The Lumine News

Category: 2023 General Election

  • Ayade And APC Cannot Connect To The People Because He Is A Stranger In Cross River Politics – Onor

    Ayade And APC Cannot Connect To The People Because He Is A Stranger In Cross River Politics – Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, in Cross River State, Sen Sandy Onor, has stated that Gov Ben Ayade is a stranger in Cross River politics, that is why he (Ayade) and the APC under his leadership cannot connect to the people.

    Sen Onor made the assertion during a town hall meeting with stakeholders of Akpabuyo local government area as part of activities for the party campaign ahead of the general elections.

    Onor who was responding to the stakeholder’s complains of disconnect between the government of Sen Ben Ayade and the people, averred that “Ayade was never part of our political culture. He doesn’t understand it. I can tell you the metamorphosis of not less than 10 persons in Akpabuyo. Ayade is a stranger and that is why he cannot connect to the people, and since he does not connect with the people, he cannot not solve the very simple problems that matters to them. Government is not about sitting in Calabar and deciding whatever we want to do. When I become governor by God’s grace we will sit with you in town hall meetings and listen to you.

    “We can see the momentum. I have no doubt in my mind that Akpabuyo is PDP. In the last bye-election, despite the many things that happened, you won. You win yesterday, you will win today and win again tomorrow.

    “We are thankful to you, whenever we are analysing our strength, we have never undermined Akpabuyo. I assure you Akpabuyo will be at the center. Akpabuyo is easily becoming a bigger development spot.

    “Your son Artur Javi’s has brought a university to Akpabuyo, this is development. We would Work with you, traditional leaders and all that matters to crack down this security.

    “The people of Bakassi complained that their Chairman and councilors stay in Calabar.
    Be rest assured that we will resurcitate the local government and make it functional, and the Chairman as well as your councilors will all stay here with you.

    “Our youths be strong, APC know that our people are not happy with them
    They will want to intimidate you, please resit them. The second thing is that they will want to buy vote, it is too late. Their candidate don’t know how to tear themselves from the cobweb of Ayade. Ayade represents deception and darkness.

    “Akpabuyo is blessed, we have great leaders. Dr Ekeng is very experienced. I love the credibility of Artur Javis. We will consult with you.
    We will like to take our youths on a different lane. Get them engaged in things that will bring them sustainable development. Together, we can”.

    Earlier, stakeholders took turns to enumerate the challenges confronting them. Rev Daniel Etim who spoke on behalf of the elders and men noted that “There is no peace in Akpabuyo, security should be priority in your government.
    When there is security, there will be development. Our young people are employable, please get them engaged when you become governor. Be rest assured that Akpabuyo is for Sandy/Emana”

    Speaking on behalf of the women, Lady Umoh Eyo-Ita commended the governorship hopeful for chosing one of their own to be deputy governor. “Thank you chosing our daughter as deputy Governor. In the last 30 years, we never have it this way. With the choice of a woman as deputy, we are rest assured that our interest is well protected. We assure you that comes 11th March, 2023, the women will vote massively for our own”.

    On his part, the representative of the youth, Mr Austin Patron Okon, berated Gov Ben Ayade’s food on table appointments and called on Sen Sandy Onor to give them permanent employment “The youths want permanent employment, and not the food on table that is currently going on. Our sister, one of us is sitting right beside you, we want to assure you that we will give you 100% votes”.

  • We Will Work With You To Delineate Bakassi When We Take Over Government – Sandy Onor

    We Will Work With You To Delineate Bakassi When We Take Over Government – Sandy Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The gubernatorial candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor has assured the people of Bakassi that his government will work with them to delineate Bakassi if elected.

    Sen Onor made the remarks while responding to some challenges raised by the Bakassi people during a consultative meeting with stakeholders as part of activities for the party statewide campaign at Ekpirikang.

    In his words “We will ensure that proper delienation is done with your support to separate Bakassi from Akpabuyo, as you vote massively to vote for us.

