The Lumine News

Tag: Ben Ayade

  • N500m Stabilization Fund: The Lie From Abuja And The Silence From Calabar BY AGBA JALINGO

    N500m Stabilization Fund: The Lie From Abuja And The Silence From Calabar BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    Barely forty days to the end of former Cross River Governor, Senator Liyel Imoke’s administration, in a petition dated April 16, 2015, Cross River lawyer and former presidential aide, Okoi Obono Obla, petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC, to investigate the expenditure of allocations to the 18 local governments in Cross River State from the federation account, under Imoke’s watch.

    The petitioner, Obono Obla, amongst other demands, asked the EFCC to investigate the expenditure of the sum of N15 Billion by Governor Liyel Imoke approved by the Federal Government of Nigeria to ameliorate the economic losses suffered by Cross River State as a result of the judgment of the Supreme Court that led to the loss of 76 Oil Wells to Akwa Ibom State by Cross River State and the transfer of the sovereignty of Bakassi Peninsula to the Republic of Cameroon.

    And to also investigate the expenditure of a monthly augmentation of N500m (Five Hundred Million Naira) from the Stabilization Fund paid to the Cross River State Government in 2013 by the Federal Government of Nigeria for two years at the first instance.

    Obla’s request was sequel to information disclosed in a leaked letter dated April 12, 2014 which the RMAFC sent to Imoke, requesting to visit the State to monitor and evaluate what the Bakassi intervention fund had achieved. The letter also disclosed that a lump sum of fifteen billion naira was released from the Stabilization Fund by RMAFC, to the Cross River State government, plus five hundred million naira monthly augmentation for two years, amounting to 6 billion naira, which was also paid in bulk in June 2013. In addition to another N400million Naira every month. (The letter is attached here.)

    Then in May 2017, a former Chairman of the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC), Aliyu Mohammed, during a visit to the State to see Governor Ayade, said as part of efforts to assuage the pains caused by the loss of Bakassi, about N38billion has been paid as special allocation to the State by the Federal Government over a period of 11 years, as compensation.

    CrossRiverWatch has been tracking this development since 2012. So when the incumbent Chairman of RMAFC, Mr. A.M. Shehu, mentioned $500million, it conflicted with all I have heard previously about this matter and created doubts in my mind. While it is clear that A.M. Shehu, told a lie about the currency they send to Cross River State and replaced Naira with Dollars, it is even more worrisome that Calabar is silent on the whereabouts of the money. Calabar is more anxious to tell us it wasn’t Dollars but reluctant to tell us what the Naira they accept they have been collecting has been utilized on.

    After joining their political party, Obono Obla, abandoned the petitions he wrote against Governor Imoke and the press statement from Governor Ayade’s office on Friday, though conceded that they get N500m every month, still didn’t not tell the public what exactly the money has been used for. That exactly should be our bone of contention. It is our right to know and we need to know and we actually need to know NOW!

    Meanwhile, I was abruptly corrected yesterday during an interview with a relevant source. A top source in RMAFC, who pleaded anonymity, told yours sincerely that, contrary to what people are saying, the Bakassi augmentation fund is meant for the entire Cross River State and not one LGA alone.

    The source said: “Before Cross River lost the Bakassi oil wells to Akwa Ibom, money for the 76 oil wells was not sent to Bakassi LGA alone. It was part of the Cross River State share from FAAC for the development of all the LGAs. Bakassi LGA has its own share from the center like the other 17 LGAs. The augmentation is to serve the same purpose that the oil revenue was serving and I am sure the revenue was not used in Bakassi alone. It is for the whole of Cross River State to augment her allocation for the lose of revenue following the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon. I need you to correct that impression out there please.”

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.

