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Tag: Ayade

  • APC is notorious for lies, says Ayade

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State had described the All Progressives Congress, APC as a group of persons notorious for lies.

    He said that the assertions credited to the APC chairman in the state, John Ochala over his return to school to pursue a Master’s degree in law at UNICAL were as laughable and pathetic, adding that”the party in the state is notorious for lies.”

    Yesterday, Ochala had described Governor Ayade as indolent and idle, who had time to return to school which he should have done when he was a senator or as a private person.

    Ochala said Ayade is bereft of ideas on how to govern the state which he said had been plagued with many problems and infrastructural decays. Ayade in a statement by his chief media adviser, Mr Christain Ita said it is “funny that a party like APC which prides itself as a major opposition cannot engage the Governor on governance issues but chooses to lie to score cheap political points.

    If they didn’t see anything wrong with Gov Mallam Nasir El’rufai returning to school in 2017 in far away the Netherlands for his PhD, what then is wrong if Gov Ayade returns to school to add to his numerous degrees within Calabar, the state capital?”

    The statement reminded the APC that Chief Whip of the Senate and member of the APC, Senator Orji Uzor Kalu was an undergraduate student while serving as Abia State Governor. “The timing of Gov. Ayade’s decision to return to school is unequivocally perfect.

    Unlike APC members, the Governor, despite all the resources at his disposal didn’t choose any foreign University, he decided to do it locally thereby boosting the reputation of Nigerian Universities at a time tertiary institutions in West Africa are under attack.

    “For APC to lie to Cross Riverians that no serving Governor in the history of Nigeria has ever returned to school is unfortunate. Maybe, they just don’t have the guts to commend the Governor for patronising Nigeria University.

    “Ignorantly, Ochala also lied that Gov. Ayade didn’t go to school while in the Senate. This is very shocking. Gov. Ayade was elected Senator in 2011 and later that year enrolled in Nigeria Law School, Abuja and was called to Barr in 2012.”

  • JUST IN: Tribunal uphold Ayade’s victory as Cross River governor

    The Cross River Governorship Elections Petition Tribunal sitting in Calabar has affirmed the victory of Ben Ayade of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ayade described the tribunal judgement as a mere reaffirmation of his resounding victory at the March 9, 2019 governorship poll.

    The governor, who spoke through his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr. Christian Ita, said he was not surprised at the verdict since his victory was never in doubt.

    “As I did when I won the governorship election of March 9, by dedicating my victory to God, the great people of Cross River State and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) family, let me once again rededicate today’s tribunal verdict which explicitly reinforced the will of the people to them.

    “I had no doubt that I would emerge victorious at the tribunal. I have never lost faith or confidence in our judicial system.

    “I was very confident that the tribunal would be diligent and upright in determining the petitions brought before it and it did just that today and I am happy, Cross Riverians are happy and I am sure that even the petitioners will be happy that the tribunal has acquitted itself.”

    Insisting that the affirmation of his election by the tribunal will further embolden him to deliver on his campaign promises, Ayade said: “Today’s judgement is no doubt a call for a redoubling of effort, energy, kinetics and gusto to consolidate on what my administration started four years ago, which is the aggressive industrialization of the state.”

    Details shortly…

  • Ayade declares Green Holiday for planting of one million trees

    Ayade declares Green Holiday for planting of one million trees

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade has declared July 30th every year, starting from this year, as a public holiday for the planting of trees in a ceremony known as the Green Carnival.
    A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita, quoted the governor as explaining that setting aside a day for tree planting “underscores our readiness for the redd+ and commitment to forest conservation and management.”
    The governor, who disclosed that one million trees will be planted during this year’s Green Carnival, said the exercise is also aimed at addressing the challenge of urban deforestation.
    The event which is to take place simultaneously across the 18 local government areas of The state “is one of the measures to tackle global warming, deforestation and climate change as well as to also drive home our commitment to the implementation of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)on the Superhighway,” the statement quoted the governor further.
    He expressed the optimism that the state’s forest cover, which represents 58 percent of Nigeria’s forest cover, will through the Green Carnival, grow to 68 percent.
    He pledged that the Urban Green Canopy Calabar initiative will sustain Calabar as the greenest city in Nigeria and Cross River as the greenest state.
    Consequently, all schools, homes, ministries, government agencies and departments, banks, hospitals and all business premises must plant new trees.

    Subsequently it will be an offence not to plant a tree on that day, the statement added.

  • I’ll ensure southern district gets C/River 2023 guber ticket– Gov. Ayade

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has restated his commitment to ensuring that the southern Senatorial District of the state produces the next governor in 2023.

