “On this unique occasion of your 69th anniversary, my family and I as well as Government and people of Cross River State can wish you no less than peace, good health, and happiness” the statement added

  • Ayade orders house-to-house search of looted items

    Ayade orders house-to-house search of looted items

    Cross River State governor Senator Ben Ayade has ordered security agencies in the state to search houses to recover looted items and take legitimate action to halt violence.

    Between Friday and Saturday last week, hoodlums and looters broke into over 35 government and private properties, looted several items and set some buildings ablaze.

    On Friday members of the public numbering over 15, 000 had broken into the Cross River State government uncompleted Fabrication Academy and carted away thousands of COVID-19 palliative meant for people of the state.

    Similarly the large crowd of persons trooped to the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) along Barracks road, the Ministry of Works warehouses at Ekrinim 2, broke the warehouses and also made away with relief materials. Calabar South Local Government headquarters at Anantigha was also vandalized and looted.

    Men, Women, some security personnel, young boys and girls were seen carting away hundreds of bags of rice, Indomie, salt, sugar, zinc and other items. Some people were heard shouting, “This is wickedness, it is our food let us pack it. Why did the government not give us since?”

    The governor had on Friday announced a 24 hour curfew in the state yet properties were looted and burnt down on Saturday and they include, INEC Municipal Zonal office at Marian Road, Walmart at Marian, Federal Psychiatric Hospital along Calabar road, Senator Gershom Bassey’s family home along White house burnt and his private house at Axari Iso (vandalised and looted), Senator Victor Ndoma-Egba’s house at Asari Iso vandalized, looted and burnt, Garment Factory at Goodluck Jonathan by-pass, Ayade’s filling station under construction, First Bank at Eight miles, Nigeria Ports Authourity at Harbour (vandalized and looted), Tinapa (vandlised and looted).

    The State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) in Cross River Newspaper Corporation (Chronicle) premises along Barracks road was looted and burnt on Friday night with some cars at the premises.

    Others are Fabrication Academy (vandalised and looted) where COVID-19 palliative were hoarded since April, Larfage (Unicef) trucks with cement at Atimbo (vandalised and looted), NLC office-vandalised, CTRA office (100 Marian traffic regulatory office)–vandalised, Department of Petroleum Resources—vandalised, Atakpa Police Station—burnt down, NDDC office–vandalised, Ministry of Works warehouse—burnt down, Cross River State Roll back Malaria centre—vandalised, Boulevard joint—vandalised, Access bank by Mayne Avenue vandalized, Lawrence Henshaw Memorial hospital (IDH) at Edgerly vandalized and looted, Akpabuyo Police station burnt and others.

    Ayade in a statement yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, said, “following the deployment of more soldiers to Calabar to help quell violence, Cross River Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has asked security agencies in the State to take legitimate actions to halt the arson and carnage witnessed in some parts of Calabar.

    “The governor also wants the security agents to carry out a house to house search for looted property and arrest everyone involved in the looting of both public and private property in the state” .

    Ayade said he understands the pains of the people and there was need to protect the collective commonwealth of the people which is currently under threat by some persons who are desperately trying to discredit the peaceful disposition of Cross Riverians.

    He urged the security agencies to “take legitimate actions to ensure that calm returns to the State especially as the Government was already working towards ensuring the demands of those who genuinely participated in the #EndSARS match are met”.

    The Governor called on Cross Riverians to rise up and defend their land from criminal elements bent on destroying the image of the State.

    The governor said the dusk to dusk curfew was still in place but this time around it is and “consequent upon this, everyone is advised to remain indoors as security agencies will not tolerate any non compliance”.

  • Ayade gives conditions to reinstate 2,500 delisted workers

    Ayade gives conditions to reinstate 2,500 delisted workers

    Cross River State Governor Ben Ayade has given the over 2,500 workers delisted from the state payroll the conditions they must meet to be reabsorb.

    The governor addressed the affected workers yesterday at the U. J. Eusene Stadium in Calabar, the state capital.

    He directed them to report for verification and regularisation.

    Ayade said the affected workers were hired without his knowledge, adding that “the state Civil Service Commission did the employment without recourse to me”.

