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  • Mass Defection Hits APC In Obudu As PDP CRN Undertakes Ward To Ward Tour

    Mass Defection Hits APC In Obudu As PDP CRN Undertakes Ward To Ward Tour

    By Elijah Ugani

    In what can be best described as political suanamy, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in Cross River North Senatorial District received into it fold, members of the All Progressives Congress APC, during the tour of the ten wards of Obudu Local Government Area.

    The People’s Democratic Party PDP, used the visible projects undertaken by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe across the 54 wards of Northern Cross River within the last fourteen months as a model for true representation, assured the people that another four years will only expand the reach of Sen Jarigbe Agom and other candidates of the PDP.

    Stakeholders from the various wards noted that Sen Ben Ayade had received the support of Obudu in 2011, 2015 and 2019 and dashed the hope and support he enjoyed, but brought untold hardship on his people.

    The visibly angry, defectors lamented the ill treatment occasioned by the APC led governments at the Federal and state level, political high-handedness, lack of visible dividends of democracy, economic hardship, deceit among other things as their reasons for dumping the party.

    Receiving the defectors, the State Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem Esq, commended the boldness of the defectors and assured them of equal treatment and opportunity in the party. He charged them to be resilient and ensure that the is reclaimed from the shackles of maladministration of the APC led government under the leadership of Sen Ben Ayade.

    Royal fathers at the various wards, gave their royal blessings.

    The Vice Chairman of UKALU Traditional Rulers Council, HRH, Ochui Dr Obi maintained that the Alage nation is yet to feel the impact of the present administration and call on Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe to extend his constitituency intervention projects to their roads, bridges and culverts, especially the two major bridges linking Amukwong – Ngorkpu and Okikwo as well as the Okordem bridge.

    Begiading Traditional Rulers Council, thanked the PDP for all she has done for the ward and noted that there is no need for campaign in the ward.

    At Utugwang North, the Traditional Rulers recounted the reception accorded them by Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe during his Thanksgiving reception. They noted Sen Jarigbe’s projects and empowerments which have brought his name on the lips of the electorates, shows that he is the biblical Moses who led the of israelites out of Egypt.

    Sen Jarigbe While responding at the various wards, promised to sustain the tempo as and averred that “to whom much is given, much is expected” He promised to increase the number of projects ranging from school renovation, water and street lights as well as empowerment.

    Amb. Peter Akpanke, PDP Candidate For OBO Federal constituency, Chief John Okwu, Obudu State Constituency Candidate, took turns to address their teeming supporters and party faithfuls, and urged them to remain resolute and support all PDP candidates to ensure victory and more projects.

  • Jarigbe Agom Donates 2.5m As Pope John Paul Minor Seminary, Okpoma Marks 40 Years Anniversary

    Jarigbe Agom Donates 2.5m As Pope John Paul Minor Seminary, Okpoma Marks 40 Years Anniversary

    The Senator Representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, has donated the sum of N2.5million to his Alma Mater, Pope John Paul Minor Seminary, Okpoma Yala LGA, on the occasion of her 40th anniversary/launching of the Chapel building completion.

    Senator Jarigbe, who was represented by the Candidate of the PDP for Bekwarra State Constituency, Barr. Omang Charles Omang stated that, as an old boy of the seminary, he will continue to support the growth and development of the revered institution of learning.

    At the ruby anniversary held in Okpoma, Yala LGA of Cross River State, the lawmaker doubled as Chairman of the occasion while rejoicing with the priests, Students, laity and the entire members of the diocese on the joyous occasion.

    He noted that the School had for 40 years remained a hallmark of academic excellence by building smart and intelligent individuals and priests who spread the good news of salvation in Nigeria, particularly to the people of Cross River North.

    TEAM JARI MEDIA.

  • Strange Choices In Nigerian Politics: The Northern Senatorial District Of Cross River State In Perspective BY DAVE IMBUA

    Strange Choices In Nigerian Politics: The Northern Senatorial District Of Cross River State In Perspective BY DAVE IMBUA

     

    Strange things continue to happen at the Nigerian political scene on daily basis, which help any thinking person to understand why development, especially the provision of social amenities, continues to elude us. Year in, year out, we behave like cursed people by putting forward for elections men and women who have demonstrated gross incompetence in leadership and then position the real competent and capable people who have demonstrated astute leadership to help them win elections. And after the elections, the ordinary person continues to suffer in an endless cycle.