    Ayade, who spoke on a phone-in radio programme on Saturday in Calabar, insisted that equity and fairness dictates that the next governor of Cross River must come from that zone.

    The governorship slot in the state has been rotational within the three Senatorial Districts in the state.

    Former governor Donald Duke from the South served for eight years between 1999 and 2007.

    Thereafter, former governor Liyel Imoke from the Central also served for eight years between 2007 and 2015 while Gov. Ayade from the North was elected into office in 2015 and has won his re-election for a second term.

    “In fairness and equity, 2023 is the turn of the South and that was the commitment I gave. I will use every fiber in me to ensure that the next governor comes from the southern Senatorial District.

    “Having insisted on keeping fidelity with the political zoning arrangement in the state in the run up to my re-election, it is therefore, incumbent on me to ensure that the south takes its turn to produce governor in 2023.

    “Fairness is fairness, equity is equity. I have preached equity, so it is my turn to do equity,” the governor said.

    Ayade also used the interview to disclose his plans in ensuring gender balance in his next cabinet.

    He said that there would be more women in his government in this dispensation.

  • Protesters storm PDP Headquarters, demand annulment of C’River governorship primaries

    Protesters storm PDP Headquarters, demand annulment of C’River governorship primaries

    …fault Ayade’s sole candidacy
    Protesters stormed the headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Abuja, on Thursday demanding the outright cancellation of the primary election held to choose the governorship candidate for Cross River State in the forthcoming 2019 general election.
    The protesters demanded that the primary election, which had Governor Ben Ayade of the state, as the sole candidate, be annulled as the second candidate who was cleared and issued a certificate of clearance to run for the primary election, Hon. Emmanuel Ibeshi, was curiously excluded from the exercise 24 hours to the election.
    Wielding several placards with inscriptions such as “Who sold PDP mandate to Ayade should step aside,” “Let the people choose their leader through transparent primaries,” “Don’t impose Ayade on Cross River State,” and “Give us Ibeshi or lose Cross River State,” among others, the protesters under the aegis of Cross River State PDP Support Group, in a protest letter addressed to the PDP National Chairman, Prince Uche Secondus, condemned the exclusion of Ibeshi from the primaries.
    In the letter, the group described the exclusion of Ibeshi from the primaries as an “unfortunate development”, which they said “has caused a lot of anxiety and disappointment amongst party members, supporters and electorate” in the state, who view the action as a return to “the culture of impunity and imposition,” being “undemocratic tendencies” they advised the party to move away from completely, as according to them:
    “This is capable of causing the party to lose a state it has held for 20 years of our current democracy. Whatever the consideration is it worth losing Cross River State? the group asked, in the letter.
    The group, in the letter signed by its coordinator, Comrade Ken Bassey, Publicity Secretary, Efiom Atoe and Secretary, Cletus Agbor respectively, called on the PDP National Working Committee to order a fresh primary election immediately to correct the “anomaly.”
    “We are calling on the NWC to urgently correct this anomaly by cancelling the recently conducted gubernatorial primaries in Cross River State and ordering a fresh inclusive primaries as was the case in the just concluded PDP presidential primaries in Port Harcourt.”
     
     

  • 2019: PDP speaks on alleged defection moves of Akpabio, Ayade, Ugwuanyi, others

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has rubbished news making the rounds that Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Governors Ben Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) may defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) soon.

    The party said though pressure was high on the aforementioned to decamp, its officials are up to the task of resisting the pressure and ensure they not defect.

    PDP officials who claimed to be in the know of the pressure on Senator Akpabio on Friday affirmed that they were working to help him rebuff the pressure with the claim that going to the APC could irredeemably damage him.

    “We are aware of the pressures on him and they are trying to intimidate him with EFCC but we are trying to let him know that he stands to lose much more if he succumbs,” a senior PDP official said.

    He also dismissed claims of the imminent defection of the three governors. Another PDP office holder in the National Assembly the APC was spinning the story as a way of trying to save face from the recent news of defections from the ruling party.

    However, Governor Ayade in his response through his spokesman, Mr. Christian Ita said: “The governor is going nowhere. We have lived with this rumour from day one. The governor has said that there is a difference between governance and politics. Cross River is in the South-South but does not produce oil and we have so many projects that we have embarked on that require federal approval. How do you get the approval if you are not friendly with them? We are building a deep sea port and the super highway which both need federal approval. “It is about governance and it has nothing to do with politics and governance. He was even at the PDP NEC meeting yesterday. “His relationship with President Buhari is based on governance not on politics.”

    A mutual associate of Governor Ugwuanyi and Senator Ike Ekweremadu also dismissed claims of friction between the two men which many believed might lead to the governor’s defection.