    The governor listed some of the conditions the delisted workers need to meet to include the verification before reabsorption as fresh workers and without demands for any arrears.

    Asking the affected workers to put themselves in his shoes, he queried: “If you were the governor of the state and you suddenly discovered an additional 2,500 workers on your payroll that you did not authorise, that you did not know about, that nobody consulted you about, what will you do?”

    Ayade noted that if he was vindictive, he would have since sacked officials who smuggled the names of the delisted workers into the state’s payroll.

    “I am doing so on compassionate ground and not because the state is buoyant enough to accommodate you,” he told the affected workers.

     

  • Cameroon commends Ayade for hospitality to its refugees in Cross River

    Cameroon commends Ayade for hospitality to its refugees in Cross River

    Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has expressed optimism that the return of peace in Southern Cameroon will pave the way for the return of thousands of Cameroonian refugees to their home country.

    This is as the Cameroonian Consul- General in Calabar, Mr.Onono Patrice commended the government and people of Cross River state for showing tremendous hospitality to the refugees.

    Ayade who Spoke while receiving a delegation of Consular officials led by Patrice at the Conference Room of the Governor’s Office in Calabar, commended the Cameroonian government for taking steps to bring normalcy to the troubled parts of the country’s South.

    Said Ayade: “I am delighted to host you today as you come as a messenger to deliver the message of the impending visit of my counterpart in Southwest Cameroon. I want to hereby tell you that I have without hesitation approved the courtesy visit which you will organise with the secretary to government and my Commissioner for foreign affairs. They will work with you towards fixing a date that will be suitable for me to receive him here in Calabar afterwards embark on a journey to Obudu.

    “I am happy to hear that your country is making efforts for peace to return to those two major provinces. I am particularly happy to hear that you have started reconstruction of the provinces because what makes us human beings is the spirit of compassion. The international view about what is happening in Cameroon is not good for the black man.

    “And so anything we can do to assist our brothers from Cameroon to return to their home land and have a sense of dignity, a sense of humanity and in value and worth for man kind, we will do”

    According to him, in the spirit of African brotherhood, Cross River was ever ready to provide its shoulders to the Cameroonian refugees in the state.

    “It is our duty, our responsibility to actively provide a shoulder for your refugees, your own citizens who are here to find comfort. As a state, we have done our best to support UNHCR in supporting them (the refugees). For example, when they made a request for the provision of land I had no hesitation. I gave them land that they needed almost immediately”

    Extolling the peace efforts of President Biya, Ayade said: “I want to commend president Paul Biya for this great initiative at his ripe age. God will give him peace, God will bless him as he does all he can to end the shame”.

    Speaking earlier, the Consul-General told governor Ayade he was instructed by President Biya to pay him a visit to intimate him of the desire of the governor of that country’s South west region to visit the state.

    Patrice: “Our visit this morning was instructed by the president of the Republic of Cameroon, His Excellency Paul Biya. He had instructed a consul visit to our refugees in Cross River State and this consul visit is a mission of the governor of the southwest region which is the region that shares border with Cross River State. And Cross River State is hosting about 62% of the total Cameroonian refugees in Nigeria.”

    Continuing, Mr.Patrice said: “We want to also thank Your Excellency for his hospitality to our people who have been living in Nigeria for the past three years.

    “We would also like to have our Governor pay you a courtesy visit and for us as consulate in Calabar, we are proposing them to visit Obudu because Obudu is very close to some areas where we have refugees.”

  • Work on Superhighway, Bakassi Deep seaport on course, says Ayade

    Work on Superhighway, Bakassi Deep seaport on course, says Ayade

    Cross River state governor, Sir Ben Ayade has expressed happiness at the pace of work on the 270 kilometre Superhighway linking the state with Northern Nigeria.

    Ayade however, renewed his call for federal government’s support for the project, lamenting that the state was left to shoulder such a gigantic project alone.

    The governor enumerated the economic importance of the Superhighway and Bakassi Deep seaport and concluded that the two projects, when completed would lift Nigeria out of economic doldrums.

    Governor Ayade who spoke to newsmen while inspecting the progress of work at the Bekwara axis of the Superhighway in Northern Cross River disclosed that earth work has already been completed in a major part of the six-lane highway.

    “We have over 270kms stretching from the beginning of Cross River boundary with Benue State up to the Bakassi deep Sea port on a six lane superhighway. The good news is that earth work has already been completed in a major part of the Superhighway in readiness for stonebase and then asphalting. Behind me you can see how much we have done on the superhighway. I am still in a state of shock how a country like Nigeria cannot understand the depth, the value that the superhighway will bring to this country”, the governor said.

    The economic importance of the Superhighway, he said, has made the project imperative.

    He said when when completed, the Superhighway will serve as a veritable corridor for the evacuation and export of farm produce and other natural resources from the North through the Bakassi Deep seaport which is also under construction.

    His words: “I have said it time and time again that today Nigeria is dependent on hydro carbon, the hydro carbon importance is gradually going down, its value and utility is reducing while alternatives are on the Increase. The world is fast moving away from oil. Nigeria has remained monolithically dependent as a slave to oil and because of that there is an intellectual stagnation, reducing us to want in body, spirit and in soul without a deliberate effort to find an alternative.

    “In the fullness of time Nigeria is going to pay hard price for this silence and for this laziness. I have only envisioned that the greatest opportunity this country has got is to look into the future and create an opportunity. It is only a future that you picture that you can capture. I capture a prosperity agenda that will be dependent on this superhighway that will serve as an evacuation corridor from the northern part of Nigeria down to Bakassi deep Sea port.

    “The North is awash with a lot of mineral resources from tantalite to columbite to tin to iron to coal. They everything over there but there is need for access to the coast land and this is the shortest cut because in few hours you will be leaving the northern part of Nigeria and emptying into Atlantic ocean.

    “Once you create an opportunity for northern Nigeria to have an access to an export processing point like a maritime corridor such as the Atlantic ocean, prosperity will set in, Boko Haram will go down, youth unemployment will reduce, banditry will drop.

    “So what I have just done by this superhighway is to take Atlantic ocean closer to northern Nigeria to allow for export agriculture, to allow for full extraction of our solid minerals, to allow for the full beneficiation of all the value chain processes because we cannot continue to depend on oil. I am shocked that up till this moment that the federal government has not seen the deep value that this project will bring”.

    Governor Ayade however, solicited the assistance of the Federal Government on the two critical projects.

    “Let me once more call on the federal government of Nigeria to come to the aide of Cross River. We do not need your money, just give us a sovereign guarantee, just give us any institutional support that we need to get the superhighway and the deep seaport ready. That is all we ask, if for nothing else, at least for the loss of the Bakassi oil wells.”