    “Inspite of the challenge of multiple kidnappings, you still find time to be here. Thank you very much.
    We will never undermine the role of Bakassi in our electoral process in the state. We want to see you mobilize your people to come out and vote for our party. We want to see the votes. We will make you number one if your votes make you number one.

    “What is due women will be given to women. We have no intent to play with the development of women.
    The women are the most mobilized segment of this campaign. We will ensure that we put together policies that will empower women.

    “I don’t understand why a man in his 60s will want to run for councilors. When we take over government, we will ensure that create a system for young to learn and grow in leadership.
    I don’t understand why Bakassi local government should not be functional here. As we take over office and constitute local government, your Chairman of council and all councilors will function from here.

    “As we get to office, we will review the stipends of traditional rulers. We will put together policies that will genuinely make young people to be reliance.
    Civil servants are groaning, teachers are suffering, local government system is suffering. Please talk to your people, let them vote for us.

    “When I listen to Prince Bassey Otu, say, he will consolidate on what Ayade has done, I wonder if he will consolidate on the garbages on the streets of Calabar or the failed and abandoned deep sea port. Ayade does not want to continue what others started, what he started, he does not complete.

    “You cannot bring anybody who is entangled in the cobweb of Ayade to run this state. We cannot afford to play the politics of ethnicity. From the way Prince Otu is sounding, he doesn’t have the impetus to salvage this state. Let’s build on the things that unite us and not on the things that divides us.

    “Donald ran his government based on competence and not ethnicity. When I was Chairman of Etung Local Government Council, Donald Duke came to Etung to commission projects. I was commissioner for Agriculture and Environment. I was Chairman of Local Government Service Commission, and now senator of federal republic. When they come, let them put out their CV and compare it with Sandy’s own. We have the experience and we will deliver, please vote for us”.

    Earlier, stakeholders took turns and enumerated their challenges to the gubernatorial candidate while pledging their support to reclaim Cross River State.

    Speaking on behalf of the elders and men, Dr Joseph Bassey, averred that “Bakassi have about 14,000 votes in the mainland and about 9,000 from the riverian area which counted for Akpabuyo. Following the ceding of Bakassi, we have always have the problem of integrating the bakassi from the riverians area.

    “Despite the ICJ judgement, INEC has refused to delineate Bakassi. We appeal to you to help us delineate Bakassi”.

    Representing the youth, Pastor Enoch Otu, decried the high level of insecurity in Bakassi and called on Sen Onor to step in if elected governor. “The high level of insecurity in Bakassi is caused by joblessness of the youths. We hardly sleep with our two eyes closed. A lot of our youths have relocated to Calabar.
    APC had nothing to tell us, they have disappointed us. We are waiting for them. The Chairman, Vice Chair and councilors have ran away from Bakassi because of kidnapping. We appeal to you to return peace to us.

    “The youths are coordinated, the problem is that they don’t have what to do. Our elders need to find a part for us to grow. How will a 60 years old man come to contest for councilorshp? A former Vice Chairman of council, struggling to become a supervisor in council?

    “Electricity is our problem. You cannot get cool water here. There have been no light here for seven years. We believe that you will come with light.

    “We request for participation of Bakassi in your government. In the past seven years, appointments have been given to the riverian area. Infantile appointments with nothing to offer in that matter”

    Speaking for the women, Mrs Ikanayu, stated that “The women of Bakassi will not disappoint the Deputy Governor and her party.
    Remember us in your paradise. The women of this local government are suffering. Our women can work with their hands. Empower our women to fend for themselves”.

    The Christian Association of Nigeria CAN, represented by Rev Dr David Ewo, decried the abandonment of the association by this present government when he said “The church has been despised and ignored in this part of the state. It has been ignored by the government that is retiring in the next three months. As you become governor, please remember Bakassi. We lack the presence of government from the local government to the state to the federal.

    “It is sad that our Chairman, Paramount Ruler, councilors are all staying in Calabar.
    As you become governor, please we want our next Chairman and councilors to be people who stay with us here”.

  • Yakurr Traditional Rulers Council Accuse Gov Ayade’s Administration Of Extorting Them, Despite Meager Stipends

    Yakurr Traditional Rulers Council Accuse Gov Ayade’s Administration Of Extorting Them, Despite Meager Stipends

    By Elijah Ugani 

    As traditional rulers across the state keeps harping on unjust treatment mated on them by the Ayade’s administration, the Yakurr Traditional Rulers Council has accused his administration of extorting monies from them in the guise of creating more clans despite the meager stipends paid to them.

    They made the disclosure at Ugep, on Saturday January 21st 2023, during a consultative meeting with the PDP Campaign Council.

    Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers, Obol Ofem Ikpi Ogbor noted that “The traditional institution in Cross River State has been relegated to the background. We have 44 Clan Heads in Yakurr and in Ugep alone, we have 149 villages heads. Out of this number, only 24 clan heads receive monthly stipends.

    “We receive as meager as #22,500.00 and #7,500.00 for clan heads and village heads, and despite this meager stipends, they still come to us to extort. They will lie to us that they want to create more clans and collect as high as #50,000.00 from us. If you don’t pay, they will threaten to withdraw our cirtificates.

    “We don’t sleep with our eyes closed, every little challenge in our communities is brought to the traditional rulers, ranging from land and other disputes, family disagreements and the likes, yet, our stipends is not commensurate with the work we do.

    “Most of us seated here are retired civil servants, we have not been paid our gratuities. We already see hope in Sen Sandy Onor, let your words resemble your person”

  • The Bond We Share In PDP Is Beyond Optics And Can’t Be Broken By Puerile And Misleading Publications – Jarigbe Agom

    The Bond We Share In PDP Is Beyond Optics And Can’t Be Broken By Puerile And Misleading Publications – Jarigbe Agom

     

    The senator representing cross river rorthern senatorial district, Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has stated that the bond they share in PDP is beyond optics and cannot be broken by puerile and misleading publications.

    Sen Agom who was reacting to a sponsored publication which suggested a friction between himself and his colleague, Sen Sandy Onor, the gubernatorial candidate of the PDP, advised APC to rather be the ones to worry, because the leader of their party is more concerned about putting all the available resources into his senatorial election in Cross River North, rather than assist his gubernatorial candidates and other candidates of APC.

    The release reads in full:
    “Purported Friction in PDP, CRS:

    “We have no issues in PDP, Cross River State.
    The infantile approach of the Opposition, in trying to sow seeds of discord is very petty. I have no issues with my Colleague Senator, the Gubernatorial Candidate of PDP and the Governor of Cross River State, in waiting, Dist Sen Sandy Onor. The APC should be the ones to worry, because the Leader of their Party is more concerned in putting all the available resources in to his Senatorial Election, in Cross River North, to help his failed Senate ambition, rather than assist his Gubernatorial Candidate and other Candidates of APC. How can we be having issues over who becomes President in PDP?

    “The Leadership of APC, headed by Gov AYADE is so scared of Gov Wike’s support for me and trying their best to cause a friction between us. We are not unaware of AYADE’s visit to Gov Wike, to solicit support against me. It was all over social media.

    “I want to let those of you on the other side know that, the bond we share in PDP is beyond the optics and can’t be broken by these puerile and misleading publications. PDP is one big, indivisible family. We want to reclaim the State and not selfishly fighting for one Senatorial District, for personal gains”

  • Ayade’s APC Candidates, Products Of A Poisoned Chalice – Sandy Onor

    Ayade’s APC Candidates, Products Of A Poisoned Chalice – Sandy Onor

     

    The Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governorship candidate in Cross River State, Senator Sandy Onor has described the candidates of the ruling All Progressives Congress APC seeking elective offices in the state as products of a poisoned chalice commissioned to ruin the state completely if elected

    Speaking during an interactive session with royal fathers in Ogoja, Cross River North, Senator Onor stated that the unorthodox process that produced the APC flag bearers compromised their integrity and independence thereby eroding their credibility.