    For instance, since I chanced on the document containing the Cross River State All Progressive Party Local Government Campaign Coordinators for the 2023 General Elections, I’ve just been wondering why tested and trusted men like Prof. Zana Akpagu (Coordinator for Obudu) and Dr. Godwin Amanke (Coordinator for Obanliku) were not encouraged by the party to vie for the senate seat for the Northern Senatorial District of Cross River State? In Bendi II where I come from, names like Jarigbe, Akpagu and Amanke are talked about with deep respect, gratitude and reverence. Their contributions to the development of the ward speak for themselves. So, a contest between Jarigbe and Akpagu or Jarigbe and Amanke would have been a very difficult one, one that would have pitched character, competence, capability and courage in one party against same qualities in the other major parties.

    But for some strange reasons, the party gave the ticket to a candidate that will be difficult to sell in many wards of the District. In Bendi II, for instance, there is no single project standing in his honour after four years as senator and almost eight years as governor. I don’t think such a candidate should be the appropriate choice for a people so systematically neglected and in dire and urgent need of development.

    As it stands, there should be no confusion about the choices before us since we are voting for candidates and not tested and trusted campaign coordinators and directors. We need to shun tested and failed, tested and distrusted candidates who will again fail to deliver the dividends of democracy to our people in all of our denominational, gender, party and ethnic configurations.

    Dave Imbua.

    DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in this article is clearly that of the author, Dave Imbua and does not represent TheLumineNews or it staff.

  • Sad Story Of The Life And HAck Journalism Of Comrade Obi Ojage BY DOMINIC Kidzu

    Sad Story Of The Life And HAck Journalism Of Comrade Obi Ojage BY DOMINIC Kidzu

     

    POSTSCRIPT – I have never read any of Obi Ojage’s essays to the end.

    No one who has something to do, anything, will read Obi Ojage’s lengthy, boring regrets to the end. For all his body of work is on his regrets about what ought to be that is not and where he should be that he is not, and his imagination about how lofty his brain and art are, even when the general consensus among those who know him is that he is a well managed man who is unwell.

    Obi writes for a living and that should take you directly to the heart of the matter. For anyone who writes articles for and about people for a living must first relinquish his self respect and then disavow the truth, because doing otherwise would take away the bread or reduce it substantially. When you are not even a good writer in the first place, the penalty is worse. You become an intellectual dandy, a fop, living life entirely in your inevitable loaf of bread and the breathless substitute of yourself which you alone have created and which you alone can see.

    Such is the story of Comrade Obi Ojage, a reptile that is neither fish
    nor animal, neither APC, nor PDP, neither Ejaham nor Efik, neither Nigerian nor Camerounian. He has
    created a picture of himself as a stirling intellectual, frothing at the mouth and cannot see that all the members of the community are standing at the village square pointing at him and shaking their heads in pity. Anyone who takes Obi Ojage seriously nolonger needs to take themselves seriously heretofore.

    Comrade Obi Ojage took on Senator Sandy Onor yesterday when his blackmail was called off. Senator Onor had met him in his undergraduate days in the early eighties through his uncle and some kind of affinity developed. While Obi remained chained to the floor in his mother’s house in Big Quo Town socially and politically, Sandy became a local government chairman, a commissioner, a Senator and now a possible Governor. Many years ago he implored the Senator to come to his humble quarters and the Senator obliged him. After that visit the Senator was moved to place his uncle’s friend on a monthly stipend of N50,000 which he still collects till date.

    But recently Obi demanded for a pay rise but was reminded that he was receiving the money gratis, since he was really not capable of doing anything for the Senator. He asked for one of the buses Governor Wike graciously gave the Senator or another car for him to use. Unfortunately, he was told that his demands could not be met at this time. Obi got angry and threatened that Senator Onor was going to hear from him. Yesterday, we all heard from him.

    Last Sunday I went to buy fruits at Mobil by MCC Junction and I saw Comrade Obi Ojage trekking with a packet of biscuits in his hand which he crunched on noisily. He complained to me that “tell Sandy that he is being too arrogant and greedy “. When I reminded him that he was in APC and working for Bassey Otu, he said to me ” that one is an incurable Efik tribal jingoist who has surrounded himself with Efik people only. You people will see wonders. Just wait and see”. I could not offer him a lift him in my car because I was driving in an opposite direction, but I said a little prayer for him and drove home.

