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Tag: Ben Ayade

  • 3000 youth to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer programme in Cross River

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade at the weekend announced that 3000 youth from the Central Senatorial District are to be captured under the Conditional Cash Transfer programme.

    The governor made the disclosure at the Ikom Township Stadium where tens of thousands of people held a rally to compel him to seek a second term in office.

    Ayade reiterated his promise to change the lives of the people for the better.

    “Upon my honour, my character, my integrity, exposure, wealth and fear of God, I will make a difference. I am going to bring prosperity and hope to these young faces,” he told enthusiastic crowd.

    TheNewsGuru reports the endorsement rally was organised by six local government areas of Abi, Obubra, Yarkurr, Etung, Boki and Ikom which make the Central senatorial district of the state.

    In a motion moved by the House of Representatives member representing Obubra/Etung Federal constituency, Hon Mike Etaba and seconded by another lawmaker representing Ikom 1state constituency, Hon Fred Osim, the people resolved that no son or daughter from the senatorial district should vie for the office of Governor except the present occupier.

    Billed to start by 10 in the morning, but as early as 8am, over 30,000 people were already at the Ikom stadium with various groups and associations decked in their regalia and bearing placards which bore, “Ayade 100% undiluted,” “Ayade, Eye of Cross River State 2019,” “Central says yes to Ayade,” “Central Cross River is sure for Ayade 2019,” “Code 888,” among others.

    Speakers at the event took time to compel Ayade to accept the endorsement and seek another term in office to enable him complete the various programs and projects initiated by his administration.

    Chairman of the occasion and former military administrator of Bayelsa State, Col Pam Ogar, rtd said, “this exercise is initiated by a willing people to motivate you to come out by 2019. We give you our prayers, accept this endorsement willingly, we are following and watching you to go beyond and do brilliantly well all the penciled programs and projects you have enumerated.”

    For a former commissioner in the state, Ntufam Sandy Onor, the event was a sweet reunion, adding, “many high profile movements have returned to the party hence the political osmosis are now on ground to clinch elective positions.”

    Giving assurances on machinery put on ground to defeat political opponents, Onor said, “In Etung, the opposition will be defeated; In Ikom they will be worsted; In Boki they will be exterminated; In Obubra they will be decapitated; In Yarkurr they will be decimated and in Abi they will be completely rested.”

    In his remarks, Dr Pius Tawo described Ayade as one who, not only understands development, but a strategic partner that will take Cross River State to prosperity, adding that, “the projects initiated by Ayade will recalibrate the state completely.”

    Speaking on behalf of political appointees from the zone, the Commissioner for Education, Obol Goddy Etta said: “We are here to endorse and to present to you an order of mandamus. You must actualise the 888 code because you can not leave us half way,” adding that, “we in the central have contributed money to buy your form.”

    Others who spoke including AVM Eko Osim, Barr Chris Agara, Vero Obi, Walter Ajogbor and Patrick Iwara argued that the endorsement was not as a result of the traditional norm but based on performances within a short period, pointing out that Ayade represents ideas, visions and dreams.

     

  • Gov. Ayade hails Buhari, says Cross River owes him debt of gratitude

    Gov. Ayade hails Buhari, says Cross River owes him debt of gratitude

    Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, says never in the history of Nigerian politics has the state been as favoured as it is with the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Ayade stated this at the state executive chamber in Calabar, when the Head of Service of the Federation, Mrs Winifred Oyo-Ita led the body of federal permanent secretaries who are on a retreat in the state on a courtesy call on the governor.

    “Never in the history of Nigeria politics has Cross River State benefited this much from the gale of appointments that have come to us.

    “Head of Service of the Federation, Auditor General of the Federation, federal permanent secretary (Information), Chairman NDDC, we also have Minister of Niger Delta, Chief of Naval Staff, Chief Justice of Nigeria, the list is endless.

    “We have never had it this good,” Ayade stated.

    Ayade said this was in spite of the fact that “this man (Buhari) is from the northern part of Nigeria while Cross River is in the south. This is a President who is an All Progressives Congress (APC) member while Cross River is a Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) state; a President who by faith is Muslim and Cross River State is predominantly Christian, a man who did not look at all of these biases and made a choice of Cross River State as the first state to perform his first working visit. This is unprecedented”.

