The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested Senator Shehu Sani, who represented Kaduna Central Senatorial District in the National Assembly between 2015 and 2019.

According to a source, Sani was arrested for alleged extortion of $20,000 from the owner of ASD Motors. The source said:

“He was said to have collected the $20,000 from the owner of ASD Motors on the grounds that he is very close to the EFCC boss.

“He was subsequently arrested and granted administrative bail while he refunded the money to the victim. “He was asked to report but made himself incommunicado. He must have been scamming a lot of people, dropping the name of the EFCC boss.”

Eme Offiong, Calabar

The Calabar Pharmaceutical Company also known as CalaPharm will commence test runs in June 2020 as part of efforts to kick start the social insurance scheme of the government of Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

Dr. Betta Edu, the Commissioner for Health, stated this at a maiden media parley with newsmen in Calabar city.

Dr. Edu also stated that one million people would be registered next under the insurance scheme referred to as AyadeCare.
According to Edu, “ another measure put in place to ensure the scheme kicks off without hitches include inaugurating the three specialist’s hospital in each of the three senatorial districts within the first 3 months in 2020”.

“Our goal, as a government, is to achieve Universal Health Coverage in Cross River. We can only do that by bringing these facilities closer to the people and through our pharmaceutical company provide the needed medicines, ” the Commissioner stated.

She hinted that the state government has released the sum of N100m for the smooth take off of AyadeCare programme, while also utilising the basic healthcare provision funds to renovate all 15 general hospital and primary healthcare centres in the communities.

“We intend to renovate, equip and bring doctors ànd healthcare workers on locum basis; employ some permanently into the service; employ house officers and collaborate with the federal Ministry of Health, the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital to have resident doctors work at our general hospital,” E du noted.

The commissioner further revealed that the state ministry of health was floating for people to win monies.

According to Edu, the introduction of the lottery is part of the state government’s plans to raise 12 millionaires amongst the core poor and vulnerable in society.
Edu explained, “the millionaires would emerge when an individual register up to 10 persons, which will make that person qualified to win one million naira. The draws would be holding every month thereby creating 12 millionaires at the end of the year”.

It would be recalled that the Cross River State Insurance Health Scheme called Ayadecare was signed into law and subsequently flagged off by Governor Ben Ayade in 2016.

Lateefah Ibrahim

The Founder of Owojela's Blog and also a 2014 Alumini of the Federal Science College, Ogoja, Odey Paul Owojela who hails from Yala in Cross River State has been appointed as the first Public Relations Officer to govern the FEDSCO 2014 Alumni set.


Possessing the qualities of a good Public relations officer which includes bee Always Ready, Audience Minded, Great Storyteller, Persuasive Prowess, Connection Cultivator, Punctuality, Willing to Learn and been Detail Oriented, the electorate deemed him fit to handle the Leadership role.

Here's an official release from the Electorate Committee:

Introduction  Of New Executive Committee (EXCO)


Whereas an Electorate was formed on the 25th Day of September, 2019 and were saddled to provide for us an Executive Committee (EXCO) that will pilot the affairs of the prestigious set of 2014 Federal Science College Alumni.

Whereas the Electorate has given out forms to individuals who indicated interest to the service of our dear 2014 set of the Federal Science College Alumni.

Whereas some conscious and diligent comrades have successfully filled, returned the forms given to them.

Whereas they have also satisfied the electorate by passing through the screening exercise of the electorate and also in good and just standing with our dear 2014 set of the Federal Science College Alumni.

We hereby present to you the new Executive Committee that will pilot the affairs of our 2014 set of the Federal Science College Alumni on this day, 30th Day of December, 2019;

President - Comr. Agudosi Chukwuka Obioma

Vice President - Comr. Israel Prudent Mkpoikanke-Abasi

Secretary - Comr. Bitrus Anthonia Terenom

Treasurer - Comr. Igwe Blessing Chidinma

Public Relations Officer - Comr. Odey Paul Owojela

 Congratulations...

