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Tag: Ben Ayade

  • 2023: I’ll be Nigeria’s next president – Ayade boasts as he gets form

    2023: I’ll be Nigeria’s next president – Ayade boasts as he gets form

    Cross River Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade on Monday in Abuja, said he would be Nigeria’s next president given his pedigree and the support enjoyed from Nigerians.

    Ayade made this known when concerned group of persons known as sons and daughters of Cross River, presented him the All Progressives Congress (APC) nomination form to contest for Presidency in 2023.

    The governor, who assured that he would tackle the problem of poor electricity supply head-on, said that he was ready to deploy workable solution to fix the problem once and for all.

    On whether or not he stood the chance of emerging as the party’s choice being a southerner, Ayade assured that the leadership of the APC would find lasting solution to the issue.

    He said the inheritance of democracy as a practice in Nigeria and other African countries without customising the ethnic sensitivity and diversity of the people had become a critical issue.

    “As other democracies deal with population and numbers, which is the supremacy of numbers over the minority, democracy as an instrument for egalitarian distribution, equity, fair sharing and equal access to power is a subject for discussion.

    “So, if power by the nomenclature of democracy supposes that people will have fair and equal access, one will imagine that by the extension of that definition, power should go to the Southern part of Nigeria having done eight years this way.

    “I think that the sensitivity of this is such that the President is cautious. That explains however the proponents of the many candidates from the southern part of the country.

    “Hopefully it has to be a southern candidate. That is one of the major ways of guaranteeing the unity of this country.

    “If we rely on the muscle of numbers then it becomes the situation where power belongs to the man with the greatest fist,” he said.

    Explaining that he propounded a theory called, “Afropolitan theory”, which was the basis for the word “afrotionism”, he said it derived it’s meaning from the need to offer ones shoulder for others to lean on.

    According to him, irrespective of the population disbalance in Nigeria, what is fair is fair.

    He said if it was the turn of the South, power should be allowed to go there.

    On his chances given the huge number of people aspiring for the same position on the platform of the APC, Ayade said he was optimistic.

    On security, the governor said the security situation could have been worse but for the dexterity of the present leadership.

    He said the collapse of Afghanistan and the equipping of ISIS, with the aim of taking over West Africa, had put the subregion, particularly Nigeria under threat over the years.

    He added that the aim of the infiltration was to get the “economic soul” of African countries, particularly those with huge resources like Nigeria, Congo among others.

    Ayade promised to tackle insecurity with modern and more strategic measures like the use of technology.

    The APC puts its Presidential nomination fee at N100 million per aspirant and more than 25 persons from different geopolitical zones have picked nomination forms to run for the position

  • BREAKING: Again, Ayade’s defection case shifted, now April 7

    BREAKING: Again, Ayade’s defection case shifted, now April 7

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has shifted judgment delivery on the defection suit against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State till April 7.

    Justice Taiwo Oladipupo Taiwo halted delivery of the judgment to enable him to consider the implications of a Court of Appeal fresh judgment on the defection. related matters.

    The Court of Appeal, Enugu Division, had five days ago held that defection did not constitute any known offence but constitutional rights of freedom of association as enshrined under Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution.

    Ben Ayade and his deputy had defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), prompting the PDP to ask the court to declare their seats vacant.

    Mike Ozekhome SAN, counsel to the governor, had in a letter drawn the attention of the court to the Court of Appeal judgment and prayed the court to bow and respect the decision of the higher Court of Appeal. Continue Reading

    Details to follow…

  • Defection: Court postpones judgment in suit seeking Gov Ayade’s sack

    Defection: Court postpones judgment in suit seeking Gov Ayade’s sack

    A Federal High Court, Abuja, has shifted the judgment in a suit filed by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) against Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River to April 6.

    Justice Taiwo Taiwo had on March 22 fixed today, Friday, for the judgment. However, it was gathered from Court 7, where Justice Taiwo presides, Friday morning that the judgment has been put off because it was not ready.

    The PDP, through its counsel Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, had filed the suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/975/2021 before Justice Taiwo to seek for an order sacking the governor and his deputy over their defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC), among others.

    Taiwo had, on Monday, ordered two House of Representatives members representing Cross River and 18 lawmakers from the state’s House of Assembly to vacate their seats over their defection to APC.

