by By Elijah Ugani
The Chief of Staff to Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, Hon. Martins Orim has rewarded five PDP party faithfuls with brand new cars as part of his benevolent gesture to reward their selfless commitment and support to him personally and the party at large.
The presentation of the cars took place today September 6th, 2020 as part of the 2020 Obudu new yam festival held at Governor Ayade’s Chief of Staff residence, Okweriseng-Ubang, in Obudu local government area of cross river state.
Presenting the car key to the Obudu Chapter Chairman of PDP, Mr. Enerst Ublibli, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Jonas Williams urged him to make judicious use of the car both for the service of the party and private use.
Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo commended the Chief of Staff to the governor for considering Mr. Justine Ayabie Adie popularly called (Ajepota), as many people relegates his kind, he fuel the vehicle with the sum of (#100,000.00) one hundred naira and promised to take responsibility of the car maintainance.
Speaking on the choice of the beneficiaries, the Chief of Staff to the governor noted that Hon. Philip Ikpah is one man who stood his grounds to support his (Hon. Martins Orim) aspiration to become councilor against the powerful forces that moved against him then. Hon. Philip Ikpah was ready to resign his appointment as Supervisor for Finance when the then Chairman of council was bent on removing Hon. Martins Orim as Deputy Leader of Council. He has however, remain very resolute and decisive in his support for the Chief of Staff, and is currently, a member of the Care Taker Committee of the PDP in the state.
The former State Chairman and now Care Taker Committe Chairman of PDP, Ntufam Inok Edim, while presenting the car to Hon. Ikpah, called on the people of Obudu to support the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Martins Orim who started a foundation in honor of his late father and donated items to the less privileged and today, he is presenting cars to deserving party faithfuls.
Those who were rewarded with the cars are:
Mr. Henry Ublili- PDP Chapter Chairman, Obudu
Mr. Augustine Odzie Abua – PDP Chapter Secretary, Obudu
Mr. Justine Ayabie Adie – party supporter
Hon. Sylvester Agabi – Former Leader of Obudu legislative Council
Hon. Philip Ikpah – Member, PDP State Care Taker Committee.
Speaking on behalf of the recipients of the Chief of Staff’s magnanimity, Hon. Philip Ikpah thanked Hon. Martins Orim for having recognized their contributions and efforts to stabilize the polity of their boss and plegded to make good use of the cars and stated that “the reward for good work is more work”
He however noted that the car gift is a call to further strengthen their support and loyalty to their boss and principal, hecommended the support of the wife of the Chief of Staff over the years.
The Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon. Martins Orim used the circumstance of the event to eulogize the member representing Obudu/Bekwarra/Obanliku federal constituency, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo for his unwavering support for Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, the governor of cross river state.
Orim held that “the support given to the governor by Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo is unprecedented. He has stood by the governor through the trying moments. While other National Assembly members picked expression of intent forms, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo waited for the governor to give him directives to pick the form. Rt. Hon. Legor said he can only pick the form if the governor ask him to do so, you can see the level of support and loyalty he showed to our brother. Whatever, Rt. Hon. Legor ask from Obudu, I’m sure we will give him in reciprocation of his support for us”
The Chief of Staff further averred that “the bond of friendship that exist between Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo and I is very strong to a point that in 2018, some people told Rt. Legor that I was going to run election against him, and he said, if it is Chief of Staff, I will support him”
On his part, Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo stated that “everything the Chief of said is very correct. In fact, in the build up to the 2015 election, one of my supporters had complained and was at the verge of withdrawing his support for me, Hon. Martins Orim asked me what the problem was and I told him the man wants me to buy a car for him, the Chief of Staff willingly gave me his wife’s car to give to the man.
“The Chief of Staff supported me morally and financially to see to the emergence of the Speaker of House Representatives, Rt. Femi Gbajamibiala.
“My wife told me, the Chief of Staff is truly your friend, I will do everything to sustain this friendship. Whatever Hon. Martins ask for, I will support him”
The event was graced by party faithfuls, women and traditional rulers across the local government area.
The Chief of Staff’s humanitarian and philanthropic nature is hereditary as his late father was a renowned philanthropist who stopped at nothing to ensure that everyone who comes in contact with him gets something that tends to solve their problems.
The Chief of Staff had just last week donated and installed solar lights in all the 19 villages including the palaces of all traditional rulers that makes up Ukpe, Alege and Ubang (UKALU) as well as the palace of the Paramount Ruler of Obudu of Obudu local government area, HRM, Uti JD Agba.