 They also stands inaugurated
We hereby appeal to everyone to comply and work with the above mentioned EXCO in love, support, prayers and careful criticism to take us to the best level.
Thank you and God bless you all

Signed:
Comr. Orogwu Benjamin Emeka (Emiben)
Chairman

Comr. Ijere Benedict (Benjacks)

Secretary
Comr. Etim Ruth

Member*
Comr. Usman Goodness

Member
Comr. Chibuike

Member

Honorable commissioner for Health Dr. Betta Edu speaking with vigor during the media roundtable discussion

The Cross River State Government is set to embark on intensive campaign against Lassa fever following the recent outbreak of the epidermic Ebonyi State.

The Honorable commissioner for health Dr. Betta Edu disclosed to the media in a roundtable briefing held in the Conference hall of the Ministry of Health.

The commissioner also reiterated that the government has put in place preventive measures to control impending outbreak of the disease with rigor and intolerance.

Dr. Betta advised that burning of bushes dislodges rats from their hideout to homes especially in the villages, appealed to Cross Riverians to desist from such practices.

"Rats are the primary causal of the epidermic (Lassa fever) and the state government is going to carry out a stringent awareness campaign through town criers in villages, mass media, workshops, seminars and any other means that this message can get to the last person in Cross River State," Dr. Edu further opined.
She pointed out that symptoms of Lassa fever which are in phases; with the first phase being fatigue, nausea, general weakness and fever.

Dr. Edu added that the second phase comes with headache, sore throat, vomiting and diarrhoea, while phase three brings face swelling, low blood pressure and nose bleeding.

The Commissioner charged all experiencing such symptoms to locate a nearby primary health care centre for treatment.
She listed out some preventive measures as seen below; avoid contact between rats and human beings, block all rats hideouts, store foodstuffs in rodent proof containers, cook all foods thoroughly and always wash hands after contact with a sick person.

Related story: Ayadecare To Register One Million People In 2020


Dr. Edu further stated that clean environment is an anti rat and will help keep them far away from coming to your home and she pleaded that all Cross Riverians keep their environment clean always.


Culled from detailingCrossRiver

HOW OGOJA WAS ROBBED OF A STATEHOOD  BY HER(OWN) CHILDREN : A Story Of How Ogoja Began Its Journey To The World Of Underdevelopment !


   - by imaji jio UFUMAKA

PART ONE

It's not my intention to reawaken or beat a dead horse. I'd written on this issue, about two years ago, especially, when one of our Ogoja sons, the very popular socialite, Donckleimz (DC) Elechor Enamhe, PhD, mentioned in one his articles, names that were most belligerent to the course of an Ogoja State, as those who worked tirelessly towards the realization of an Ogoja State. I see as I'd done, such reportage, as callously misguiding, brutally false, morally misappropriated, politically untactful and disgustingly sycophantic.
There arose those who read his piece and hailed it. There was the argument substantiating the story, as true and sacrosanct. I consider such subscriptions as mere mental exercise, displayed on the altar of ignorance and mischief,  in the clan of the gullibles!
When I consider the fact that some day, some years to come, some how, some where, our children and their children may have no real truth aside speculative facts, I make bold to opine that the truth MUST be told or written upon, not minding whose ox is gored, because if not now, later, we shall be held responsible for the lies or truth we tell : our children and theirs may tag us as the lying generation, whenever the truth, naturally emerges!
Very touching and remindful is a piece posted to me via our shared whatsapp page, by the very cerebral Bro Chima Christian Chuks (PhD),  where, in parts, he wrote, "... my grand mother taught me the art of story telling, and every one around me complimented me each time I finished telling one. But I've since lost the art...I have since stopped bothering myself trying to rediscover the art. Certainly, not with Jio Ufumaka, the giant, taking the center stage. I have always found time to appreciate him and his free style of putting issues in perspectives. But I have always quarelled with him each time he writes without remembering OGOJA YOUTH MOVEMENT (OYM). What could be responsible for this great omission in all his theses on development ? Read his last piece on the giant development strides of David Umahi of Ebonyi State. I laughed because..."