    Comrade Obi Ojage is incapable of relating with people or sustaining his relationships and those are two of his many problems. When the quintessential Donald Duke made him a board member of Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) Obi went there and fought every member of the board. In fact the board had to be reconstituted, leaving Obi out before the end of its tenure. That is where the comrade would have baked his own bread and save himself from his present
    ‘kpenklemess’ but the black spirit following him would not give him respite.

    He has abused Donald Duke too, Liyel Imoke also and Dr Pius Tawo who he claimed he grew up together with in the Cameroons, not to talk of his lawyer, Paul Erokoro (SAN). He could have been a genius if he had taken the trouble to go through school properly, but Obi does not have the patience to do anything properly. The little muses in his head remind him all the time that he is a genius and a great man, far above the mortals who hold or aspire to lofty offices today (at his expense?). The tragedy is that he listens to these mobid spirits and does their bidding. We all need to say a prayer in church today for Comrade Obi Ojage’s possible redemption even though he has strayed rather too far into the bush.

    My apologies to Senator Sandy Onor for this response, because he told me clearly ” Dominic, don’t respond. Obi does not matter “.

     

    DISCLAIMER: The opinion expressed in this article is clearly that of the author, Dominic Kidzu and does not represent the represent TheLumineNews or it staff.

     

  • World Aids Day: Bekwarra First Lady Donates Packs Of Malaria Drugs To Health Center

    World Aids Day: Bekwarra First Lady Donates Packs Of Malaria Drugs To Health Center

     

    As part of activities to mark the 2022 World AIDS Day, the wife of the Chairman, Bekwarra Local Government Council, Amb Mrs Lucy Owan has donated 324 packs of malaria drugs to Model Primary Health Center, Abuochiche for pregnant women.

    Mrs Owan embarked on a sensitization tour of the streets of Abuochiche on the importance of safe sex and control of the spread of HIV, distributed sex protection kits (condom) to youth, women and men alike.

    She used the opportunity to encourage regular testing to enable them know their status as she assured that early detection is key to reducing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

    The theme for this year’s commemoration is “Rock the Ribbon” which reemphasize the commitment to stopping new cases of HIV and securing the rights of people living with HIV, and fighting HIV stigma and discrimination.

    Receiving the items, the Director, Model Primary Health Center Abuochiche, Mr James Obogo applauded the First Lady and Her Amiable Husband for always Considering health sector in their decisions.

    Speaking On behalf of the staff and patients, the Officer in charge of the facility, Mr David Adung, thanked the chairman of council and his dear wife for reaching out to them, and prayed that God should continue to bless and replenish them.

  • CORAfrica Donates School Bus To Refugees At St Peter’s Primary School Adagom, Ogoja

    CORAfrica Donates School Bus To Refugees At St Peter’s Primary School Adagom, Ogoja

    By Elijah Ugani

    A non-governmental and humanitarian organization, Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica), has today 1st December, 2022 donated a bus to St Peter’s Primary School Adagom for use by refugees and host community children.

    Speaking during the presentation, the Founder/Chief Strategist of CORAfrica, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue noted that “the rationale behind the purchase of this bus is the long distance trekked by our pupils and our desire to provide the needed support to aid effective and conducive learning environment for them.

    “As part of our educational model and to provide support in addition to compliment the efforts of UNHCR, in providing the required education, we had rented this structure and commenced the basic training of these children last year, and we currently have a population of 500 pupils, comprising of 464 refugees and 36 host community children”

    Speaking further, Fr Obele maintained that “In addition to payment of staff stipends, we also provide snacks periodically for our pupils as a way of encouraging and stabilizing the children to enable them pay attention to the lessons taught.

    “In response to the rapid and increasing growing population beyond our expectation, and the need to ensure standard in providing for the educational needs of the pupils, CORAfrica has acquired 50 plots of land in Adagom 3, less than 100 meters away from our temporary site. Work has begun with over 30 trips of sand, 15 trips of gravel and 600 bags of cement for the construction of an ultra-modern 8 classroom block in the new site. God willing, by January 2023 a more conducive learning environment will be available for the pupils.

    “As an organization that is poised to emancipate the plight of rural African Children, we are determined to support the laudable initiative by UNHCR. We are committed to promoting inclusion and equitable learning opportunities for all, to improve access to education for refugees children in line with the global compact for refugees on education, as we anticipate further collaborations with UNHCR”.

    Fr Obele used the opportunity to commend UNHCR Head of Ogoja UNHCR Sub Office, for honoring their invitation to witness the historic presentation of the school bus and requested for an audience with the Head of Ogoja Sub Office to enable him share their plans and programmes with him, to ensure that such programmes align with UNHCR mandate.