  • 2019: Akpabio, Ayade, Ugwuanyi, others may defect to APC soon

    2019: Akpabio, Ayade, Ugwuanyi, others may defect to APC soon

    Indications emerged on Friday that Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio; Governors Ben Ayade (Cross River), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Dave Umahi (Ebonyi) all of main opposition party, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) may defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) soon.

    According to reports reaching TheNewsGuru.com, APC have commenced talks with all the aforementioned parties.

    Akpabio’s romance with Osinbajo, APC

    Although the spokesperson to the Senate Minority Leader, Udom Jackson in a phone conversation with TheNewsGuru.com dispelled the defection allegation leveled on his principal, however, Akpabio’s recent romance with the APC is an open secret.

    Just yesterday, the former Akwa Ibom state governor reportedly arrived the State House Villa by 3.06pm with Ita Enang, an aide to President Muhammadu Buhari on National Assembly (Senate).

    Akpabio and Enang were said to have arrived Aso Rock for a meeting with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo-barely an hour after President Muhammadu Buhari departed for Bauchi state on an official engagement.

    TheNewsGuru.com learnt that the meeting between Akpabio and Osinbajo lasted for about two hours. Though details of the meeting were not known, it is believed that it could be related to Akpabio’s planned defection over his rift with the current governor of Akwa Ibom, Udom Emmanuel.

    Coincidentally, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which Akpabio currently belongs, held its National Executive Council (NEC) on Thursday and he was conspicuously absent.

    Senate President Bukola Saraki and other defectors from the APC attended the meeting.

    Recall that the APC recently lost three governors – Sokoto, Kwara and Benue – as well as at least 36 members of the House of Representatives and 14 senators, including Senate President, Bukola Saraki.

    Akpabio whose alleged defection moves to the APC is not new in the media space had constantly denied having such intentions.

    Speaking at the senatorial district end of year get-together on January in Abak, Akpabio, categorically denied nursing any defection plans.

    In his words: “So, all this rumour that Akpabio is going to APC is a mere rumour. The truth is that Akpabio is advising us to make our path straight. The moment we have done that, we are going to move in one direction.

    Ayade

    Governor Ayade’s alleged defection moves is also not fresh. Last week The Cross River State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) stormed the National Secretariat of APC in Abuja, amidst opposition from party staff, to protest against an alleged planned defection by the governor. Some members of staff of the party were said to have opposed the protest against the Cross River State governor from joining APC, as they claimed that no one protested against the Benue State Governor, Samuel Ortom for defecting from the party.

    On Wednesday at a dinner/maiden edition of the MSMEs Award 2018 held at the State House Banquet Hall, Abuja, Osinbajo who is reported to be at the front burner of APC talks with some of the South South, South East governors was seen in high spirits with the governor throughout the programme.

    Meanwhile, a former governor of the state who spoke with TheNewsGuru.com said the defection moves were unconfirmed. “Its all rumours for now,” the former governor told TheNewsGuru.com.

    Findings by TheNewsGuru.com further revealed that Governors Ugwuanyi and Ayade are no longer comfortable with the PDP following disagreements between them and the leadership of the party under Uche Secondus.

    Also of note is the fact that Ayade is the only opposition governor in the South-South that has hosted Buhari twice on a state visit and was recently on the president’s entourage to the ECOWAS summit in Togo.

    Ugwuanyi

    Investigations by TheNewsGuru.com revealed that Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi has been tactically shying away from PDP affairs as he perfects his exit. He’s also said to have a long-running battle with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu over control of the party infrastructure in the state.

    Umahi

    For Governor Dave Umahi, his open affection towards President Muhammadu Buhari worries top PDP leaders in the state. Thus his alleged defection plans to the ruling party. Recall also that his predecessor and erstwhile boss, Martins Elechi has long defected to the APC.

     

    More details as events unfold…

  • LG retirees give Ayade ultimatum N9bn unpaid gratuities

    Local government retirees in Cross River State on Tuesday gave Governor Ben Ayade a one-month ultimatum to commence the payment of their 11 years’ backlog of gratuities and pension arrears amounting to over N9bn.

    The state Chairman, Association of Local Government Pensioners, Mr. Bassey Okosin, who gave this ultimatum at a press conference in Calabar, said members of the association were being owed gratuities and arrears from 2007 to 2018.

    Okosin expressed displeasure over the neglect of local government retirees in the state, adding that the retirees would occupy all government offices in the state if their demands were not met between now and February 16.

    He said, “Our state governor has received one part of the bailout funds and two tranches of the Paris Club Refund, yet no single local government retiree has been paid.

    “We heard that the Federal Government released the funds for the primary purpose of clearing all outstanding salaries, pensions and gratuities; why then are we not paid?

    “As of today, we have an average of 25 local government workers retiring from service monthly. If we don’t receive this money under one month, the 5,600 pensioners in Cross River will occupy all relevant government offices until our entitlements are paid.

    “Some people who are retiring now can no longer be captured on the nominal roll because, from what we heard, the list is full. We are appealing to the state government to allocate some of the money received to us. In addition, we want the state government to allocate 15 per cent of the monthly federal allocation to retirees.”

    Okosin added that the issue of over 600 names of local government pensioners that were omitted by a consultant during the 2016 personal audit exercise was still outstanding.

    “Having exhausted all known means of reaching out to the relevant arms of government without result, we have taken a decision to pack our loads to leave in all the offices that are responsible for the payment of these entitlements until further notice.

    “This is not a threat, but what is likely going to happen in the next one month. All our members have mobilised themselves from all the 18 local government areas of the state for this exercise,” he said.

  • Stop paying us December salaries in November, Cross River workers tells Ayade

    Stop paying us December salaries in November, Cross River workers tells Ayade

    …demands immediate payment of unpaid pensions, other entitlements of workers in the state

     

    The Cross River State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) on Wednesday blasted Governor Ben Ayade for paying the December salaries of workers in the state earlier than scheduled (on November 30).

    The union also berated Ayade over the non-payment of arrears amounting to several billions of naira to pensioner and workers.

     

    The union gave the governor seven days, which began on Wednesday (today), to implement a Memorandum of Understanding reached on July 2, 2017. Otherwise, they said, the workers would resume their strike.

     

    Addressing reporters at the end of its State Executive Council meeting at the NLC Secretariat in Calabar, the state NLC chairman, Mr. John Ushie, also said it was wrong for the governor to have paid the December salary on November 30, adding that it was unfortunate.

     

    The workers had, on July 2, 2017 suspended an indefinite strike following an agreement embodied by the MoU with the state government.

     

    Ushie said, “We express our disappointment with the government for failure to honour some critical aspects of the Memorandum of Understanding that was signed on July 2, 2017.

     

    “Among them are some of the issues of the failure of government to pay gratuity to retirees from June 2013 till date.

     

    “We are here again to tell the whole world that that agreement was not kept and the government has jettisoned the agreement and that has led to this meeting today (Wednesday) as directed by the National Executive Council meeting, which was held on November 16.

     

    “The NEC directed all state councils, where the government has not implemented the full payment of salaries, arrears of salaries, arrears of pensions and gratuities, to go back and strategise.

     

    “And that was done on the basis of the fact that the Paris Club refund has been released to all the state governments and that money was meant specifically to pay arrears of salaries, gratuities and pension.

     

    “Today, we are still discussing the issue of gratuity of 2013, which the governor himself told us that the second Paris Club Fund that was coming was to be used for.

     

    “As it stands, the government of Cross River owes gratuity from 2013 till date. And soon, we will enter 2018, as the workers continue to retire without their entitlements.”

     

    Speaking on the rush to pay the December salary, Vice Chairman of NLC, Mr. Edim Oyongha, said it was unfortunate, adding that the union had worked with several administrations in the state without being shut out.

     

    “We are in a pitiable situation. We all want salary but we do not want this upfront payment. We were paid December salary on November 30, even at that, not all categories of workers are normally being paid. A lot of them are still being owed, as it does not cut across,” he lamented.

     

    Ushie, in his view, said it was not proper for a state government to have paid, as workers would now have to stay for two months without receiving any pay, adding that it was not a proper way to plan.

  • ‘Resume work or risk sack,’ Gov Ayade warns striking workers

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has ordered that the striking workers in the state should immediately resume work or he will sack them.

    Organised labour in the state have been on an indefinite strike since Monday this week over nonpayment of salaries to several civil servants, pension, and gratuities as well as the lack of promotion. The leadership of labour in the state said on no account must workers return to work without all issues being addressed.

    The labour union called for the sacking of secretary to the state government and for the governor to account for N31.1 Billion federal bail out funds he has so far collected for payments of pension, gratuities, and salaries.

    However in a statement by Ms Tina Banku Agbor, secretary to state government, the governor said, ” Workers are hereby advised in their own interests to resume work immediately or risk consequences. ”

    The statement expressed total disappointment with labour which they said forced workers who have enjoyed regular payment of upfront salaries, to stay at home.

    It described the action of labour as unpatriotic and unnecessary especially as it has come at a time when they know that the dwindling federal allocations to the state has not improved.

    Government disagreed with labour and insisted that since assumption of Ayade, he has cleared the six years promotion arrears, insisting that he has paid salaries promptly unlike in many states.