Having cited the chit above, thus, may I move on to embark on certain clarifications and information, plus education. Perhaps, by so doing, the records of history, as it pertains to this issue of how Ogoja was denied a State creation, shall have been straightened up. Perhaps, the likes of my brother, Chima (PhD) and all those guys of the OYM may be appeased and many erroneous submissions be relegated to where they belong : the garbage bin of history!
Before I get there, may I state very clearly and unequivocally, without an iota of doubt, herein, that Enamhe (PhD) was NOT an initial member of the organizing body of the OYM.  In fact, if anything, he doubted the workability and articulation if the dream. When he saw that it was going to course a huge success in the gathering of the youths of Ogoja, he attempted, severally to hijack the show, thinking that the outcome would be a great deal of financial rain. In no small ways, he tried to infiltrate the gang with his minions of followers. But the guys were smarter and faster. At last, he succumbed, albeit, still surreptitiously and like a submarine, trying to take charge of the affairs. So he doesn't qualify to write and speak on OYM and all that occurred in that union of diversified views and stars of Ogoja. He may speak and write in parts, yet those part must be subjected to very serious and candid scrutiny !
My likes, pronto, were an immediate army of catalysts. A stud.  We warred at his subtle chicanery. As the leader of that opposition, I paid for it, very dearly, later at the college (campus) of the University of Calabar. Need I add that, what looks like a cult of mercinery was sent after me. Both my life and its commercial/academic value were at stake. But in His infinite mercies and ahead-of-the-scheming of man, God stood by me, at last and alas, I came out victorious alive and well. There is always a price to pay for honesty and sincerity of purpose, especially when at odds with negative energies.

However, looking back today, DC Enamhe,PhD, SEEMS to have grown, way, so far from those days of juvenile baptism of the absurds. He's very responsibly married with kids. He's gone a step further : A knight of the Roman Catholic church. He's capped his academic travails and resilience with a doctoral mortar. He no more speaks with the threat and bragadicio of the years gone by. But that attitudinal perspective of his, to certain issues of political scheming is what I do not claim knowledge of his departures!
♤♤♤
Now, the main issue under review :
Ogoja has one of the finest and most well planned landscapes, both by nature and the colonial government, long, long before Nigeria gained her political independence in 1960. Some analysts have suggested that Ogoja was well mapped out by the British, before the so-called 1914 amalgamation of the North with the Southern part of the hitherto, unnamed geographical expression known as Nigeria!
Ogoja consists of many tribes and ethnic groups, namely, Ishibori, sub-divided into different clans, Uhmuriya, Ikajor, Ikaptang, Ikariku, Ishinyema, Imerakorm and Igoli, being the central town.
Mbube is one of the major tributaries that make up Ogoja, consisting of: Odajie, Adagum, Ekumtak, Idum, Ojerim, Egbe, Nkim, Ogberia, Ogang, Ogbaria Ochoro, Oboso, Benkpe, Edide, Bansa, Aragban, etc.
Yala LGA forms part of Ogoja, with its geographical entities such as Okpoma, Ugaga, Okuku, Imaje, Ijegu, Yahe, Ekprinyi, Woda, Abachor, Oloko, Yache, Ukelle, etc.
For the fear of over laboring my readers with naming of all the local entities that make up the core and functional Old Ogoja, may I simply mention the rest by their local government designations.
Obudu. Bekwarra. Boki. Ikom. Etung. Obubra.
The above was designated to form the prayed Ogoja State.
◇◇◇
Sometimes in 1992-93, a group of "young, aspiring intellectuals", to use the very key words by one of my long time highly academic buddies, the Ishibori-Ibo blood, Chima Christian  Chuks, in attempt to chart out a veritable and one united front for the entire Ogoja region, came together, under the aegis, OGOJA YOUTH MOVEMENT (OYM). The body was mainly co-ordinated by Mr Jude Ogbeche Ngaji, Barr Eddy Murphy (then, Akpong), imaji jio UFUMAKA,  Atari Atari (who later became the protem secretary after the substantive Secretary, Chima Christian Chuks opted out, having felt that  some folks may critique him of seemingly over inclining to his maternal Ishibori. Chima was the scribe before the position was passed on to the equally brilliant head, Atari.
In fact, that singular union revealed the awesome brilliance of the Ogoja youths.
Other affiliate organizers included the following :
Mark Andogu
Brian Enya (late)
Dan E-man Odey (late)
Jimmy Aninegha
Nick Igbaji (late)
Peter and Paul Ushie (strikingly identical twins)
Philip Ashikem
Maggi Ngaji
Emmanuel Oteh
Franca ...
Agbo Mary Ngaji
Chris Ogaidang Ogar, aka, Tormentors (as we used to call him).
Robert Ikwun
Bisong (Mbube fellow, now in the States)
Peter Enamhe
Jayke Akpong
Peter Inok
Kenneth Gidigba (in-and-out attendee)
Steven Bisong
Jude Adie (Liberty).
Et al .
This piece would be too much of a miniature to contain all the active participants of the Ogoja Youths Movement, who gave their all to secure a happy, independent and great future for an autonomous Ogoja State.

●●●
Like many of us, it's Jude Ogbeche Ngaji that invited me to the 'august' meet. Its original and initial venue was at the then palatial compound of Barr Greg Ikaba Ngaji.  He was the only Ogoja middle aged person that was most youth magnetic. He not only let his place a venue for our weekly meet, he many times, gave money for water, soda (soft drinks) and certain snacks, eg, Cabin of biscuits and buns or 'kpof-kpof'!

He'd been quite busy with his law business, allowing us to sometimes, hold our exco meetings at his law chambers.
It was from there that we decided, as the numbers began to increase, that it was needful,  we made the Small St Ben's Primary School field our venue.

We grew so large and diverse, inarguably, there hasn't been any time, in the annals of Old and New Ogoja that a body of young men and women, college and university graduates, including the so-called ordinary Nigerian met, apolitically, not campaigningfor one self or any other person, aside the sole purpose of a united Ogoja family, simply for a state creation!
As time went by, the uneducated youths began to watch proceedings from a far, avoiding by all and every means, the ayade-stic-like grammar that kept bombing the gathering, like a German bazooka!
It was fun. It was intellectualism at its practical lab. It was youthful cerebral exuberance at its peak !

■■■
Those Ogoja young ones had gathered to speak with one voice : 'Ogoja State is a must'.

We sat on the bare ground, in the field. When it threatened to rain, we sat there. When it drizzled, we perched, like some giant 'agbana', sorry, birds on the window frames of the school. When the Ogoja hot weather began, we became like giant lizards, being starved of certain preys, we line's our stomachs on the walls of Small St Ben : and like a gang of melancholic paupers, we spoke and looked at all direction but with no particular direction, aside our mental focus on Abuja, the seat of Nigeria's government.

In the dry season, we met and 'jaw-jawed'. At some instances, we 'war-warred'. We spoke grammar. Some was as incomplete like a broken bench. Many other times, some folks spoke their professional OR course grammar : be it in chemistry or physics. Others sounded like Shakespearean dramatists. Not a few spoke like Bambulu in 'This is our chance'.

Many times, some of us spoke the grammar we seldom understood, not until we returned home to cross-check the words earlier spoken. Also, we learnt the art of addressing the crowd and composing our selves , all in that gathering.

Those who couldn't meet up with the baraging and barging show of neo-elitist display of intellectualism, became situational dumb and deaf members of the neo-elite society. There was also the sudden occurrence of natural selection : those who couldn't meet up with the hot debates and parliamentary dramas, were sifted away, and never returned. They became the nay-sayers. Some became the cheap gossips. Others turned out to become our honorable cheering committees!
◇◇◇
We began to plan on how we would get to the big cities. We needed to meet our 'big men', our so-called great sons and daughters in Lagos, Calabar and Abuja.
We had no money. But money was key. We needed to move with our collective dreams. The dreams came in colors. They all saturated as ONE: An Ogoja State!

We embarked on street pauperizarion : it was an enlightened way of begging ; we embarked on 'bob-a-job'/ 'rag day'. We swept the Ogoja, sorry, Igoli streets. Every occupant of the Ogoja land was impressed and ready to support. The Ibos showed tremendous concern and support. The Yoruba community acted well too. The traditional Hausa-Fulani Ogoja community came out in droves. Many, if not all of that community of Hausa-Fulani, donot have any other place to call home, if not Ogoja!