  • Matters Arrising From That 500M Monthly Manna From Heaven BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Matters Arrising From That 500M Monthly Manna From Heaven BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    As a leading member of PANDEF in Cross River State and the All Cross River Nationals Forum, together with Honourable Bassey Ekefre, Eric Ani Esin, Dr Joe Edet, Col. PAM Ogar Senator Bassey Henshaw, General Ennang, late AVM Osim, among others, we have severally discussed strategies to engage the Federal Government on the necessity to provide adequate compensation to Cross River State for the loss of the notorious 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom State. Little did we know that the Federal Government was already providing such necessary assistance to the state on a consistent basis.

    There had been a flurry of activities on the back of that loss in the form of compensation to the people of Bakassi and provision of living homes for those who relocated back to Nigeria back then, but regrettably, neither Governors Liyel Imoke nor Ben Ayade has told Cross Riverians the true facts and figures thereof. It would take the Chairman of RMFC (who himself could not distinguish the difference between Naira and USD) to bust open the Pandora box.

    What is clear to the people right now is that the N500m monthly payment is not lumped into the monthly allocation to the state, but rather paid alone, or perhaps under the table. Therefore when figures of income accruing to Cross River State are advertised by the Governors freely to underscore the poverty of the state, the regular and consistent payment of the N500m to shake off our sterile and mendicant curse is never mentioned.

    In the present dispensation, the question to ask is whether that sum is reflected in the budget of
    QUANTUM INFINITUM, or its mouth-filling predecessors in the last seven-plus years, or not. If it has not been captured in all these budgets, then where and how has the money been expended? Again, why have Governor Ben Ayade and his predecessor, Liyel Imoke been so close-lipped about these payments?

    I was bemused by the Press Release from the Governor’s Office in which the use of the wrong currency was sufficiently belaboured, followed by a tortured admission of the receipt of the invisible monies. Even if the entire windfalls have dissolved into debt repayment should the people on behalf of whom Government collects these monies not know about it? Why should it take one Fulani man who could not tell the difference between the Naira and the greenback to make the great announcement on national television for Cross Riverians to know and for government to finally admit the fact?

    The very idea of democracy is coterminus with transparency because it promises a government of the people, by the people and for the people. That being the case, the people reserve the right to know about their money and the use to which it has been put even as they continue to endure an electoral authoritarian regime in the hands of people who may have come to town without a stitch of moral fibre or a whif of political philosophy.

  • Ayade Signs Law Increasing Jurisdiction Of Magistrate Court In Cross River

    Ayade Signs Law Increasing Jurisdiction Of Magistrate Court In Cross River

     

    Cross River state governor, Professor Ben Ayade Thursday signed the state’s Magistrate Jurisdiction Law 2022.

    The law increases the jurisdiction of magistrate courts in the state on civil matters.

    The signing ceremony which was witnessed by the state Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu, State Chief Judge, Justice Akon Ikpeme, Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Willams Eteng Jones among other top government functionaries, held at the Executive Chamber of the Governor’s Office, Calabar.

    Speaking at the event, the governor said with the law in place, the administration of justice is now closer to the people.

    “The social import of this exercise is that we are taking the administration of the law closer to our people so that those who have need to approach the courts will not have to look for a High court, but can now access justice anywhere there is a magistrate just because of the increased jurisdiction.

    “With this, access to law, access to legal services, access to justice is now closer to our people” the governor said.

    According to him, “It is in my exercise of the powers conferred on me as Governor by section 31, sub section 1 of the Magistrate Court Law of Cross River State of Nigeria 2004, that l hereby sign to law, an order which will increase the jurisdiction of Magistrate Court in civil matters. The order shall come into effect on the 3rd of November, which is today.”

    Ayade commended Justice Ikpeme “for being very very balanced in all the recommendations that have come before me.”

    Earlier in her remarks, Justice Ikpeme noted that the last time the jurisdictions of Magistrate Courts were increased in the state was on July 25th, 2005.