    Chief Stephen Mankong who spoke on behalf of Adagom community, stated that “For us in the community, we are glad to be part of this occasion. Historically, since the coming of refugees to Adagom, this is the first major private donation of a person for the use of both the PoCs and the host community people”

    Chief Mankong called on UNHCR to consider a partnership with CORAfrica as he said “It is my desire that UNHCR partner with CORAfrica in changing the educational misfortune of these refugees and host community people”

    On his part, the Director General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Princewill Ayim, represented by the Programme Manager, Mr Hillary Agida commended Fr Peter Obele Abue for his passion for the vulnerable. He recalled that Fr Obele had founded the orphanage in Mbube where a lot of orphans have graduated into very meaningful persons in the society.

    He called on UNHCR to find an appropriate place for CORAfrica so that they can do even better for the refugees intervention.

    Mr Andy Ubong of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, averred that “we are here to say thank you CORAfrica for the assistance given to the government of Nigeria to assist the refugees. We are ready to collaborate with you any time”

    Responding, the UNHCR Head of Ogoja Sub Office, Mr Tesfaye Bekele, who was represented by Mr Jonathan Derko, stated that “UNHCR in Ogoja have heard a lot about CORAfrica. The Country Representative has a very soft spot for children. She was here last month for the commisioning of the health centres at Adagom 1and Ukende.

    Bekele averred that investment in children is investing in the future, and used the opportunity to appreciate the good work of CORAfrica.

    Speaking further, he noted that “UNHCR looks forward to strengthening partnership with CORAfrica. “The more we see development like this, the more enthused we are to strengthen partnership” he added.

    The event featured presentation of keys and particulars of the bus to the Head Teacher of the school, as well as a presentation by the pupils of the school and host community youths.

  • CORAfrica Donates School Bus To Refugees At St Peter’s Primary School Adagom, Ogoja

    CORAfrica Donates School Bus To Refugees At St Peter’s Primary School Adagom, Ogoja

    By Elijah Ugani

    A non-governmental and humanitarian organization, Children of Rural Africa (CORAfrica), has today 1st December, 2022 donated a bus to St Peter’s Primary School Adagom for use by refugees and host community children.

    Speaking during the presentation, the Founder/Chief Strategist of CORAfrica, Rev Fr Dr Peter Obele Abue noted that “the rationale behind the purchase of this bus is the long distance trekked by our pupils and our desire to provide the needed support to aid effective and conducive learning environment for them.

    “As part of our educational model and to provide support in addition to compliment the efforts of UNHCR, in providing the required education, we had rented this structure and commenced the basic training of these children last year, and we currently have a population of 500 pupils, comprising of 464 refugees and 36 host community children”

    Speaking further, Fr Obele maintained that “In addition to payment of staff stipends, we also provide snacks periodically for our pupils as a way of encouraging and stabilizing the children to enable them pay attention to the lessons taught.

    “In response to the rapid and increasing growing population beyond our expectation, and the need to ensure standard in providing for the educational needs of the pupils, CORAfrica has acquired 50 plots of land in Adagom 3, less than 100 meters away from our temporary site. Work has begun with over 30 trips of sand, 15 trips of gravel and 600 bags of cement for the construction of an ultra-modern 8 classroom block in the new site. God willing, by January 2023 a more conducive learning environment will be available for the pupils.

    “As an organization that is poised to emancipate the plight of rural African Children, we are determined to support the laudable initiative by UNHCR. We are committed to promoting inclusion and equitable learning opportunities for all, to improve access to education for refugees children in line with the global compact for refugees on education, as we anticipate further collaborations with UNHCR”.

    Fr Obele used the opportunity to commend UNHCR Head of Ogoja UNHCR Sub Office, for honoring their invitation to witness the historic presentation of the school bus and requested for an audience with the Head of Ogoja Sub Office to enable him share their plans and programmes with him, to ensure that such programmes align with UNHCR mandate.

    Chief Stephen Mankong who spoke on behalf of Adagom community, stated that “For us in the community, we are glad to be part of this occasion. Historically, since the coming of refugees to Adagom, this is the first major private donation of a person for the use of both the PoCs and the host community people”

    Chief Mankong called on UNHCR to consider a partnership with CORAfrica as he said “It is my desire that UNHCR partner with CORAfrica in changing the educational misfortune of these refugees and host community people”

    On his part, the Director General, Cross River State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Princewill Ayim, represented by the Programme Manager, Mr Hillary Agida commended Fr Peter Obele Abue for his passion for the vulnerable. He recalled that Fr Obele had founded the orphanage in Mbube where a lot of orphans have graduated into very meaningful persons in the society.