    The governor maintained that for all the love, appointments and timely approvals including that of the Bakassi deep seaport project by President Buhari, there was no other way to show appreciation than to thank him while praying God to grant him good health so that he will continue to do good to the state and nation in general.

    Urging the federal permanent secretaries to work in tandem with President Buhari’s deep vision for the citizenry, Ayade said: “Work with full loyalty and support for Mr President to continue to do the good job he is doing. You have an opportunity to reduce hunger, we cannot leave it for the President alone. The pressure he’s come under is occasioned by the poverty in the land”.

    Explaining that the procurement retreat for federal permanent secretaries was timely considering its challenges to humanity as well as egalitarian distribution of opportunities, Ayade charged the body to find unorthodox method within the confines of law to provide a direction and focus that can create the sense of unity and equality.

    “I task you to make sure that the retreat goes beyond the boundaries of just an intercourse. Take it truly to heart and show kindness to your fellowmen.

    “Your position is to serve humanity, not to serve self or state and so I entreat you to put God and the fear of God first in all your considerations,” the governor advised.

    Oyo-Ita, commended Governor Ayade for his vision and industrialization drive.

    “We must place on record that Your Excellency’s vision and drive for the progress of Cross River State is already bearing fruits, not just through hearsay but what we have already witnessed in the last couple of days in Calabar. well-done my big brother,” she said.

    She disclosed that the team was in the state to attend a procurement retreat for the federal permanent secretaries hosted jointly by the Bureau of Public Procurement and the office of Head of Civil Service of the Federation.

    The Head of civil service of the federation who was accompanied by 21 permanent secretaries, Accountant General of the federation, Ahmed Idris; the Auditor General of the Federation, Anthony Mkpe Ayine as well as the DG BPP, remarked that adherence to public procurement practice remains important for effective service delivery and in line with the change vision of President Muhammadu Buhari.

    Oyo-Ita added that “it is very important for permanent secretaries to have a deeper understanding of the knowledge and practice of procurement process while ensuring that they do not find themselves as guests at the public accounts committee of the National Assembly and maybe the EFCC”.

     

  • Pensioners’ Union lauds Ayade over payment of gratuities

    Pensioners’ Union lauds Ayade over payment of gratuities

    The chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Comrade Ntamu Adie Emmanuel, has commended Governor Ben Ayade for the commencement of payment of gratuities to Pensioners in the State.

    Adie, who spoke with a private radio station in Calabar, said he and his members were truly happy with the development.

    While indicating that life had been difficult with Pensioners since the stoppage of payment of gratuities five years ago, he said his Union was however, glad that Ayade has answered their prayers.

    “My happiness is that it (payment) has started. To stay for five years is not a joke and I still stand by the fact that the current governor is not to blame for these lapses.

    “Because it has been long gratuity was paid in the state even we can’t understand the modalities for payment.”

    Using such adjectives as dynamic and digital to describe the governor, Comrade Emmanuel said the ongoing gratuities payment was God’s answer to their prayers.

     

  • Outrage as photos of C’River Deputy Gov, Esu holding umbrella for Gov Ayade floods social media

    There appears to be endless reactions on social media to a photo showing Cross River Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu, 70, holding umbrella for Governor Ben Ayade.

    In the photo, Ayade, 48, is seen discussing with a man while his deputy holds the umbrella even when it is not raining.

    Though the umbrella appears to cover both men, commentators on social media say the image shows an example of being powerful.

    They also argued Esu is many years older than the governor and that an aide of either men could have held the umbrella.

    Ivara Esu (OFR), a Professor of Soil Science, was the Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, between January 2000 and August 2005.

    See reactions from social media below:

  • Calabar festival: Watch all stunts as Gov. Ayade leads Bikers Parade

    Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade and his predecessor, Donald Duke, on Tuesday led over 400 power bikes from Uyo, Imo, Enugu and Anambra States in the 2016 Bikers’ Dry Run in Calabar.

    Ayade alongside other extremely kitted bikers rode the carnival routes from Mary Slessor to Efioette Roundabout in style. The Calabar Carnival which draws tourists from around the world has become a delight for most participants.

    See videos: