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Tag: Ben Ayade

  • YNaija Governor’s Ranking: Matawalle, Ayade, Uzodinma, Obaseki Emerge Top Performers For May

     

     

    By Dayo Taiwo-Sidiq, YNaija

    It has been an eventful year for Governors of the 36 states in the federation and for a good number of them, May marked either their first year anniversary as Chief Executive or the first year anniversary of their second term in office.

    However, with the coronavirus pandemic still a thing in the country, our effectiveness rankings will focus on the usual monthly performance of 10 among these governors across the 6 geo-political zones.

    Worst Performers:

    10. Nyesom Wike (Rivers, South South)

    As in April, the Rivers Government sparked off a debate in the country as Governor Wike in enforcing his Executive Order 6 on COVID-19 in the state, supervised the auctioning of vehicles that allegedly flouted the lockdown order as well as the demolition of Prodest Hotel and Etemeteh Hotel without the order of a court.

    While many have tried to justify this action, it amounts to killing a fly with a sledgehammer. Such high-handedness discourages investment in the state. Analysts have also argued that such orders should have prescribed lesser punitive measures such as converting it to an isolation centre or making the violators pay huge fines to the government.

    The Governor appears to also be increasing tension in the state with consistent allegations about threat to peace as he said that there were plans by some persons to cause breakdown of law and order so as to force the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.

    9. Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe, North East)

    Reports from Gombe more than anything else put a dent on the national fight against COVID-19, as the state witnessed two rounds of protests in May by patients at its isolation centres. The first which saw about 20 patients force their way out of the facility to take over the federal highway linking the state with neighbouring Borno, chanting that the state government lied against their status went viral and lamenting alleged poor treatment by the state government.

    Days later, in similar fashion, some COVID-19 patients at the Federal Teaching Hospital staged a protest on the streets claiming they had not been given drugs and were left to fend for himself alongside other patients at the hospital. Sadly, the explanation by the government didn’t do much and health workers are also complaining about their unpaid allowances.

    The Governor has also come under criticism over a bill that was recently passed into law for the establishment of the Joint Development Project Agency. Described as obnoxious, the joint agency is alleged to be a conduit for siphoning local government funds and making them mere appendages of the state government.

    8. Yahaya Bello (Kogi, North Central)

    After months of being only one of the two states without a case of COVID-19 in the country, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) announced two positive cases of COVID-19 in the state, but the Kogi government quickly issued a statement rejecting the results while maintaining that the Confluence State was free of the coronavirus.

    The development is worrisome as the Kogi Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) had persistently cried out over the lack of adequate testing for coronavirus in the state describing it as a great risk for doctors and other health workers. Doctors at the Federal Medical Centre accused the Yahaya Bello-led government of frustrating the efforts to ascertain the presence of the virus in the northcentral state, while investigative reports suggest that many patients report to the Kogi Specialist Hospital with symptoms similar to those of COVID-19, but none of them gets tested for fear of being punished by the state authorities.

    At the centre of these fears are statements by Governor Yahaya alleging that the NCDC wants him to declare false cases in the state, leading residents of the state and beyond to describe COVID-19 as a hoax with little or no attention to measures as use of face masks as well as social distancing while movement flows freely through the streets, entry and exit to and fro boundary city -Abuja (which has recorded not less than 500 cases) were without hitches despite the ban on inter-state travel.

    Fair Performers:

    7. Dapo Abiodun (Ogun, South West)

    All appears not to be well in the Ogun health sector as doctors under the state employment are having a running battle with the government over the unexplained delay in the payment of its members’ salaries and agitations on the need for improved welfare package for its members.

    The doctors under the aegis of the Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) at the Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu alleged that compared to other workers in the state whose salaries for April and May were paid promptly, their April salaries were paid mid-May despite working during the period of the lockdown, while May salaries were yet to be paid as of May 21.

    While it is commendable that the Ogun Government announced a review of hazard allowance for State health workers from 200 to 300 per cent as well as a life insurance policy for frontline workers, it is worrisome that the Governor is putting the life policy on hold from taking off immediately, opting to wait for the Federal Government to put in place a similar programme. The state government has a lot of work to do in ensuring that all issues leading to industrial action at a critical time of the COVID-19 pandemic is resolved.