    He called on UNHCR to find an appropriate place for CORAfrica so that they can do even better for the refugees intervention.

    Mr Andy Ubong of National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons, averred that “we are here to say thank you CORAfrica for the assistance given to the government of Nigeria to assist the refugees. We are ready to collaborate with you any time”

    Responding, the UNHCR Head of Ogoja Sub Office, Mr Tesfaye Bekele, who was represented by Mr Jonathan Derko, stated that “UNHCR in Ogoja have heard a lot about CORAfrica. The Country Representative has a very soft spot for children. She was here last month for the commisioning of the health centres at Adagom 1and Ukende.

    Bekele averred that investment in children is investing in the future, and used the opportunity to appreciate the good work of CORAfrica.

    Speaking further, he noted that “UNHCR looks forward to strengthening partnership with CORAfrica. “The more we see development like this, the more enthused we are to strengthen partnership” he added.

    The event featured presentation of keys and particulars of the bus to the Head Teacher of the school, as well as a presentation by the pupils of the school and host community youths.

  • Cross River: PDP Stallwarts Raises Alarm Over Incessant Destruction Of Campaign Posters, Billboards, Accuse CRISSA Of Partiality

    Cross River: PDP Stallwarts Raises Alarm Over Incessant Destruction Of Campaign Posters, Billboards, Accuse CRISSA Of Partiality

     

    By Emmanuel Eyo, Calabar

    Some stalwarts of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Calabar South and Municipality have raised the alarm over the destruction of its candidates’ campaign posters and bill boards within the metropolis.

    The stalwarts accused Cross River State Signage and Advertising Agency (CRISSAA) of not only denying the party spaces to mount bill boards on the flimsy excuse that PDP and its candidates have not met the criteria, but of discreetly pulling down the opposition candidates’ billboards in strategic locations across the state.

    According to them, this is an attempt to heat up the polity and could degenerate into cold war between PDP and APC supporters if not checked.

    One of the PDP chieftains and a member of one of the leading candidates’ camapign team, Daniel Asuquo, said reports gathered from the field showed that all the party posters pasted even on residential houses and some billboards on some candidates’ offices have been either been destroyed or defaced by, warning it is a dangerous practice that would do no one any good.

    Asuquo stated that twenty-four hours after inaugurating PDP Presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, Cross River Campiagn Council in Calabar, the agency allegedly sent in some miscreants who went in the wee hours of Sunday, November 13, 2022 and destroyed Atiku’s billboard mounted in front of the office at Marian Road.

    He said when the security man on duty tried to stop them, they threatened him with gun and some other dangerous weapons, warning him stay clear as the order was from the above.

    He further accused CIRSSAA of being behind the dismantling of PDP campaign billboards at Diamond Hill, Ediba and Ikot Ishie axis of Calabar Municipality, Odukpani junction and Okwurikang in Odukpani local government.

    Also accusing the agency of favouritism, another PDP stalwart, Dominic Inyang, said CRISSAA had banned the pasting of posters of any form indiscriminately on private and public buildings, but allowed APC to past their campaign posters at the back of U.J. Esuene Stadium and some bus-stops around the same stadium.

    Prince Otu, APC Governorship candidate poster pasted at the UJ Esuene stadium

    Inyand said allowing APC to do that is a confirmation that CRISSAA is tacitly working for APC and rather demarketing PDP by denying them spaces.

    He said even when some PDP candidates have met all the conditions including payments of agreed fees to CRISSAA’s account, the agency is still hell bent on frsutrating PDP, adding that they would have no other option than to start mounting their own bill boards as the state belongs to all Cross Riverian.

    He wondered why Governor Ben Ayade that preaches politics of ethics should turn around to use CRISSAA to witchuant political opponents, adding that no amount of intimidation would stop PDP from wining the 2023 polls in the state.

    “We know that bill boards do not win election. But it is our right to campaign within the armbit of the law which we have complied with. I learnt that the agency is acting on Governor’s script of trying to muscle political opponents.

    “The DG of CRISSAA has shown open partiality by allowing APC to paste their campaign posters at stadium against his own rules of engagements. We do hope that when PDP pastes theirs, he won’t say we have gone against the law?”

    Earlier in his reaction a few days ago when the matter first came up, the Director General of CRISSAA, Mr. Effiom Effiwat, said:”We have not given approval to PDP candidates to mount billboards. There are proceedures to follow and if you don’t we would pull it down.”

  • Linda Ayade Offers Free Medical Outreach At Obudu German Specialist Hospital

    Linda Ayade Offers Free Medical Outreach At Obudu German Specialist Hospital

     

    The Wife of the Governor of Cross River State, Dr Linda Ayade, through her Mediatrix Development Foundation in partnership with Faith Care International has organized a Free Medical Outreach in Obudu. Doctors and medical personnel arrived from all over the country Friday night ahead of the commencement of the outreach on Saturday, 26th to Wednesday, 30th November, 2022.

    The outreach which is to run for 5 days is taking place in the recently completed state-of-the-art Obudu German Specialist Hospital and has drawn massive crowds from Obudu and neighboring LGAs. Free services being offered range from eye and dental care, consultation, laboratory services to surgeries.

    Over the last 7 years, Dr. Ayade has continued to provide these free medical services to Cross Riverians and saving them huge financial expenditure. Speaking at the outreach, Mr. Jeffery Adamade, the Chief Operating Officer of Mediatrix Development Foundation, praised the turnout and said that over 30 successful surgeries had already been carried out just halfway through the outreach. He said the Obudu outreach was one of about 10 medical outreaches organized by MDF in the state. He said this year alone, the organization has held outreaches in Abi, Odukpani, Akamkpa, Akpabuyo and Obudu. The outreach to Akamkpa and Akpabuyo were held in the remote areas of the LGAs and lasted for a stretch of 17 days.

    He applauded the commitment of the Governor’s wife to the health initiative while stating that her determination to help the sick across the state was no surprise given that saving lives was her lifelong passion. Through this initiative, thousands of Cross Riverians have been saved the headache of looking for money or even losing their lives while seeking finances for medicare.

  • PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Promises To Reclaim Cross River

    PDP Inaugurates Campaign Council, Promises To Reclaim Cross River

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democrate Party PDP has inaugurated its campaign council, and has promised to reclaim the state in 2023 polls.

    Inaugurating the campaign council, the PDP state Chairman, Mr Venatius Ikem charged the campaign council to coordinate all the vibrant energies needed to win the 2023 general elections at all levels.

    In his words “I want to congratulate all of you who made the list to drive the process to reclaim our state. Let me charge you to coordinate all the energies needed to win the 2023 general elections”

    Speaking further, Mr Ikem took responsibility for all complains associated with the composition of the campaign council list and promised that with due consultation with other stakeholders, the campaign council will be enlarged.

    He expressed satisfaction that Cross Riverians are desirous of volunteering to serve in the process that will midwife Cross River State of our dream.

    He stressed that not everyone will be in the state campaign council, others will serve in the local government campaign council and appealed to them take the task at the local government level very seriously.

    On his part, the PDP governorship candidate, Sen Prof Sandy Onor, congratulated all those that made the campaign council list and averred that “the journey to recover Cross River State has just begun. I must commend your zeal and determination shown in this all important task to rescue our generation and the one next.

    “Together, we will go to every local government with our message. We will not promise what we cannot do. I have served as Local Government Council Chairman. I was Chairman of Chairmen. I was also ALGON National Vice President and President at some point. I also served as Commissioner in two ministries, Agriculture and Environment. I served as Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, and now I’m a serving senator. I have experience and served in all the tiers of government and I’m better equipped to salvage this state that is drifting.

    “Let me use this opportunity to appeal to you to remain in your various local government areas and organize your people, don’t follow us around. Mobilize your people, let them come out and vote, protect your votes. No body will intimidate us”

    The Chairman of the campaign council and Former Governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke commended the resilience of the state executive committee and for finding all members of the committee worthy of the noble assignment to rescue the state and declared that all hands must be in deck to reclaim the state.

    The Director General of the campaign council, Mr Efiok Cobham Esq, pledged to deliver on his assignment as he thanked the state executive committee to have found him worthy of the task to direct the affairs of the council.

    The Campaign Council is made up of 1,080 members with the former Governor, Mr Donald Duke, as Chairman and former Deputy Governor, Efiok Cobham, as Director-General.

    The campaign structure has Ekpo Ada, Esq, Ntufam Gabe Orji and Hon.Mom Olom as Southern, Central and Norther senatorial districts coordinators respectively.