●●●
We spread like locusts during the harmattan season. OYM had it's presence in all of the main/central Ogoja zones : Yala, Bekwarra, Obudu, Obanlikwu, Boki, Ikom and Obubra, (etc ?).

Young boys and girls came out. It was a unity in diversity. We spoke no religion. We prided no tribe or ethnic region above the others. We never showed up our respective family economies or up-bringing. We ate and drank from one plate and cup. We drank from one and the same love portion. It was the love for an independent and autonomous Ogoja State. No more, no less.

♡♡♡
We formed committees for every thing. The Transportation Committee. Constitution Drafting Committee (CDC), Complaint and Evaluation Committee. Information and Visitation Committee. Food Committee. Treasury OR the Exchequer Committee. Etc.
At Okuku, our feet became brown and dusty of the Okuku market pauperizing.  We could've begged any one for money. We desperately needed money.

■■■
We organized for fund raising. We expected a very large turn out of our sons and daughters in high places. On the day of the launch, only ourselves became the main contributors.

An Ugaga, Lagos based young man by the name of Alhj Enyuma showed up. He pledged the sum of 20 thousand naira. It raised much appluad. It never was realized, though I was delegated to meet with him in Lagos.

Barr Kanu Agabi showed up in one of our launches, it was a launch for an Ogoja tabloid, designated to be named as 'The Broom'.  Chima was to be the Editor-in-Chief, with my humble self as it's maiden Associate Editor. Agabi pledged the sum of 5 thousand naira, to be picked at his Calabar law chambers. 

Neither the pledged money was realized nor the magazine saw the light of day. Our delegation to his chamber visited him, barely daily, with loads of promises from him, always asking us to repeat the next day. The next day was unending. Not a kobo was realized from the pledge.
Barr Kanu Agabi, whom we'd hitherto, seen as a demi god, was gradually becoming demystified. He opened our eyes to the human fallibility in his demi-godness!

■□■
Time was fast approaching. We needed to be at the General Sani Abacha National Conference for Constitution Drafting. We were mentally prepared to engage the fathers and mothers at the Constitutional Conference.

We nosed and sniffed about like hunting dogs. If we heard of any 'big man' man's presence from Abuja, Lagos or Calabar, we immediately arranged to meet with him.
When the then Mjr General Unimna of Obudu was home at his Ohong country home to bury one of his uncles, the late john Aniah, immediately, OYM delegated some guys to meet with him. Mark Andogu and I led that gang of state agitators. After meeting and tabling our request/ appeal to meet with him, in a very military manner, he cut in, "why do you want to meet with me ?" . We briefed him on Ogoja State creation. His response was as demoralizing as it was disrespectful of our scholarships.  He said, " You are not qualified to discuss issues of an Ogoja State creation". With that, he abandoned us as if we were orphans or some abandoned nigerian projects.

But determined and focused, we ran to the late Judge Evaristus Akpanke Uke, my paternal uncle, who, incidentally, was at the burial of the sage to whom both he and Unimna share the same ancestry, and by which, at that time, he was residing as judge in Ogoja. 

When we told him of our experience with the junta boss, he sprang to his feet, like the agile junto he was,  breezed away with us to meet him.

Before the General could say much more, after repeating what he'd told us before the judge, Judge Uke retorted in Bette language, "eyeh, ukwanegi, kusi, manu ye-oh, (wa-o, my brother, please, donot be angry), why would you say such a thing ? Who spoke and struggled for the independence of Nigeria?  The youths. The students!", he seemingly thundered.

Unimna appeared sober, turning to us, responded, " meet me at Abuja ".
Before his death, Judge Uke was the head of my father's maternal side, to which Gen Unimna belonged. The general respected Uke like a worshipper to his/her Ówo ochī (morning god, in Yala)

♧♧♧
Again, there was the need to meet Late M T Mbu, the then strong man of Old Ogoja politics, the life-long Zikist.
It was a lone delegation. The lot fell on me. I was mobilized "...to go and die in Lagos", as one guy quipped.