    The judge gave the order following a suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/971/2021 filed on Aug. 27, 2021, by the PDP to challenge the 20 lawmakers’ defection to APC, alongside the governor on May 20, 2021.

    Justice Taiwo, in the judgment, dismissed the defence argument that the PDP (plaintiff) had no locus standi (legal rights) to institute the case.

    He also dismissed other preliminary objections raised by the sacked lawmakers.

    Taiwo ruled that the argument of the lawmakers that there was rancour in the PDP which necessitated their defection to APC was a ploy to mislead the court.

    The judge, who granted all the reliefs sought by the PDP, held that it was disheartening that politicians in the country treat citizens as if they do not matter once they get into office.

    “A day must surely come when elected officials, must either resign from their office or ask the people who voted for them before defecting to other political parties, instead of defecting to another party without recourse to the law and the citizens, ” he said.

    According to him, we cannot continue in sin and expect grace to abound.

    The affected two members of the House of Representatives from the state are Michael Etaba and Legor Idagbor.

    The 18 state’s lawmakers include the Speaker, House of Assembly, Eteng Williams; Mich Etaba, Legor Idagbor, Joseph Bassey, Odey Agbe and Okon Ephraim.

    Others are: Regina Anyogo, Matthew Olory, Ekpo Bassey, Ogbor Udop, Ekpe Okon, Hillary Bisong, Francis Asuquo, Elvert Ayambem, Davis Etta, Sunday Achunekan, Cynthia Nkasi, Edward Ajang, Chris Ogar and Maria Akwaji.

    While Mr Etaba represents Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency of Cross River, Mr Idagbor represents Obudu/Obaliku/Bekwarra Federal Constituency of the state.

    A sister judge, Inyang Ekwo had, also, on March 8, sacked Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi and other lawmakers who defected alongside Umahi to APC.

  • Cross River gov, Ayade speaks on Tinubu’s presidential ambition

    Cross River gov, Ayade speaks on Tinubu’s presidential ambition

    Cross River Governor, Ben Ayade says All Progressives Congress (APC) leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is qualified to be president.

    “He worked and fought hard for Muhammadu Buhari’s victory, so, if the slot is zoned to the South, Tinubu deserves to contest,” Ayade told BBC Pidgin Service.

    “I stand with the party and will support anyone who wins the candidacy of our party.

    “If Tinubu is not the one, the APC needs to respect him and dialogue with him. I know he’s a human being too and would follow peace.

    “I’ll gladly lead any delegation to plead with him in case the party goes for another presidential candidate in 2023,” Ayade said.

  • 2023: Cross River gov, Ben Ayade insists on zoning

    2023: Cross River gov, Ben Ayade insists on zoning

    Gov. Ben Ayade of Cross River has reiterated his commitment to ensuring that power return to the Southern Senatorial District of the state come 2023.

    Ayade, while Addressing some stakeholders of the All Progressive Congress (APC) at the Governor’s Lodge on Sunday in Calabar, said his decision to return power to the south was based on morality.

    The governor insisted that the south had credible people with capacity to be governor.

    “During my campaign for second term, I went to the South and asked them to support my second term bid and that when I win, I will support the south to take over from me because by natural process, they are next senatorial district to produce the governor,” he said.

    Ayade, who decried the nature of democracy as currently being practiced, noted that there was need to infuse the “sensitivity of the African culture”.

    “We inherited a brand of democracy which is not afrocentric, neither does it have the sensitivity of the African culture and morality.

    “Democracy is so primitively blind that it reduces itself to numbers.

    “The higher your population, the more you win. So there is nothing like balancing, there is no equity in democracy.

    “There is no moral conscience. Democracy is blind to ethnicity, it is blind to religion, it is blind to fairness, it is repugnant to natural justice,” he said.

    Ayade, however, dispelled speculations that he is backtracking on his commitment to return power to the south.

    “So, to be able to balance that, as governor, I still uphold my declaration that my successor will come from the south and indeed, he would come from the south,” he maintained.

    The governor, who said that he could not and would not play God by being specific on who his successor will be, added that his role is to be fair.

    “The South had taken turn to produce a governor in Donald Duke, the Central had also produced a governor in Sen. Liyel Imoke and the North has produced one in me.