    6. Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna, North West)
    The Kaduna Governor in the month under review waived the Right of Way (RoW) charges for broadband and related communication infrastructure in the state. As described by the Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, one of the key benefits of the decision is the rapid growth in the gross domestic product (GDP) of any country that increases its broadband penetration.

    In the fight against the Coronavirus, apart from threats of prosecution to any Islamic cleric who enrolls children into an Almajiri school in the state, the government has ensured optical screening and rehabilitation of 200 children in the Almajiri system of education repatriated from Nasarawa in the wake of the pandemic, bringing the total number of repatriated Almajiri pupils to 900 from Kano, Bauchi, Plateau and Nasarawa states.

    The unpleasant news from the North-Western state this month however, is the attack on inhabitants of the Southern Kaduna communities by gunmen leading to the death of women and children. Such inhuman act despite the lockdown is very worrisome and there is a great need for proactive measures to avoid a reoccurrence.

    Good Performers:

    5. Godwin Obaseki (Edo, South South)

    The state’s COVID-19 response team headed by the Deputy Governor have taken commendable steps in managing the pandemic in the state especially with regular updates and boost of its isolation facilities in the state to over 600-beds spread across different health facilities in Benin, Auchi and Irrua; making it the state first outside Lagos, to have three testing centres in the country.

    This is evident in acclaimed credits from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the Federal Ministry of Health on its recent inauguration of a 300-bed isolation centre and molecular laboratory at the Stella Obasanjo Hospital in Benin, along with a third Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) molecular laboratory established at the Edo State Specialist Hospital.

    The recent completion of a substation at the Edo State Secretariat complex and installation of 33KVA lines ahead of the test run of the CCTEC-Ossiomo Power Plant, with a capacity of 55 megawatts is also a major move towards opening up the state’s power sector to competition for the benefit of residential and industrial consumers.

    While the governor cannot be solely blamed for the heightened tension arising from the actions of political actors warming up for party primaries ahead of the September 19 Gubernatorial elections in the state, he has a critical role to play in dousing tension in the state being generated by the political class, as well as ensure the security agents stay on top of their game in the fight against incessant kidnappings and rape cases in the state.

    4. Hope Uzodinma (Imo, South East)

    The Hope Uzodinma administration took a bold move to ensure judicious use of the state’s commonwealth by assenting to a bill repealing the law that created pension allowances and gratuities for former Governors, Deputy Governors, Assembly Speakers and Deputy Speakers.

    As rightly pointed out by the governor, not only does the repealed law run contrary to the provision of the 1999 constitution as amended, which stipulates that a pensioner must have worked for at least 10 years and must be up to 45 years of age, some beneficiaries of such payments also earn salaries and allowances in other positions they occupied such as serving as Senators or Members of the House of Representatives.

    Another commendable move by the Governor was the signing of an executive order that slashes the Right-of-Way (RoW) charges for InfraCos in the state from N4,500 to N145 per metre. The review will ease the cost of deploying the necessary infrastructure that would aid the National Broadband Penetration plan by Telcos, trigger ancillary on-line services, especially in the field of education and in turn usher in innovations across the sectors.

    3. Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom, South South)

    The Akwa Ibom Government in the month under review slashed the salaries of all political office holders in the state by 20% in what it described as a response to the prevailing economic realities of dwindling revenues, caused by the crash in the price of crude oil in the global market. As expected of thinking leadership, the step is considered a good move as it will go a long way in showing it is paying beyond lip service to call for sacrifice.

    A major feat for the Udom administration in May was the addition of a Bombardier CRJ 900 aircraft to the Ibom Air fleet in line with his plans to open the State up for industrialization through land, sea and air, with plans underway for another aircraft to increase the fleet to five aircraft.

    The administration also provided computers, cameras, printers, scanners and other essential work tools that will aid in the profiling of convicts and overall efficiency to the State Command of the Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS). The support will go a long way in ensuring the implementation of all non-custodial sentencing such as community services, probation, parole, restorative justice and others as enshrined in the Nigerian Correctional Service Act, 2019.

    2. Ben Ayade (Cross River, South South)

    Governor Ayade received massive commendation from Nigerians across the federation this month for the new policy of his administration’s which exempts micro and small businesses from the payment of taxes as well as the inauguration of an anti-tax agency to put an end to illicit taxes on the people while ensuring the small business owners do not come under the harsh hands of the desperate search for money by tax consultants.

    The initiative which he tagged as part of post-COVID-19 palliative to the people in response to the level of poverty in the state, exempts all Okada (commercial motorcycle) riders, taxi drivers, small saloon owners, small catering and restaurant points, street food vendors, hotels with less than 50 rooms across the whole state and all others who sell basic things or struggling to earn a living,

    For a country where multiple taxations are a big deal, such policy will encourage basic entrepreneurship and wealth creation in the state. Judging from the state’s revenue, concerns have been raised however as to how the government hopes to meet up with his obligations and carry out its “ambitious projects” with such policy. The administration also employed additional 1,000 workers as demand for Cross River Garment Factory facemasks skyrocketed in this month.

    1. Bello Matawalle (Zamfara, North West)

    The award of N3.1 billion contract for the construction of 423 classrooms in the state and decision to accommodate as many street children known as Almajiri expelled from any state with open arms as well as integrate the Almajirai model into western education for the purpose of acquiring qualitative education in both western and Islamic knowledge is very positive.

    This will go along way in promoting a sense of belonging and reduce the “stigmatisation” meted on the Almajiri Islamic teaching and learning in the country when most of the Governors in the Northern part of the country have toed the line of repatriation.

    Quite importantly, with low testing capacity posing a major challenge to the fight against the pandemic in the country, one great feat of the Matawalle administration in the last one month is the launch of the largest zero-contact testing centre for COVID-19 in Nigeria.

    With a capacity of collecting 70 samples in an hour, this will significantly protect health workers who are on the front line and ensure timely delivery of collected samples since the booth can be deployed in border towns and remote areas. The sample collection booths are also said to be convertible into telemedicine booths post-COVID – 19; which will also boost the people’s access to healthcare and their overall wellbeing, especially in the hinterlands of the state.

    Editor’s Note: The YNaija Effectiveness Ranking is a perception index by our special editorial programme as determined by correspondent assessment, news reports, and opinion surveys. It is graded on the following parameters: campaign promise, social impact, and infrastructural development.

  • Covid 19: C’River Govt Receives Technical And Material Support From NPHCDA

    By Simon Ushie – Calabar

    As part of measures to improve quality and effective healthcare delivery for Cross Riverians, the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), have donated some personal protective equipment and Information, Education and Communication (IEC) materials to the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency to boost the fight against Covid-19 in the state.

    Presenting the materials to the agency, the state coordinator for the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Mr Julius Idoko maintained that “the state’s effort in the fight against Covid-19 has gained a nationwide recognition and hence the need to support the state in training health workers to boost their capacity and enlighten them on best and globally accepted medical practices”

    Receiving the materials on behalf of the Government, the Director General, Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong thanked the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for assisting the state in the organization of various training workshops for staff in the state and in the provision of Information, Education and communication materials to enhance staff knowledge and their capacity to meet the health needs of Cross Riverians .

    Ekpenyong held that “On behalf of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, I am very thankful to the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency for this show of love especially this moment where the whole world is being faced with the pandemic that we are all struggling to understand and find a cure to it. These things that are provided will be used judiciously for the benefit of our people as we have set up a team to ensure that all wards and villages get a share of these materials as we seek to improve the health and wellbeing of our people.

    “Just recently, the NPHCDA assisted us in building the capacity of health workers through an online training section comprising of state, local Government and ward level staff in the agency.

    “The nation has seen the great efforts made so far by the Cross River State Government as Senator Professor Ben Ayade has been in the forefront in fighting the pandemic and that is why the NPHCDA is coming to support us today.

    “We will ensure that our health workers across the 196 wards are fully informed and trained and as well spread the information to the various communities where they work to ensure that Cross River State remain covid19 free”.

    The Director General further distributed the materials to various Local Government Heads and heads of facilities.

    Some of the materials given includes Veronica buckets, waste bins, training manuals for prevention and control of Covid-19, facemasks, thermometers and other Personal Protective Equipment.

    The presentation is coming on the hills of the recently conducted training for health workers across the state using the zoom application system, an innovation which has generated wide praise from all quotas across the state.

  • Bakassi Returnees: How Ayade Wept, Promised, Delivered On Housing Estate

    By Linus Obogo – Calabar

    He came as a leader whose fate was inextricably intertwined  with the displaced and dispossessed people of Bakassi.

    At every forum, Governor  Ben Ayade wrenched quite a volume of tears enough to form a lake or drown a community, while speaking about the level of crass insensitivity on the part of the federal authorities who orchestrated the destitution, despair and abandonment of the Bakassi people who were for 18 harrowing years rendered refugees in their own country.

    Mindlessly decoupled from their ancestral land by the overlord central government, the people of Bakassi were left to their fate, to live a life only akin to that of the pastoral nomads.

    With a fishing community rendered homeless for over 18 solid years, a future shortcircuted, and countless thousands of people including widows, the aged, children mowed down like a field of grain, by hungervirus, considered deadlier than Coronavirus and with abject compunction from those before him, Ayade could ill-afford any numbness to the horrors and miseries of the Bakassi people.

    Ayade cried when they cried and oftentimes much more than the “bereaved”. He railed at the atrociousness of the conspirators, tugged at their heartstrings and hurled stinging reprimand at the manner in  which an entire commune was ceded, culminating in children being sundered from their parents as well as wives being severed from their breadwinners.

    He wore their shoes, felt their pains and shared amply from their cries.

    In 2017, as a mark of solidarity with the displaced Bakassi people, Ayade, while marking his 49 birthday, had to relocate to Ikpa Nkanya village, Ikot Eyo ward, where the returnees were camped.

    He feted, dined and celebrated with them.

    The governor had told a vast concourse of the gathering then that “The Bakassi people have been dislocated from their ancestral homes, denied the pleasure of worship and decent accommodation, reduced in want and in spirit just because they are not strong enough to fight back. I come as a child from that humble beginning to say that we must all come together to make a difference and that difference must start now.”

    Ayade’s cries and such other palpable emotions would no sooner form the soundtrack on which an upscale 52 unit 2-bedroom housing estate was delivered on Friday, May 29, as he clocked five years in office as governor.

    Delivered devoid of the traditional fanfare and banality which usually characterize such grandiose events, the project which began barely a year ago is no doubt a bold statement of what representative leadership is all about. It loudly demonstrated what a servant leader is. That it must be people-centered.

    When Governor Ayade made the solemn pledge early in the life of his administration to build the Bakassi returnees shelter, many thought it was impossible, or at best one of the hollow political promises that hardly see the light of day, given the state’s parlous economy. But Ayade as he is wont to assure, “I will give my left eye to keep my words”, indeed walked his talk.

    For a leader who had severaly voiced such epithets as “giving my right eye to keep my words”, “I give, not because I have so much but because I care so much”, “The true African anthropology is the one that says that you must provide a shoulder for your weaker brother to lean on”, Governor Ayade would no sooner set sail with this handful of epithets as a guide and steer a steady course, like an emigrant to the islands of the blest.

    Situated at Ifiang Ayong area of Bakassi Local Government Area, the fully furnished estate has come as a long awaited welcome intervention in the harrowing experience of homelessness by the refugees who have been living in squalor, having converted a primary school in Akpabuyo Council Area of the state to their home.

    For once, a leader with a milk of human kindness emerged on the scene and remembered that there indeed existed victims of societal cruelty who must be clawed back from sub human existence and from a life of slum.

    The gift of a decent housing estate for the hitherto forgotten people of Bakassi is therefore obviously an enduring lesson that a true leader is one who understands that leadership is not about oneself but about those you serve. It is not about exalting oneself but about lifting others up.

    And for once, the returnees will long remember that there was a leader in the person of Ayade who showed them love, care and concern.

    The first of its kind anywhere around, the governor was aware that giving the Bakassi people shelter, was not going  to be enough, he gave them a home, promising to expand it.

    It is indeed a home by any standard. It has amenities like power- public power, standby generator, solar lighting, water system and such other utilities that guarantee decent living and comfort.

    Located in nature’s pampering hands, the estate could pass for an upscale home, well appointed and comes with tastefully interior design and quality furnishings.

    Indeed, if that was the reward for being a refugee, the sheer elegance of the estate is more than enough to compel anyone to want to assume the status of a refugee, just to own one.

    In fact, what makes the estate spectacularly unique is that it is a social housing which ownership is held in perpetuity, where the property is the owners’ to keep forever.

    As part of ensuring that the returnees do not luxuriate in the wonderful comfort of their new home, and forget their mainstay, which is fishing, Governor Ayade went a notch higher by acquiring a fishing boat to enable them sustain themselves while in the estate.

    What’s  more, with the governor’s announcement of a N50 million donation as well as other economic stimulus package, life couldn’t be any more promising as the returnees now begin what could be described as a refreshing start to life from what was once a slum existence characterised  by gloom and doom.

    But on this day, May 29, Ayade did not only put a new song in their mouth with the provision  of a exotic roofs over their heads, but he also put a future in their hands as they can now own their lives and begin to control their destinies.

    For a people who had always made crying a soothing balm to their pain and anguish since they were severed from their ancestral home and left in the cold, their cry on this day they were taking custody of their houses was one of joy and fulfillment, and fulfillment that their long years of misery and wondering in wilderness has come to a screeching end, as a redeemer in Governor Ayade finally showed up and made a telling difference in their once abject lives.

    Linus Obogo is Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade

  • Full Text Of Address By Bonny Ewhe, Chairman Obudu LGC On The Occasion Of His Swearing-In

    By Elijah Ugani

     

    PRESS STATEMENT BY THE EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN OF OBUDU LGA, BONIFACE ERAYE EWHE ON THE OCCASION OF THE SWEARING-IN OF COUNCIL CHAIRMEN

    THANK YOU MY PEOPLE, I SHALL NOT DISAPPOINT YOU

    Today is a new dawn in the politics of Obudu as I assume office as the Executive Chairman of the local government. It’s an exciting yet very challenging moment. It’s exciting because of the privilege and opportunity to serve my people and challenging because of the enormous task ahead. But let me reassure you all that you have made the right choice. I’ll guide this opportunity jealousy by doing my best to ensure Obudu becomez better than she was yesterday.

    I consider myself very privileged to have been elected from among a pool of other qualified Obudu sons and daughters. I didn’t present myself for the election because I felt I was better than anybody but because I had the convictions that I was prepared to lead our great local government to chart a new course forward.

    The dream of many years has become reality. I want to from the depth of my heart thank the first citizen of Obudu and Cross River State, His Excellency, Sir Ben Ayade whose unalloyed support ensued my overwhelming victory at our great party’s primaries and subsequently, the general elections.

    To my teeming supporters-youths, men and women of great consciences, I say thank you for the overwhelming support. The confidence you have reposed on me won’t be abused. I assure you again, I won’t disappoint you.

    We have won the war, now it’s time to face the battle. The challenge of leadership is cumbersome and the success of every administration is dependent on the support of his subjects. Thus, I want to use this opportunity to appeal to all of you to keep the fire burning. I need your support now more than ever! The task to deliver the good aspirations we all have for our dear local government is a collective one; let’s see it as OUR responsibility not THEIR business!

    Posterity will hold me to account if I fail to recognise the priceless efforts of the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission. I salute the courage of the Chairman, Dr. Mike Odey and his team for putting their lives at risk even at this global health crisis occassioned by the Coronavirus outbreak to conduct one of the freest and fairest elections in the history of the state. History will remember you all.

    To my opponents, I say thank you all for putting up a good fight. I see all those who contested against me as rivals not enemies because for me, it was all because of their burning desire to see a drastic turnaround in our dear local government that they offered themselves just like me to serve.

    Politics is like a game of football, you win some and loose some. Election has come and gone and it’s now time for governance. I want to extend a hand of fellowship to everybody to come let’s reason together to develop our dear local government. I’ll run an open door administration where every quality idea geared towards the development of Obudu would be welcomed.

    Like I said during the campaigns, the just concluded election was not just an opportunity to elect me and others as local government executives but also to re-engage all of us on the values we share as a people. Now that we’ve an elected local government executives, let’s take advantage of the opportunity to reinvigorate the political process in our local government for the next generation and in the process leave a legacy that will stand the test of time.

    Let me paraphrase what I pledged during the campaigns, “Our focus will not be to reimagine a political process where we will pay attention to a few selected group of people but will develop a dynamic process where we can individually and collectively pursue the course of building Obudu that we will all be proud of. Your motivation at the end should be that you played a key role in building a progressive, developed and peaceful Obudu that the generation yet to come will be proud of”.

    With God on our side, we’ll not fail you. I want to remind us that this great local government belongs to all of us and we should at this critical time in our history come together regardless previous political experiences to move it and our people to greater heights.

    Thank you and God bless.

    Signed :

    Hon. Boniface Eraye Ewhe
    Executive Chairman
    Obudu local government

  • Ayade Cautions Newly swore In 18 Local Chairmen To Avoid Unnecessary Trips Outside Their Local Governments

    By Elijah Ugani

    The Cross River State Governor, Sen. Ben Ayade has cautioned 18 local government chairmen to avoid unnecessary trips outside their councils to enable them stay back home to deliver on their mandate.

    Ayade gave the caution while swearing-in the 18 local government chairmen and their vice in the state today 2nd June at the Exco chambers of the governor’s office in Calabar, the cross river state capital.

    The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP had cleared the entire 18 council areas and also produced all the councillors.

    “I want to urge you to avoid unnecessary trips outside your local government areas, you need to stay with your people to enable you appreciate their challenges as well deliver on your mandate”

    The governor disclosed that he has left behind N11.386 billion as take off fund for all the 18 local government chairmen and stressed that they had no reason not to perform.

    “Remember I am giving you councils that are not owing salaries, not owing pension. So I don’t want to hear tomorrow that your are owing.

    “We are happy to announce to you that you are coming into office while the governor leaves behind N11.386 billion in your coffers.

    “Today marks a great opportunity for the people at the grassroots who have never had direct access to government, to feel the impact of government,” the governor told the new chairmen.

    He further implored them not to engage in grandiose projects but concentrate on simple projects that directly impact on the lives of the people.

    His words: “You are serving the grassroots, I do not want you therefore, to embark on big projects. I need you to deal with those projects that directly impact on the lives of the people. I need you to deal with boreholes, I need you to deal with culverts, minor bridges that link communities”

    The governor advised the chairmen to work harmoniously with their councillors so as to effectively serve the people.

    “I urge you to work in harmony with your councillors. There must not be a divided house. Therefore, work harmoniously with the councillors so that together you will serve the people effectively”

    In a chat with the chairman of Obudu local government council, Mr. Bonny Eraye Ewhe,  the hometown of Governor Ben Ayade, the chairman noted that he will concentrate more on agriculture as he will unveil his plans as streamlined in the agenda of his administration.

    He used the opportunity to thank the governor and pledged his commitment to serving his people.

  • Odinkalu Declines Interview With National Daily Over Journalist, Agba Jalingo’s Incarceration

    By Admin

    Human rights activist, and immediate past Chair of the National Human Rights Commission NHRC, Professor Chidi Odinkalu has said he declined an interview with a national daily in Nigeria following the paper’s decision to award a sitting Governor who allegedly orchestrated the arrest and incarceration of journalist, Agba Jalingo.

    Odinkalu, who is currently the senior team manager for the Africa Program of Open Society Justice Initiative, in a brief chat said that people have to be held accountable for their actions as it relates to the Nigerian civic space which reports show is shrinking.

    Nigeria currently ranks 115 out of 180 countries on World Press Freedom Index as compiled by Reporters without Borders (Reporters sans frontières). The last report issued in April 2020 cited the killing, detention and brutalisation of journalists as well as deliberate attempts to shrink the civic space by the Nigerian Government as reasons for the ranking.

    And, Odinkalu, while explaining the reason why he turned down an interview with Daily Independent earlier in the week, said; “We are not stupid people. We have to hold everyone to account.”

    A top level editor of the paper had reached him to comment on the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic. But, Odinkalu in his reply said: “I’d wish to respond but I am not sure I can.”

    According to Odinkalu, the daily’s editor “went to Calabar to give an award to Ben Ayade while he was detaining Agba Jalingo. I personally decided I would have nothing to do with Independent for at least 1 year.”

    Who is Agba Jalingo?

    Jalingo is the publisher of CrossRiverWatch, an online newspaper based in Nigeria’s southern port city of Calabar. He was arrested in his Lagos residence on August 22nd 2019, about a month after he published an article wherein he demanded that the Cross River state government comes clean on the whereabouts of the NGN500 million it approved and released for the floating of the Cross River Microfinance bank.

    He was then driven to Calabar by road in a journey that lasted about 26 hours. He arrived on August 24th and was detained at a Police black site for 34 more days before he was arraigned on September 25th before Justice Simon Amobeda of the Calabar division of the Federal High Court. He was remanded at a medium security custodial center in Calabar.

    Justice Amobeda denied admitting him to bail twice and following a leaked tape of him allegedly threatening that Jalingo will be meted the ‘Dele Giwa’ treatment, the defense team wrote the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court for reassignment of the case; the judge later recused himself.

    Now, Cross River Governor, Benedict Ayade was fingered as the architect of his travails, an allegation the state has continuously denied and accused Time Newspapers of practicing “Gutter Journalism” after it published the November 2019 list of the #OneFreePressCoalition “10 Most Urgent Cases Of Threat To Press Freedom In The World,” wherein Jalingo was listed number 9.

    The award…

    On January 13, 2020, a news story emanating from the office of Mr. Ayade’s spokesman, Christian Ita said the Governor has “bagged the Independent Newspaper Governor of the Year award for 2019.”

    The story quoted the newspaper as saying that; “by his sterling performance so far in office, amidst paucity of funds, Governor Ayade has effectively distinguished himself as one of the most outstanding governors since the advent of the current democratic dispensation since 1999, and also a pathfinder of good governance in Nigeria.”

    As at this time, Jalingo’s fate remained unknown until February 13, 2020 when he was eventually admitted to bail by a different judge, Justice Sule Shuaibu. He will spend four more days before he was eventually released on February 17, 2020; same day, the Managing Director and Editor- In-Chief of Independent Newspaper, Mr. Steve Omanufeme visited Calabar and presented the award letter to Governor Ayade as the Daily Independent Newspaper Governor-of-the-Year.

  • Citizens Solution Network Calls On Government To Wade Into The OKu Killings In Boki LGA Of CRS

    By Elijah Ugani – Calabar

    Citizens Solution Network, a non governmental organization has called on the government of Cross River State and the Nigerian Police to ensure that the perpetrators of the killings in Oku community in Boki local government area on the frivolous allegations of witches and wizards should be prosecuted in line with the necessary laws to avert further reoccurrence.

    In a release signed by the Country Director of Citizens Solution Network, Comr. Richard Ifono and made available to THE LUMINE NEWS, indicates that other elderly citizens are still living in fears and coma that they may also be attacked.

    Full text of the release “A very disturbing information has got to us here at Citizens’ Solution Network’s Office, Calabar Secretariat that several women have been burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki Local Government Area in Cross River State on the unacceptable allegation that these women_ our elderly citizens, mothers and sisters are witches and wizards. Also Chief Bernard Kekong was among the number of persons that were killed by the arsonists that carried out these reprehensible killings.

    As we speak John Otu and Edward Kekong have sustained severe injuries, and are struggling to survive as a result of these killings targeted at them and others that were accused of witchcraft.

    Also information reaching us here shows that many elderly citizens are scared of being attacked and are on the run for their lives over such useless and senseless accusation of being tagged witches.

    Let it be in public registry that we condemn in the strongest terms the killings of Chief Kekong Bernard and several women that were burnt to death in Oku Community in Boki, Cross River State on the outrageous claims that they were witches and wizards.

    We call on the Nigerian Police Force to speed into action to safeguard Oku Community to prevent more senseless killings of our elderly citizens, and to ensure that all those who are responsible for these heinous crimes of murder are brought to justice.

    This is a terrible precedence that must not be allowed to stand. The idea that a miscreant would accused a fellow citizen of witchcraft and get such human burnt to death should be strongly rejected and condemned unanimously by all. All extra judicial killings must be investigated and the perpetrated prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law to discourage such killings in future.

    The Nigerian Police Force and the Ayade-led Government must ensure that all those responsible are arrested, prosecuted and given the heaviest of sentences for these multiple homicides. No level of excuses from the Oku killing gang should be accepted.

    Signed

    Richard F. Inoyo
    Country Director, Citizens Solution Network.

    For: Civilian Population and Council.

  • CRSPHCDA Takes Quality Health Care Delivery To The Steps Of Cross Riverians

    BY Simon Ushie

    The Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency has devised an alternative means of meeting the health needs of Cross Riverians.

    The recent development had staff of the agency (Primary Healthcare Centre Ikot Efanga) organized  a medical outreach at Efanga Etim Settlement in Calabar municipality through the directives of the Director General,Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong who  urged  staff to take healthcare services close to the door steps of every residents.

    The head of the team and Officer in Charge of the Primary Healthcare Facility, Ikot Efanga, Mrs Christy Iwara said the team having recognized the huge contributions made by the governor, senator Professor Ben Ayade for all Cross Riverians to get access to quality and effective healthcare and the visionary leadership style of the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, decided to engage in weekly outreaches to various settlements around them.

    Mrs Iwara insisted that with various challenges faced by people in accessing healthcare, the health facility with a mandate by the DG, has identified various settlements within Efanga Etim which  is the first to benefit from the gesture.

    “I must commend the governor, Senator Professor Ben Ayade for his huge contributions towards improving the health sector in our dear state and also our Pragmatic Director General, Dr Janet Ekpenyong whose visionary leadership has led us into this community outreach, she had mandated that everyone within our facility get un compromised access to healthcare by engaging in community outreaches and taking medical Care to the door steps of those who need our services the most”.

    The outreach had over 200 people who benefited from various services including Blood pressure check, sugar level, malaria /typhoid testing, counselling, sensitization and education on the covid19 pandemic and other infectious diseases.

    The team also distributed drugs, facemasks and hand sanitizers to members of the community.

    One of the beneficiary, Mr Efanga Effiong Okon thanked the governor, Senator Ben Ayade, the DG, Dr Janet Ekpenyong, Mrs Christy Iwara and other members of the team for the gesture as he said it has come to renew hope among members of the community and pleaded that the benevolence gesture be sustained.t

  • Ayade suspends state agency for violating tax exemption law

    Cross River State governor, Senator Ben Ayade has suspended the activities of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) for violating the State’s tax exemption law.

    A statement signed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Christian Ita yesterday said ” in spite of Governor Ayade’s directives as well as the provisions of the Cross River State Tax Exemption Law, agents of the Commercial Transport Regulatory Agency (CTRA) were still engaged in the sale of tickets to bus, taxi, okada and tricycle operators in the state”.

    He said in view of this, “His Excellency has ordered the immediate suspension of the activities of the agency in the state.

    “In addition, His Excellency has directed security agents to arrest anybody found selling tickets or collecting any form of tax from those exempted from paying tax in the state”.

    Ita said, henceforth, the governor ” will not tolerate the flagrant disregard of the tax exemption law which has been in place for over three years now .

    “On no account will any criminal and mischievous attempt to undermine and short circuit the noble effort of the governor, be allowed”.

    CTRA popularly known as” 100 Marian” because of its location is the most dreaded government agencies by taxi, okada (motorcycle) and tricycle operators because of its notorious violent mode of implementing sales of daily tickets to them.

    With this announcement, it was jubilation galore in Calabar by the operators saying “God will bless Ayade, now we know he is very serious with the law to protects” .

    Recall that two years ago the governor had exempted the poor and low income earners from paying tax and tax exemption law put in place but this directive was ignored and last week Ayade again re-emphasised on the ban to ensure full compliance.

  • Eid-El-Fitr Celebrations: Ayade Urges Muslims to Embrace Peace, Love and Unity

    Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has urged peace, love and unity among Nigerians as Muslims celebrate Eid-El- Fitr which marks the end of the thirty days Ramadan Fast.

    The Governor in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity,Mr Christian Ita said Nigerians must use the period for a sober reflection on the state of things in the country.

    While congratulating the Muslims Ummah for completing one of the Five Pillars of Islam, he urged them to remember that moderation is important in everything one does.

    He said the poor and less privileged people in society must be catered, a principle which informed his decision to exempt low income earners from taxation, including the petty traders in Bogobiri Muslim Community.

    He told the faithful that the month of Ramadan is intended to teach all Ummah how to live good and compassionate lives which must continue even after the Ramadan fast.

    “Ramadan is a month of sacrifice, abstinence and above all, love and care for humanity. I encourage you all to be your brother’s keeper. Look out for your neighbour in the firm belief that he too will look out for you and most importantly always use your face masks while going out to contain the Spread of Covid-19 disease.

    “As you celebrate Eid-el-fitr, which marks the end of the Ramadan fast, I urge everyone, regardless of your religious beliefs, to continue to keep the peace and to live in unity with one another in Nigeria and particularly in Cross River State” he said.