    Commending Ayade for signing the law, the Cross state Chief Judge said: “Today, 17 years after, the digital governor has signed into law, an increase in the jurisdiction of magistrate courts in civil matters, and it is to the following effects: Chief magistrate court 1; The limit before now was 7 million Naira, it has now been raised to 10 million Naira, Chief magistrate court 2 has been raised to 7 million Naira, senior magistrate grade 1 is now 5 million Naira, senior magistrate grade 2 is now 3 million Naira and magistrate grade 1 is 2 million Naira”

    According to her, every local government area of the state now has a Chief magistrate court where cases can be filed.

    “I want to congratulate our Governor for doing this. When l suggested it to him he immediately agreed and l want to say today, the judiciary appreciates you very much”, the Chief Judge stated.

  • C’River PDP Northern Stakeholders Berates Ayade Over Wike Visit

    C’River PDP Northern Stakeholders Berates Ayade Over Wike Visit

    BY Judex Okoro, Sunnewsonline

    The Director General of Sen Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, and Cross River North People’s Democratic Party (PDP) stalwarts have blasted Governor Ben Ayade over his visit to Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.

    They characterised Ayade’s as not only a mark of desperation to return to the Senate but a calculated attempt to woo Wike over to his side ahead of the 2023 polls.

    Since late yesterday, a group picture of Governors Ben Ayade, Dave Umahi and Wike during their visit to Port Harcourt have been trending, fuelling speculations that Ayade, the APC north senatorial candidate, is up to some political gimmicks.

    Describing such moves as the last kick of a dying horse, the Director-General of Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe Campaign Organisation, Dr Don Cklaimz Enamhe, stated that it is possible that Governor Ayade had discreetly gone there to negotiate for his senate seat not minding his public utterances against Wike.

    Enamhe recalled that on several occasions the Cross River governor has, since his defection to All Progressives Congress (APC) in June 2020, lampooned the state chapter of PDP and its leadership of being a surrogate to the Rivers governor just as he has declared total war against the party.

    The university of Calabar don, also alleged that Ayade is discreetly and desperately making moves to reach out to the PDP’s presidential candidate, Alh. Atiku Abubakar, to negotiate his way back to the Upper Legislative Chamber, adding that Jarigbe’s campaign organisation is keeping a tab and would do everything possible to scuttle any further attempt to undermine north’s interest in 2023.

    Enamhe, a foundation member of PDP, said: “Going by past antecedents, Governor Ayade has no right to visit Governor Wike because he (Ayade) has been making comments deriding Wike and PDP in the state.

    “It seems he has eaten his vomit or shall we say he is also trying to mortgage the state to Rivers as he accused the party a couple of months back while soliciting support for APC.

    “However we assure all that all discreet moves by Ayade would come to nought because we have declared total and unalloyed support for Sen. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe. Besides, the north knows their true sons and leaders and we would speak during the general elections as no amount of tricks and genuflecting would change our focus to re-elect Jarigbe.”

    Wondering what took Ayade to Rivers, four months to the general election, a party stalwart from Yala, Chief Emmanuel Ogbeche, 53, said the party leaders in the north would meet to review Ayade’s recent moves, cautioning the national leadership of PDP to be wary of hobnobbing with politicians from Cross River engaging in anti-party activities.

    On his part, Ntufam Justine Abang, from the Ogoja chapter, expresses surprise that after Ayade had declared PDP dead in the state and that APC would sweep all the seats, he surreptitiously visited Wike, a PDP governor, and his arch-enemy, to curry favour.

    Describing Governor Wike as an old political war horse, Abang said the visit would not change the good works Rivers governor is doing to ensure the survival of the PDP in Cross River and assured that the party would deliver Sen. Jarigbe and other PDP candidates in the north.

  • Gov Ben Ayade And The Challenge Of Politics With Ethics BY DOMINIC KIDZU

    Gov Ben Ayade And The Challenge Of Politics With Ethics BY DOMINIC KIDZU

     

    It will be difficult to count the number of times that Governor Ben Ayade has told the public that he plays politics with ethics. Although the claim has remained largely nebulous, since he has never offered a detailed explanation of what the ramifications and parameters are, the general assumption has been that he was going to level the playing field and allow the voting public to make its choice. With virtually nothing to leave behind as legacy outside the signature nepotism, corruption and under performance in office, one thought that like his senior brother, Buhari, he was going to at least allow Cross Riverians to freely make their choice about who should come and clean the miasma and stench of his ill – fated adventure.

    Unfortunately, it now appears that those hopes were merely a pipe dream seeing as the Governor is pulling all stumps to ensure that the opposition is denied legitimate constitutional liberties that are the bedrock of free and fair elections, which also could have in some manner aggregated to any semblance of ‘politics with ethics’. One hopes that the claim of Politics With Ethics does not go the way of most of the miracle projects which the Governor has began and completed in the air, and which the citizens are not likely to ever see let alone enjoy or benefit from?

    Only yesterday, the Caterpillar Movement, which is the advocacy arm of the People’s Democratic Party Governorship campaign framework wrote an open letter to the Governor outlining the frustrations and denials of their right to place their billboards and other publicity materials in the public space, even after they have made due payments and completed documentation with the public agency responsible for that purpose in the state. Ironically, the same agency has allowed candidates of the ruling party to place their advertisement all over the city with pomp and pageantry.

    The Governor has a responsibility to ensure that all political parties and their candidates enjoy the same rights and privileges as the ruling party if he still remembers that he has always bragged about practicing Politics With Ethics. He has a responsibility to call the government agents at CRISA to order before they make him and his ruling party appear frightened by the momentum of the PDP candidate and lily- livered about the prospects of a fair contest. For CRISA to collect monies and revenues from the PDP and then block the party from enjoying the benefits of that expenditure is shameful to say the least and criminal by all standards.

    The jury on Ben Ayade’s government returned with a guilty verdict since morning and clearly there is no official arm – twisting and village tactics against the opposition that will come anywhere near to changing that verdict. The part to honour open for the Governor is to play according to the rules and attempt to supervise a fair process leading to a credible election in 2023. Let me state here for clarity that the underhand manipulation being implemented right now even if they were to get away with it can still not ensure that Governor Ben Ayade will succeed in putting a cloned administration in his image and form in office in the year 2023.

  • Caterpillar Movement Writes Gov Ben Ayade, Demands Him To Call Effiwat And Other Appointees To Order Over Destruction Of Billboards

    Caterpillar Movement Writes Gov Ben Ayade, Demands Him To Call Effiwat And Other Appointees To Order Over Destruction Of Billboards

    The Caterpillar Movement, the Campaign Organization for Sen.(Prof.) Sandy Onor, the Cross River State People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Governorship candidate, through its Director General, Chief Joe Obi Bisong, in an open letter has called on the Cross River State Governor to caution his overzealous appointees.

    In a letter signed by the DG and made available to TheLumineNews, Obi maintained that the organization had met all the financial obligations and other requirements stipulated for outdoor advertisement in the State by the State Director General of CRISSA, but that Effiwat has continually denied the Opposition party and its candidates access to outdoor advertising in the state’s capital, Calabar.

    The letter further stated that Senator Sandy Onor and other PDP candidate’s billboards were pulled down.

  • Governor Ayade’s Aunt Dies At 122 years

    Governor Ayade’s Aunt Dies At 122 years

     

    The Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade is said to have lost his aunt, Ama Suzan undiegah Agaba, at age 122 years whose sad event occured September 3rd, 2022.

    The late Mrs Susan undiegah Agaba was the governor’s father elder sister, and the grandmother of Dr Francis Agaba, PhD, a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science, University of Calabar, Calabar.

    The mama Susan contributed in her own small measure to the upbringing of most of her brothers, sisters, nephews, cousins and a host of other relatives.

    In a release bymby the Chief mourner,a Mr Andrew Agaba and made available to TheLumineNews, indicates that, Wake Keep is slated for Friday, September 23rd at Mr Marcellinus Ushie Agaba’s compund, Betukwel. While funeral service is to hold on Saturday, September 24th, 2022 at 10.00am at St Joseph Catholic Church, Betukwel, and internment to follow immediately at her family compund in Betukwel, Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.

    She is survived by seven (7) children, 15 grandchildren, 21 great grandchildren, 14 nephews, 15 nieces and a host of other relatives to mourn her.

  • The Knight From Kakum And His Merchants Of Poverty: This House Has Fallen BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

    The Knight From Kakum And His Merchants Of Poverty: This House Has Fallen BY UMEZULIKE DESMOND-CRUZ

     

    Nothing illustrates the warped sense of history and the complete obliteration of our collective values as the apparent conspiracy of silence amongst the people who ordinarily should speak out against the many ill-fated administrative malfeasance of the infamous Knight from Kakum. To me, it does appear that a lot of persons are either becoming comfortable with the awkward and agonizing situations we are currently facing as a state or that we are ignorant of the fact that this house has fallen – the state that was handed over to the Knight from Kakum is now a shadow of itself. For whatever reason, this knight from kakum is gradually turning our once radiant state into a nightmarish cesspool of mind-blowing absurdities. Like Senator Sandy Onor of the Peoples Democratic Party correctly observed recently, “Our State is gradually sliding into the valley of the shadow of death.”

    Our dear State is currently on a life support. Our Civil Service Commission is in deep crisis. Our morals, values and culture as a state have been brazenly debased. Our Infrastructure and amenities are now moribund. Our streets and erstwhile beautiful roads are now occupied by repugnant putrefacient wastes and debris. Internally generated revenue from the State now goes into private pockets. Our forest reserves have been invaded and commercialized by rapacious state agents. The Knight from Kakum has turned himself into a merchant of poverty, trading the future of our youths for crumbs off his table.

    Like Joseph Stalin, the Knight from Kakum has weaponized poverty and hunger against the people he swore to protect. Historians tell us that during the last days of the Soviet Union, Joseph Stalin in a bid to make an unforgettable impression before some of his henchmen, called for a live chicken. Forcefully clutching the chicken in one hand, he used the other to systematically pluck out its feathers. As the chicken struggled in vain to escape, he continued with the painful denuding until the bird was completely stripped of its feathers. Dramatically, Stalin placed the chicken on the floor and walked away with some bread crumbs in his hand. Incredibly, the fear-crazed chicken rather than run away for its life, hobbled towards him and clung to the legs of his trousers. Stalin threw a handful of grain to the bird, and it began to follow him around the room. He then turned to his dumbfounded henchmen and said calmly, “This is the way to rule the people. That chicken followed me for food, even though I had caused it such torture. People are like that chicken. If you inflict inordinate pain on them, they will follow you for food the rest of their lives.”

    Using the Stalin Model, the Knight from Kakum has taken away everything that we once held dear as a people and has stripped us of our dignity, while throwing crumbs at us in the name of what he calls “food on the table” appointments. In silence, we watch our state being raped and our values debased by a cartel of narcissistic megalomaniacs and kleptomaniacs. No one is willing to speak out and should one dare, a poisoned chalice would be dangled at him/her in the name of state appointment, which has conscience killer in our clime. While this Knight from Kakum and his merchants of Poverty have broken our ancient walls and turned our once productive youths into intellectually debased slaves, I am more worried about the future than the now. What becomes of our young people after the inglorious tenure of the Knight from Kakum? When there’s no more free food on the table, how mentally prepared are the young people to fend for themselves? I honestly fear for the future. I envisage a future where the young people would rather eat crumbs off the tables of politicians than doing honest work. Unfortunately, we would all be here to witness the aftermath of the many atrocious acts committed against the state and its people by the flimsy Knight from kakum and his merchants of Poverty.

    Ladies and Gentlemen!
    This House Has Fallen.
    Our State Has Fallen And We Must Collectively Reclaim Our State.

    Disclaimer: The opinion expressed in this article is strictly that of the author, Umezulike Desmond-Cruz and does not represent TheLumineNews or its staff.

  • Governors Ben Ayade, Ganduje, Sule, And Others Honoured As Nigeria Mark Africa Immunization Week

    Governors Ben Ayade, Ganduje, Sule, And Others Honoured As Nigeria Mark Africa Immunization Week

     

    Cross River State Grovernor, Ben Ayade, has been honoured along side other Governors as Cross River State is said to be one of the top performing states in the Nation for distinguishing themselves and recording improved scorecards in all vaccination actives as well as setting standards in the operations of Primary Healthcare Activities in the country.

    This is part of the week long activities to mark the 2022 Africa Immunization Week organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency in collaboration with health care partners to encourage states meet their immunization benchmark in all Local Government Areas.

    Speaking after the presentation of the awards, His Excellency Sen Prof Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River State, represented by the National Women Leader of the All Progressive Congress, Dr Betta Edu said it was a thing of honour to distinguish Cross River State from every other states in the South South region , noting that, the state has always been a formidable force to be reckoned with in Primary and Secondary health care service delivery since the early days of the Senator Ben Ayade’s administration.

    She congratulated and appreciated the Governor for always prioritizing health and for all the investment and innovations which are yield results.

    She thanked the Federal Government for its supports and contributions to the evolving health status of the country, noting that, in the nearest future, Nigeria will become the leading health providing nation in Africa and major player in the global health policy framework.

    She praised the Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong and the entire health team , for always being result oriented.

    In her response, Director General of the Cross River State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Janet Ekpenyong accompanied by the Permanent Secretary, State Ministry of Health, Dr Iwara Iwara and the Director of Immunization Services, Mrs Joy Chabo expressed their appreciation for the honour as she appreciated His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade and his dear wife, Dr Linda Ayade for their continued support to the health sector. She also appreciated the Deputy Governor, Professor Ivara Esu for leadership as the Chairman Task team on Immunization.

    The DG outlined the numerous parameters for the success attained and how the state ascertained it’s top spot.

    She noted that the collective contributions of health workers in the state and their selfless disposition to duties are some of the cardinal factors which has driven immunization campaign messages to all regions irrespective of physical and environmental barriers in the state. She thanked them profusely for their sacrifice.

    She also noted and appreciated the contributions of religious and traditional leaders, cso, and stakeholders from all sectors who played a huge role to this success.

    She promised that the state will continue to do it’s best to ensure Nigeria’s certification of a vaccine compliant state eradicate vaccine preventable deaths in the country.

  • Obudu, Has Your Suffering Ended? BY AGBA JALINGO

    Obudu, Has Your Suffering Ended? BY AGBA JALINGO

     

    June 22, 2015, Ben Ayade, the Obudu born Professor, Senator representing Cross River North at the time and governorship flag bearer of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for the 2015 general election in Cross River State, declared an end to the sufferings of Obudu people to the delight of an ecstatic crowd that gathered at the Chief J.A. Agba memorial stadium in Obudu.

    Filled with satisfaction over the manner, disposition and the massive turn out of his people to welcome him, he could not control his excitement as he announced the end of perils in Obudu. In his words ” Kugbudu, Kingie Kimen Kimbe ” which means, “Obudu, your suffering has ended”. It’s exactly 7 years and 52 days after that day and the question on my lips this morning is: “Has the suffering of Obudu people ended?

    Since he took over as Governor, Ayade has nursed some very ambitious projects for Obudu, his home town. Principally, these projects include: The British/Canadian School, the Obudu International Airport, the Obudu German Specialist Hospital, the Obudu Independent Power Project and the Mini Super Highway which is supposed to criss cross the five LGAs of Northern Cross River. No doubt these are the most touted projects of the governor in Obudu. But let us examine them one after the other.

    1. The British/Canadian School: Most of the buildings have been completed. But nothing is going on there. The governor says he wants to turn it to a university campus contrary to the original concept of a basic and high school. It is practical to say he will leave office without any activity in that place. But it will be a thing of great joy for me, even if it’s the primary school that can start functioning first, like the one inside the Teachers Training Institute in Biase, so we can at least remember that he built us a school. For now, there is no school in that place yet. Just some structures.

    2. The Obudu International Airport: Governor Ayade said publicly that if he doesn’t complete it, we should carry our sacred “bizu” leaves and banish him from Obudu. That’s what will happen because since the terminal building of the airport collapsed, not much is going on there. Our governor simply doesn’t have the money or the time to finish any kind of port now, not to even talk of an airport. He has only 289 days left. Airports aren’t built in days. He has only set a recipe for communal crisis as homeless land owners are already returning to reclaim portions of the now bushy site, which may snowball into crisis.

    3. The Obudu German Specialist Hospital: The buildings have also been erected and beautifully painted like a sepulchre. Even the fence is so beautiful from the road that when you see it, you will wonder what is happening inside. But verily verily, nothing is going on inside and I don’t know when empty buildings started bearing the name, hospital. We all know what a hospital is and what happens inside. There is nothing like a German hospital in Obudu yet. I am not lying. It is the truth. What we have there is some painted structures and a few equipment supplied and abandoned by Cocharis. The only public hospital in Obudu till today is the Sacred Heart Hospital along hospital road, built by the Catholic mission. If we eventually have a new hospital in Obudu, whether you call it German or Nigerian hospital, I will not hesitate to tell you.

    4. Obudu Independent Power Project: Our governor trumpeted this as one of his flagship projects in Obudu. He went and purchased two diesel powered generators and brought them to power an entire LGA, in the 21st century. A small diesel generator used to power a BTS consumes about 18,000 liters of fuel per year. CO2 emission from one liter of diesel fuel is 2.68kg. Meaning one generator emits 46.5 metric tons of CO2 annually. With those large LPFO powered generators, it is a massive environmental risk that should have been put into consideration by a Governor who is an environmentalist. Yet, the last time those generators came on was in 2019 when Ayade’s niece, Memshima was getting married. The power project has since been abandoned and the generators are parked somewhere along Ranch road.

    5. Mini Super Highway: I don’t need to talk much here. I just shared a video of the road with you yesterday. A road still under construction is been washed off by the rains. A road without drainages. A road so terribly done that it cannot even stand till the completion of the project. The road that failed before Ayade deceived us that he is fixing it, lasted for over 30 years. Even the job that Ayade’s construction company, Leophina Construction, got from the Federal Ministry of Works to do total rehabilitation and resurfacing of the highway from Obudu to Wula in Boki, the Governor and his brother Franko, collected the money, managed to grind the road up to Akorsie in Obanliku, abandoned the project and pocketed the money. Today, you can’t go to Obudu through Boki. We have to pass through Ogoja which is a longer route.

    I am from Obudu. I wish above all things that Obudu is developed and prospers. I won’t be deceived by anyone. Not at this my age. I will not join those who want to perpetually lie to our people to say what isn’t verifiable. If all these projects take off, I will tell you so. If governor Ayade leaves office today, there is nothing, absolutely nothing in Obudu, that we will point to that he did for his people other than these meaningless food on the table titles that will evaporate on his exit. It is rodents and reptiles that will leave in those empty buildings.

    Don’t lie to me. Complete these projects. Get them working and let us indeed know that even if you were unable to end our suffering in Obudu like you promised in June 2015, at least you were able to reduce the suffering.

    Yours sincerely,
    Citizen Agba Jalingo.