    “So, it is common sense that we must go back to the South for equity. Every zone should know that their turn would come one day.

    “But to be blind and leave it to crude democracy which was not customised to reflect African sensitivity, that if l have had it, and no matter the circumstance, let another too have it,” he added.

  • APC asks Gov Ayade to fire appointees without party membership card

    APC asks Gov Ayade to fire appointees without party membership card

    The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Cross River State has called on the State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade to fire all civil servants in the State not carrying the party’s membership card.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports newly elected chairman of the APC in Cross River, Mr Alphonsus Eba made the call at a media briefing in Calabar on Tuesday.

    Eba, who is yet to be sworn into office, also asked Governor Ayade to fire all appointees who are yet to register with the APC.

    Failing to clinch the chairmanship position of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before his emergence as APC Chairman-elect, Eba argued that there was no way civil servants and appointees in the State would be receiving salaries without registering to be members of the party.

    He said failure to register will result in mass sack while their positions will be filled by APC members, stressing that anyone who fails to register as a member of APC by December 31, 2021 would be relieved of his duty on January 1, 2022.

    Citing article 9(5) of the APC constitution, which he said bars members from taking appointments with the government of other political parties, he said it was compulsory for civil servants to register and identify with the party in power.

    A statement issued after the press conference, signed by Mr Erasmus Ekpang, the party’s State Publicity Secretary-elect quoted Eba as saying: “Non-members of our Party should not be given appointment in our Party in accordance with Article 9/5 of our Constitution.

    “The ground of the welfarism we think is not to bitterate the kindness and humanitarian concern of the Governor.

    “Here as a party, we want to make it known today, that all Heads of Government at Local Government level and at the State must follow the provision of our Constitution, with effect from 1st January, 2022, those appointees of Government that are yet to be registered and fully participate in activities of the Party shall cease to hold their respective offices.

    “We therefore call on Local Government Chairmen, who today have over 20,000 appointees of five persons per polling units to the 3281 polling units and on the State Government payroll, we call on the Auditor-General to take note that the over seven thousand to eight thousand appointees of Government who are yet to be registered in APC must be relieved of their appointments henceforth”.

  • Ayade mourns former Senate President, Dr Wayas

    Ayade mourns former Senate President, Dr Wayas

    Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade has lamented the passing of Second Republic Senate President, Dr Joseph Wayas, describing his death as a monumental loss to Cross River State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.

    Dr Wayas died in the early hours of Tuesday in a London hospital.

    In a press statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, Ayade said Dr Wayas left indelible footprints on the sands of time.

    “As a state, Cross River is in pains as we mourn the passing of our illustrious son. He was a rare gem. Dr Wayas’ demise is indeed a monumental loss to our dear state and Nigeria”, Ayade was quoted as saying in the statement.

    According to the governor, ” as Senate President, Dr Wayas contributed to the deepening of Nigeria’s democratic ethos through his robust and vibrant leadership of the upper legislative chamber.

    “And since his retirement from active politics, the former Senate President had been playing a fatherly and stabilising role in the politics and affairs of our state.”

    He condoled with Dr Wayas’ family, assuring them that his demise is a collective loss and the pains a shared one.

    “We are with you in this moment of grief. We have you in our hearts and prayers,” the government assured the deceased family.

  • JUST IN: 2021 Calabar carnival suspended

    JUST IN: 2021 Calabar carnival suspended

    Cross River State Governor, Prof Ben Ayade has suspended the 2021 Calabar Carnival.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Ayade announced suspension of the carnival on Monday at State Executive Council Chamber.

    Ayade cited health concerns arising from the outbreak of COVID-19 variant, Omicron as well as prevailing security situation as reasons for the suspension.

    He said he would not as a governor and leader compromise the lives and safety of the citizens for the fleeting excitement of the carnival.

    Before announcing the suspension, Ayade had subjected the decision to popular votes, following which majority of the stakeholders voted for the suspension of the carnival.

  • See odd names of Cross River State budgets under Gov Ayade since 2016

    See odd names of Cross River State budgets under Gov Ayade since 2016

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Friday presented to the State House of Assembly the State 2022 budget of N276 billion.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Governor Ayade christened the 2022 budget of the State the budget of conjugated agglutination in continuation of his odd naming of the State budgets.

    Ayade said that the budget was a continuation of budgets of previous years with no new capital projects intended for the year.

    “The state budget for the 2022 fiscal year is N276 billion. Out of this, N101 billion is for recurrent expenditure and N175 billion is for capital expenditure.

    “We are going to focus on completing existing projects with the view to making them functional.

    “Regular payment of salaries is also a priority in the 2022 fiscal year,” he said.

    Ayade added that the government was considering keeping aside a special fund for payment of gratuities of retired civil servants in the state.

    According to him, this is to ensure a gradual reduction of the backlog of gratuities owed retirees in the state.

    “It is my dream that all retirees get their gratuities with less stress,” the governor said.

    He solicited the cooperation of the house of assembly for speedy passage of the budget.

    “I also appeal that you and other well meaning citizens of Cross River join in the task of delivering on our numerous developmental projects for the benefit of our people,” he said.

    Responding, the Speaker of the house, Etteng Williams, assured the governor that the house would do all within its powers to ensure early passage of the budget.

    “We will corporate with you to deliver on this administration’s laudable projects through early passage of the budget,” he said.

    TNG reports since 2016, Governor Ayade has maintained the tradition of the odd naming of the State budgets.

    While the 2016 budget of the State was named budget of deep vision, the 2017 budget of the State was named budget of infinite transposition, and the 2018 budget was named budget of kinetic crystallization.

    Following the similar odd pattern, Ayade named the 2019 budget of Cross River State as budget of quabalistic densification, the 2020 budget of the State as budget of olimpotic meristemasis, the 2021 budget as budget of blush and bliss.

    TNG reports Governor Ayade has one more budget to name for Cross River State before he is out of office in 2023.

  • Okowa, Ayade mourn ex-Military Administrator, Ibrahim Kefas

    Okowa, Ayade mourn ex-Military Administrator, Ibrahim Kefas

    Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and his Cross River State counterpart, Prof Ben Ayade have condoled with the Kefas family and Taraba State Government over the passing away of former Military Administrator, Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (retd).

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Kefas, who hails from Wukari in Taraba died at the age of 73 on Friday in an Abuja hospital after a brief illness.

    In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Olisa Ifeajika, on Saturday in Asaba, Okowa also commiserated with Wukari community over the sad incident.

    He said that the late Kefas was a renowned soldier, administrator and politician, who was Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba after retirement from the military.

    He noted that the deceased distinguished himself as Military Administrator of Cross River and Delta States between 1993 and 1996.

    According to the Governor, as military administrator, the departed Kefas contributed immensely to the development of the states he served.

    “On behalf of my family, the government and people of Delta, I mourn with the Kefas family, the people of Wukari and the Taraba State Government on the passing away of Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (retd).

    “The late Kefas was an accomplished soldier, administrator and statesman, who will be remembered for epitomising service and patriotism in Nigeria’s development while in service.

    “He will be deeply missed by all who knew him, particularly those whose lives he affected,” Okowa said.

    He prayed to God to accept the deceased’s soul and grant fortitude to the family and associates to bear the loss.

    Meanwhile, Governor Ayade of Cross River State expressed shock and sadness over the death of Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (retired), a former Military Administrator of the state.

    In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita, Ayade described the late Kefas as a diligent soldier and a sound administrator, who played a key role in the development of the state during his tour of duty to the state between 1993-1994.

    “I received with sadness the news of the demise of the ex-MILAD, Air Commodore Ibrahim Kefas (retired). He was a fine gentleman who proved his mettle as an astute administrator during his tour of duty in our state as Military Administrator,” the statement quoted Ayade.

    The governor rued that by the former Military Administrator’s transition, “death has robbed Cross of a dear friend, a statesman and a partner in the socio-economic and infrastructural development of our state.

    “While we join his family, the people of Wukari, the government and people of Taraba state and the Nigerian military to mourn his passing, we are consoled that he left behind legacies that would keep his memory alive.

    “For in the words of Ann Lnn, “when someone you love becomes a memory, the memory becomes a treasure.’”

    Ayade prayed to God to grant the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

    He assured the family that his thoughts and prayers are with them as they grieve.