    In his words “It is a common knowledge that all the APC candidates on parade were handpicked by the Ayades. Given the havocs wrecked on our state by Ayade and his cohorts, it would be a terrible risk to support any candidate tied to that apron string”

    “We can not afford to jeopardize the future of our next generation by perpetuating the unmitigated disaster symbolize by Ayade under the guise of an ethnic mantra”

    He solicited for total support for all PDP candidates and enjoined the royal fathers to invoke necessary traditional means to deter election riggers while ensuring that their votes are protected in a free and fair ballot

    Also speaking, the Senator representing Cross River North, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe expressed delight over the high turnout which he noted reflects the massive support being enjoy by the PDP in Ogoja.

    Senator Jarigbe described the stipends being collected by the royal fathers under the Ayade administration as sacrilegious and announced a 100 percent increment from the current package of seven thousand five hundred and twenty thousand naira for village and clan heads respectively.

    In his remarks, the Paramount Ruler of Ogoja, HRM Mathias Abua represented by Chief Butrus Abue sued for a peaceful elections.

  • We Shall Resettle The Ebijakara People, But We Must Love Ourselves; Give Us Peace To Run The Government – Sandy Onor

    We Shall Resettle The Ebijakara People, But We Must Love Ourselves; Give Us Peace To Run The Government – Sandy Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Sen Sandy Onor, the Governorship candidate of the PDP, has promised to resetle the Ebijakara community in Abi Local that was wiped from her settlement during a communal clash if elected governor.

    Sen Onor made the promise while responding to the call from the elders to resetle the Ebijakara community, and assured him that peace have returned.

    Responding, Sen Onor assures that ” We shall resettle the Ebijakara people. But we must love ourselves; give us peace and tranquillity we need to run the government.

    “We will continue with the reconciliatory moves. We would reconstruct the Bahumono ring road based on the peace that would be flourishing in Bahumono community. We must desist form war confrontations.

    “Communal clashes should be banished. I am happy that peace is beginning to return to Bahumono”.

    Responding to the call to address the plight of retirees, Onor noted that “We will give our best to retirees. People give the best to their state and you abandon them without paying them. It is criminal not to pay retirees their entitlements after many years. We shall pay attention to that”.

    Earlier, stakeholders took turns to address Sen Onor as they make their demands;

    Freedom Ejom- Bahumono Clan noted that “We need the rural road from Ebijakara-Ebom-igonigoni, to the tourism at Ebom Lake.

    “We want the people of Ebijakara to come home because we have made peace. We need skill acquisition centres.

    “Bahumono is PDP and locusts have taken over our land so if you assure us of this, we would vote for you”.

    Engr Eleng Richard from Imabana stated that “Looking at this team, I saw a tram that value this state in the past. With this team there is hope for Abi and the state.

    “We need water. We are suffering because our streams are dried up. No hospital in Imabana. We don’t have any reasonable appointment, when you win remember us”.

    Elder Emmanuel Ibanga from Agbo community, held that “We need access road from Ekureku to Annon. We need water to curb outbreak of cholera.

    “We request the completion of the hostel at the Itigidi College of Nursing. We need the rehabilitation of the Songhai farms to boost agricultural productivity.

    “We need a standard police station because of the communal clashes between Adadama and Ebonyi state.

    “We need a boundary demarcation at Adadama to curb this communal clahes between them and Ikwo in Ebonyi state.
    Abi is behind you and would vote massively for Sandy Onor”.

    On her part, Pastor Mrs Eno Oqua, who spoke on behalf of the women and the Elders, posited that “Please empower the women so that they can do farming all year round.

    “The elders are easily forgotten after election. So remember them once you are elected, by giving them little stipends and honorarium. The present government see elders as useless and have no economic value. Please don’t abandone us like Ayade did. Please look into pension and gratuities for senior citizens.

    Speaking on behalf of the youths, Esame Elemi maintained that the youths are very skillful, but that Gov Ayade gave appointments to unskillful people, “We are skilful. Ayade gave appointments to unskillful people. Our lifting will come from you. Remember to give us opportunites if elected”.

  • I Promise Bahumono People That If We Win, We Would Construct This Road And Reactivate The Songai Farms – Sandy Onor

    I Promise Bahumono People That If We Win, We Would Construct This Road And Reactivate The Songai Farms – Sandy Onor

    By Elijah Ugani 

    The Governorship candidate of the People’s Democratic Party PDP, Sen Sandy Onor has promised to reactivate the Songai Farms, construct the Bahumono and other ring roads as well as provide water for the people of Abi if elected governor.

    Sandy made the promise during an interactive session with traditional rulers at Usumutung, Abi local government area, as part of activities for the statewide campaign of the PDP.

    In his words “I promise Bahumono people that if We win, we would construct this road. We would reactivate the Songai farms, rural water, hospitals and roads. Please vote for PDP with character and integrity so we can move the state forward.

    “As custodians of our tradition, the onus lies on you to tell the truth. Any chief that is incapable of telling the truth would have a divided community. So I want Chiefs to know me for truth. I am not that type of politician that tell lies. We respect our people and fear God. We would make promises we can redeem. It would not profit us anything to tell lies because we want power.

    “PDP had produced great leaders till Ayade came on board who was an outsider and does not understand the political culture of our state.

    “We take our mandate very seriously. Bahumono had hard times in brutal communal wars. We brutalize ourselves and make no progress at all.
    One of the consequences of such communal wars is that it breeds criminal bands.

    “I am doing this because I heard you have been making peace between Ediba and Usumutong. I don’t believe land is so important thay we should begin to kill ourselves.

    I urge the Chiefs to also pray for peace and love in our communities. When we come to government, we would constantly interact with you people to bring lasting peace.

    “PDP is your first husband, please return to us, we shall not disappoint you”.

    On his part, a governor and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, Mr Donald Duke averred that he cannot rest because our state is on fire “We cannot rest because our house (state) is on fire. We came out because the state of our state is deplorable.

    “In our time, only two communities were left without light. Abi was the only local government that had electricity in every community. Infrastructures were built here including Pa Imoke bridge.

    “You can do your big projects, but do the small things to increase productivity, healthcare was better but when the undertaker came, paradise was lost. But we have the man who knows the road and would restore the paradise first.

    “We have to restore our state before we talk of how to move forward. We have a lot of work to do and PDP would do it. We should entrust our destiny into their care.

    “So go out and vote because if you don’ t vote, you lose the right to complain. Traditional Rulers should make it a toboo for anyone who is 18 and has no voter’s card or has and refuse to come out and vote. Such people should be ostracized. Don’t allow anybody to intimidate you.

    “We would look into the traditional rulers welfare. When we come in, we would review the stipends to reflect the inflation in our time.

    Responding on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, HRM Ovai Solomon Edward, affirmed that “All Sandy has said has element of truth and we are here to let you know that, as far as Abi is concerned, we maintain a very good relationship with all political parties.

    “I know that the society is indeed yearning for good leadership that touches and affect the people.

    “I believe that this time around, God would bring surprises to the leadership”.

     

  • We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung – Traditional Rulers Council

    We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung – Traditional Rulers Council

    We Are Yet To See The Referral Hospital Ayade Promised To Build In Etung

    By DOMINIC KIDZU Reporting from Bendeghe

    The people of Etung Local Government Area has stated that they are yet to see the referral hospital that Gov Ayade promised to build in Etung, despite being one of the local governments with the highest Internally Generated Revenue for the state.

    Speaking during a town hall meeting at Bendeghe Ekim, the Clan Head, HRH Augustine Agbor Imoh, stated that “The referral hospital Ayade Promised to build in Etung has not been built.

    “After the groundbreaking they left and now Fulani herdsmen have taken over the place. They promised to build a super highway for us but all they did was to harvest timber and sell”.

    Even members of the APC in Etung would admit that they had never seen anything like what they beheld in Benedeghe yesterday. And it was not about the extraordinary motorcade either. It was about the fever of love for a man who had led them before as Chairman and left indelible prints on the sands of time.

    When Senator Sandy Onor asked the people “what has the APC done in Bendeghe, the loud ovation was “nothing oooo”. I constructed the stretch of road leading into the community. The Town Hall we are sitting in right now, I completed and furnished it because we love our people. We say things and we mean them. Look at Governor Donald Duke, We saw a car in Southern Etung for the first time in our lives during the tenure of Donald Duke. That is what governors should do, they should create impact.

    “They got our cocoa farms, shared amongst themselves and left very little for our people. The APC is planning violence but we are stronger than the APC because we have the support of the people and we have been focused and responsible and we will win”.

    Former Governor, Donald Duke told the chiefs “I have been effusive in my endorsement of Sandy even though there is a candidate from my senatorial zone, because it is not about zones, it is about capacity, it is about genuine love for our state, it is about being prepared for the office of Governor and Sandy is prepared.”

    Speaking further, Duke said that “sixteen years after I left office, our state has been taken backwards because we made the mistake of handing over the state to an undertaker. Governor Imoke brought us a total stranger and I sympathize with him.

    “One time I told Ayade, give the people water, light and small projects that will change their lives. But he didn’t listen. All he wanted was mega this and super that. Minister of Works, Fashola once called me to speak to our Governor about the devastation of the forest because the United Nations was very concerned, and when I tried to do so he asked me what was the business of the UN in our state.

    “We had the largest forest reserve perhaps in all of West Africa, now we have nothing. Sandy has been prepared for this job. Come rain come shine I stand for Sandy and I stand with Sandy because I know what he is capable of doing. I have senior and junior brothers, Imoke has senior and junior brothers, but we didn’t flaunt them, we didn’t give them unfair advantage over others because we were Governor.

    “Government is shift work. For eight years as governor I never heard of or met a Ben Ayade that shows that he is a total stranger. I don’t hate him, in fact, I like him because he makes me laugh. He is not a bad person, he is just a confused man. Ben Ayade is a lesson to us all to take politics more seriously.

    “I will like my brother from the South to be governor but I ask myself, is he capable of the job? That is the question we should all ask ourselves. If Sandy disappoints me I will lose faith in human beings. All that we are saying about Ayade may it not be Sandy’s portion in Jesus name. It is true that Etung is one of the smallest local government areas in this state but from the smallest the greatest shall arise”.

    Donald Duke spoke with passion about the state he once led as Governor and the people responded with love and with believe in the choice of Senator Sandy Onor and the certainty of a better tomorrow with the People’s Democratic Party.

  • Sandy Is The Last Hope For Cross River, If He Fails Me, Them I Will Lose Hope In Humanity – Donald Duke

    Sandy Is The Last Hope For Cross River, If He Fails Me, Them I Will Lose Hope In Humanity – Donald Duke

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Former Gov Donald Duke and Chairman of the PDP Campaign Council, has stated that if not for Gov Ben Ayade, that Liyel Imoke brought who have taken the State back by 20 years, Cross River State would have been ahead of many states. He argued that Sandy is the last Hope for Cross River State.

    Duke made assertion during the PDP Campaign Council consultation with Etung Traditional Rulers held on January 19th 2023.

    His words “If not for the undertaker, Gov Ben Ayade, that Liyel Imoke brought who have taken the State back by 20 years, we would have been ahead of many states. So the royal fathers should be wise enough to vote for Sandy, because Sandy is the last Hope for Cross River State. And if Sandy loses, then I will be very sad.

    “When Sandy stood for the primaries, I kept quiet, but when Sandy clinched the ticket I told myself this is the man who would turn things for good in our state.

    “Sometimes we pray and the prayers are not answered, sometime we pray and the prayers are answered, all these teaches us a lesson. We must learn from our past.

    Speaking further, Duke said he will lose faith in humanity if Sandy fails to deliver to cross riverians good governance “If Sandy fails me, l will lose faith in human being, but l know he will not fail. l know him and he has been tutored by past good leaders. Sandy is for the entire State, not just for Etung.” Said Duke.

    Responding on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, HRH Augustine Agbor Imoh, thanked the PDP Campaign Council, especially former Donald Duke, for the bold step taken to reposition the state. He stated that Sen Sandy’s performance as Etung Local Government Council Chairman remains unmatched. As senator, he has spread projects across all the local governments in the Central Senatorial District.

    The royal father used the opportunity to appeal to other traditional rulers to support Sen Sandy Onor “I appeal to my fellow chiefs to support Sandy and all other candidates of the PDP”. Said he.

    The royal blessings was performed by HRH Obase Etim Obase.

    On his part, the governorship candidate of the PDP, Sen Sandy Onor maintained that he undertook a lot of projects as Chairman of Etung and as senator of the federal republic. “I did a lot of projects as chairman of Etung local government area and as Senator of the federal Republic.

    “Come March 11th, 2023, the chiefs should go out and vote for me because when I become governor, I will make a difference for the people.

    “I am worried at the action of some people among the community whose behaviours are repugnant and negates the doctrine of live and let’s live.

    “PDP is campaigning and APC is quietly plotting how to cause violence and rig the election.

    “I enjoin you not only to give all PDP candidates your royal father’s blessings, but should talk to your subjects to go out there and collect their PVCs and do the right thing by voting the right Party -PDP”.

  • Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    Under Gov Ayade, Some Of Us Were Given Clan Heads Seven Years Ago, And We Are Still Receiving Stipends As Village Heads.

    By Elijah Ugani 

    Ikom Traditional Rulers Council has berated Gov Ben Ayade over what they described as abysmal performance, citing the filthy and stinking nature of the once beautiful streets of Calabar and his deliberate attempts to undermine the functions of the traditional institution, and stressed that some of them were given clan Heads seven years ago, but they are still receiving stipends as Village Heads.

    Speaking on behalf of the Traditional Rulers Council, as was delegated by HRM Ntolemang Dr Peter NfuKu, Paramount Ruler of Ikom Local Government Council, the Clan Head of Ekpokpo, HRH Ntun Bassey Okey, during a consultative forum by the People’s Democratic Party PDP Campaign Council, held on the 19th January 2023, at Ikom, the traditional leaders held that “Some of us were given clan heads seven years ago and we are still receiving the stipends of a village head. Village heads have not been certificate.

    “Some of the Village Heads are yet to be issued certificates which makes it very difficult for them to discharge their duties. Their subjects challenge them and tell them that they are not recognized as Village Heads”.

    Speaking further, royal father averred that the once beautiful streets of Calabar has been littered with refuse against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke. “Refuse has taken over the streets of Calabar against the intentions of Gov Donald Duke.

    “Duke did everything humanly possible to put us on global recognition. Our schools are shattered, everything is gone. Very unfortunate that under this present APC government that promised us change, we have seen the change, everything has changed from good to bad. Our children know when they go to school, but don’t know when they will graduate.

    “Nigerian has changed from good to bad. In Cross River State, we don’t have anybody who can revive us apart from what we have seen here today.

    “We would speak to our ancestors and they would listen to us and you would win and succeed with your team. Success is yours from what we have seen. Go in peace”.