In Lagos at his Bourdillion, Ikoyi residence, on hearing someone, an Ogoja person was at his gate, with a letter to meet with him, the elderstateman asked his security to open wide the gate.

At his reception hall, he walked in, asked that a cup of tea be served me. He asked what type I would sip. I simply said 'black coffee'. That brand of coffee used to be my best. The aroma. The agility it gave me. It kept me awake to some important duties.
Chf M T Mbu was surprisingly so hospitable, grandly excited and generous. He asked by what means I went there. After hearing I went by road, he asked me to check back, eve of my departure. He concluded the meeting by promising that he would do anything within his power to support the course. Wherever, by any good means. He asked me to take home his message of solidarity with the course and his readiness to make sure we met, "one-on-one" with the Owelle of Onitsha, the Great Zik of Africa!

☆☆☆
His political father would soon be celebrating his 90th date of birth. Location would be at Nsukka, his home town. It was going to be a national, continental/international gathering of the creme de la creme!
It was the Great Zik of Africa's day of birth, aka, birth day!
***
I left Lagos without going back to Chf Mbu. But not without meeting with Mr Dave Ashang, the Cross River State Laiason Officer.

We met at his Victoria Island office. When I was ushered in, and after narrating the course of being in Lagos, he impatiently told me that he wasn't interested in what would not see the light of the day. His word : " look, gentleman, I don't know who you are, but I think your request for a state will not see the light of day". He had the courtesy of wanting to know who I was.  I re-introduced myself. Upon hearing my sur-name, he appeared calm and a bit friendly. But that was all there was in the meeting with Mr Dave Ashang of Obanlikwu, then, of Obudu !
¤¤¤
( Please, look out for part two of this story. It promises to be more engaging and compelling, an experience)

Commissioner MIDC, Dr Inyang  Asibong resumes office, Holds Management meeting, Strategic meeting with the UN Country Rep in Nigeria

The Commissioner for International Development/ Donor Cooperation, Dr Inyang Asibong resumed office on the 30th of December, 2019.

She was received by the PS, Mr Felix Ita and Directors in the Ministry. This was quickly followed by an inaugural management meeting in the office of the Commissioner.

The Commissioner, who thanked the State Governor, Sen Prof Ben Ayade, and his wife Dr Linda Ayade for the o
pportunity to serve in another capacity promised to consolidate on the gains of her predecessor, Hon Frank Ettah.

In the same vein, she thanked her former Permanent Secretary, the PS, CRSMOH, Dr Joseph Bassey and Directors for being a strong reason behind the success of the Ministry in the last Administration, while encouraging them to give her Successor, Dr Betta Edu the same kind of support.
Later in the day, the Commissioner and the MIDC management team held a strategic meeting with the UN Country Rep. in Nigeria, Mr Edward Kallon. The UN Resident coordinator commended the State Governor, Sen Prof Ben Ayade on a very well packaged Calabar festival and Carnival, and stated the UN commitment to improving the life and well being of all Cross Riverians

Earlier today the Hon commissioner for Women Affairs Chief Hon. Rita Agbo Ayim (JP) upon resumption of office had a meeting with the Permanent Secretary, directors and other staffs of the ministry.

The meeting started with prayer from one of the staff, after which the PS introduced everyone to the Hon commissioner.

The Director Admin intimated the commissioner on the administrative challenges facing the Ministry, the directors all took turns to tell her how far there have gone and the challenges there have.

The Hon commissioner in her statement charged them all to be diligent and hard working to achieve the digital goals of our dear governor Sen Prof Obol Ben Ayade.

She also reiterated that they is always room for improvement, so they should see her as one of the family members, she made them to understand her person, so everybody idea on the way forward of achieving goals is welcome.

She later ended with the staff showing her the facilities in the Ministry.
Day 1 ended in praise.

To ensure positive agenda setting in the health sector in the year 2020, the Cross River State government, is to Register one million people under its social health insurance scheme known as Ayadecare.


In the same vein, to ensure   health facilities in the state, are up and ready within the first 3 months in the new year,the state government intends to make 12 millionaires amongst the poor and vulnerable .

On the much awaited Calabar Pharmaceutical Company, the state government stated that the company will commence test-run operations within 6 months, in the new year  while revealing that N 100 million naira has been made available for the smooth take off of the Ayadecare program in the state.

The measures, according to the state government will ensure the Ayadecare scheme commence fully in all its general hospitals and primary healthcare facilities one per ward across the state.

It would be recalled that the Ayadecare scheme was signed into law by Governor Ben Ayade,in 2016, and was flagged off.

Disclosing this and other important plans of the government to reform the health sector in the state,the newly appointed commissioner of health,Dr Beta Edu, also revealed plans to introduce health lottery in the state where people can play and win monies.

In addition, she stated that the state government would be using basic healthcare provision funds to fix all the healthcare centres in the state and would provide funds for their  operations.

Further buttressing the determination of the state government, Dr Beta Edu, said there would an overhaul of the entire general hospitals in the state, as all the 15 general hospitals in the state have been placed on red alert.

In her words:"we intend to renovate, equip and bring doctors ànd healthcare workers on locum basics,employ some permanently into the service, employ house officers and collaborate with federal ministry of health, and teaching hospital residence to do their posting at our general hospitals.

"to integrate the whole health sector including all the agencies in the health sector and help them to function effectively in no areas lacking behind." She added

On the plan to create 12 millionaires, the commissioner said the millionaires will emerge when a person register up to 10 persons which will make them qualify to win the one million naira. The draws will be taking place every month thereby creating 12 millionaires at the end of the year.

Saturday 28th December, 2019:

The leadership of UNDA  in recognition of the contributions of:

Dr.(Barr.) Stephen Odey,ChMC.

Rt. Hon. Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe

Distinguished Senator Rose Okoji Oko

Engr. Uko Inaku,

Professor Austine Angba,

Engr. Daniel Ogbudu

Mr. David Idiku,

HRH Mohie Hilary Ogar Agi,etc.

Presented Merit Award for Excellence Selfless Support for Community Development on the above.

The National Chairman of UNDA.
Mr James Illebe Okwo appreciated all the contributors especially Sen. Dr. Rose Oko and Rt. Hon.Jarigbe Agom for their unalloyed financial support prayed God to bountifully replenish all their sacrifices towards the actualization of the construction of ORIERIE RIVER BRIDGE.

Responding, Dr. Stephen Odey commended the resilience of the community and her leadership in taking the responsibility for the construction of Orierie bridge and not waiting for government to do it all, charging other communities to embrace and initiate projects that will further compliment efforts of Government, Dr.Steve then dedicated his award to his father His Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade who has mentored him to be of service to humanity.

Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar is in touch with the parties involved in the months-long detention of journalist and human rights activist, Agba Jalingo.

Segun Showunmi, Atiku’s spokesperson gave the hint in a post on his official Twitter handle: @SegunShowunmi on Saturday.

The former Vice President’s aide wrote: “The Agba Jalingo case is most embarrassing and extremely regrettable. I can assure you all that HE @Atiku Abubakar is working with all parties to get a resolution. As soon as the court is back from its recess, the matter will come to a much more desirable outcome”.

Agba Jalingo

Jalingo is facing charges of terrorism, treasonable felony and attempt to topple the PDP-controlled Cross River State government at the Federal High Court in Calabar, being presided over by Justice Simon Amobeda.

Atiku was the presidential candidate of the PDP in the February 23 election.

The journalist was arrested in Lagos by operatives attached to the Intelligence Response Team of the Nigerian Police on August 22, 2019 and he was first arraigned on September 25, 2019 where he pleaded not guilty to the four-count charge levelled against him.