  • Ayade to build social housing for Obudu Ranch Resort host communities

    Ayade to build social housing for Obudu Ranch Resort host communities

    Worried by the squalid and deplorable living conditions of the host communities of the Obudu Ranch Resort in Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State governor, Sir Ben Ayade has promised to change their situation with the provision of social housing.
    Governor Ayade who was on a one-week working visit to the Obudu Ranch Resort, made the promise during his tour of the communities.
    Expressing sadness over the abject condition, highlighted by shanties and dilapidations, Ayade decried: “We are here at the Ranch and when you look to the left and right, what you see in the entire place are the aborigines, the original owners of Obudu Cattle Ranch.
    “They are relegated to the worst form of human existence; reduced to want, in body, in spirit, in soul and in the most sub-human living conditions with collapsing roofs and huge massive temperatures that run your blood chill and your bones cold.”
    He vowed to change the ugly narrative for the better very soon.
    On his one week visit to the Ranch, he disclosed that the visit was meant to give him the opportunity to see things for himself as his administration gets ready to revamp the prime jewel of hospitality in the state.
    “I decided to take a guided tour to spend one week with the people to feel their pulse as we prepare to make the Ranch the most attractive centre for visits in Nigeria. I want to see how the citizens, the aborigines have been living side by side with the glaring reality of the luxury of the ranch resort.”
    In what could be likened to a tale of two cities, Governor Ayade lamented: “It is a shame that where I live which is the presidential Villa is as if am in Europe and just a few minutes walk from there, this is what you find. The contrast is unacceptable to my conscience because I have a background akin to this people and so I understand the feeling. I understand the pain.”
    Bemoaning the high level of deprivations being experienced by the people, the governor said: “As I see this, my heart bleeds that I have failed to be sensitive to the people who need government most. And so my government is committed to constructing social housing to change their course and prove to them that God uses humans as a vessel.”
    The governor promised “to make your town and your place look beautiful as well. So, for us as a state, we are committed to exterminating this kind of extreme poverty.
    “My performance efficiency should be measured by how much I have lifted people from extreme poverty to comfort not by how many culverts, how many bridges, how many superhighways, how many deep seaports I have built. The real growth is human growth and that is why I do not believe in Gross Domestic Products (GDP).
    “I believe in human happiness index. I want to be assessed on the basis of how happy these people are with the onset of me being governor. When I leave office, what will be the difference I have in their lives? Until I make such a difference, I would have failed as governor.”
    On his determination to reposition the ranch, Ayade hinted: “Very soon the ranch will be the biggest attraction in this country because we are building an international airport to support the ranch for export of potatoes and export of ornamental flowers.
    “So, if we are going to do that, and go into commercial farming in Obudu cattle ranch and industrial tourism, where does that leave the host communities? That is why we are here today to assure them that they have a critical role to play. We had a meeting with the leaders of the community and have assured them that the squalor and the sub-human conditions will be exterminated in the next six months. We will be here and you will see the difference.
    “Cross River does not have enough but I care enough to make a difference for them and we surely will as a state.This is my commitment.”
  • Ayade’s Cross River records five COVID-19 infections as Nigeria surpasses 29,000 cases

    Ayade’s Cross River records five COVID-19 infections as Nigeria surpasses 29,000 cases

    Cross River, the only state in Nigeria yet to record any case of Coronavirus since the outbreak of the pandemic, has now recorded first cases of the deadly virus.

    With this, all 36 states of Nigeria and the FCT have recorded cases of Coronavirus.

    In the figures released by the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC, on Monday night, Cross River recorded five cases of the virus.

    According to the NCDC, “one new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. Till date, 29,286 cases have been confirmed, 11,828 cases have been discharged and 654 deaths have been recorded in 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

    “The 575 new cases are reported from 20 states- Lagos(123), FCT(100), Delta(58), Edo(52), Ogun(42), Katsina(24), Bayelsa(23), Rivers(22), Borno(19), Plateau(18), Ondo(18), Oyo(17), Kwara(15), Osun(13), Enugu(9), Nasarawa (7), Abia(6), Cross River(5), Kaduna(3), Ekiti(1)

    “On the 6th of July 2020, 575 new confirmed cases and 9 deaths were recorded in Nigeria.”

    How States Stand

    Lagos-123
    FCT-100
    Delta-58
    Edo-52
    Ogun-42
    Katsina-24
    Bayelsa-23
    Rivers-22
    Borno-19
    Plateau-18
    Ondo-18
    Oyo-17
    Kwara-15
    Osun-13
    Enugu-9
    Nasarawa-7
    Abia-6
    Cross River-5
    Kaduna-3
    Ekiti-1

  • VIDEO: Ayade breaks down in tears, ‘I came well prepared but haven’t achieved my dreams for C’River in 5 years’

    VIDEO: Ayade breaks down in tears, ‘I came well prepared but haven’t achieved my dreams for C’River in 5 years’

    It was an emotional day at Peregrino House of the Cross River State Government on Thursday when Governor Ben Ayade broke down in tears over the high level of poverty in the state and exempted some persons and organisations from paying tax.

    Speaking at the inauguration of an anti-tax agency headed by Bishop Emma Isong, the governor said that it is sad that government which does not meet the needs of the people in many areas still collects tax from them.

    He said it better for him to “task my brain” than to expect tax from people who are still struggling.The governor said as he went round the state, he noticed the level of poverty which has made some people to stay in mud houses.

    Ayade, who broke down in tears, said: “I never knew that five years as governor, there would still be people living in thatched houses in Cross River. I almost cried because I knew how prepared I was but it didn’t end the way I dreamt for the state. I wish God would intervene because I really wish I could help. It’s very painful.”