His Excellency, Sir. Benedict Bengioushuye Ayade, KSJI Esq has said Former Commissioner for Health who is now Commissioner for international Development Cooperation/Donor Support Dr Inyang Asibong is the most preferred to take Cross River State to the world. Gov Ben Ayade made this remark during the annual Carnival Calabar held yesterday in the Cross River State capital. He said the ministry of international development cooperation was created because there was need to have a ministry that is focused on the globalization perspective taking a look at each continent and nation and their direct relationship with Nigeria with a view to taking advantage.
In his words, he said:
'The whole world is moving to Africa. Africa is the last frontier. So we need to have a ministry that is focused on the globalization perspective, taking a look at each continent, each nation and its direct relationship with Nigeria with a view to taking advantage.
The American have a huge resources and they are coming to Africa. China has set aside billion of dollars for Africa.
We need an aggressive person who can catch on all of those international resources.
We need a Ministry focused on all of these International connectivity to distill all of that for the benefit of Cross river state.

The story is told of an unintentionally adventurous chap – usually to the bewilderment of an innocent audience. In the narrative, an underprivileged character is cleaned up in his sleep and taken into the bedchamber of the king of his land. There, he is given the king’s robe, primed as much as practicable, and left alone.

He wakes up to find himself exalted, disbelieves it for a few hours, is convinced after more slurps and gulps, and finally returns to sleep.

Seeing him deeply asleep, the facilitators again get on their trade, strip him of rank and royalty, dump him at his old outpost, and go on their merry way. The poor man – literally and figuratively – wakes up and is left to wonder which position is permanent and if he will ever have such powers at his fingertips.

Akinwunmi Ambode is one of the countless folks who have drunk from the chalice of power and retired to a different, quieter and humbler life. Forever chronicled in the annals of Nigerian political history as the 14th governor of Lagos State, there is little else that a man from the Epe soil could ask for.

Starting his education in Epe where he was born, no intrepid prophet could have foreseen his future, or the natural charisma with which he charmed the hearts of Lagosians – the sharpest folks on the Nigerian block, one might say.

Since then, he grew into his own as a bright and quick mind, something that guided his career in the civil service.

It was from that civil service that he retired to the political scene, from acting auditor general for local governments in Lagos to the permanent secretary of the Federal Ministry of Finance, and after some twists and turns, became Lagos State governor – a position that he rocked in style, and will remain in the memory of Lagosians for long as the governor who personally ran with his people, and breathed in the same dust as they did.

Having left that position, countless eyes have gone to and fro the earth – searching where he is and what he is doing. The latest of these have found him in Ghana where he is residing in the hush of new life. Ambode is a man born again, in a new land and with renewed peace.

Nobel Laurette, Professor Wole Soyinka has described the ongoing treason trial of detained journalist, Agba Jalingo, as a very dishonest device to silence the people by a government which has no more answers to give.

Award winning journalist, Agba Jalingo is facing a four count trial including Treasonable Felony and attempt to topple the Cross River state government, at the Federal High Court in Calabar, South South Nigeria.

But in an interview with NaijaInfo FM in Lagos, the eighty year old Nobel winner decried the prevailing use of state power to intimidate and silence dissent by state actors.

According to Soyinka, it is one of the most absurd political arrangement that will make it possible for a non-sovereign government, to claim there is an attempt to topple it.

“I must tell you that I was horrified to read of treason charges been levelled against a citizen for criticising a state government. This was in the east. I’m speaking of Jalingo, whom I happen to, (I’m wondering, is it the same Agba Jalingo who worked with us in PRONACO? It must be the same person.)
“I wasn’t aware that it’s possible to commit treason against a State Government. And that obviously is an anomaly.

It will be one of the most absurd political arrangement which made it possible for a non-sovereign government, because the state government is not a sovereign government; so how can you commit treason against a non-sovereign government, to begin with? And for me, in any case, I look more at the word treason as a crime which is committed against the people not just a contraption, a contraption is there, it’s made out of the people, it represents the will of the people. So the expression treason for me is an anomaly. I cannot even grasp it. So obviously it’s a device, a very dishonest device to silence people when a government has no more answers to give.”

For granting leave to prosecution to mask witnesses in a trial which the court insist must be in secret, Soyinka said the State is rather guilty of treason.

“In that case the State should be accused of treason. It is the State in such circumstances which is for me, potentially guilty of treason because it’s a travesty of justice. And there is no state or no government without a blimp of justice. Because, how can you be talking about a secret trial? Things are happening in this country which I am not aware. I mean this is news to me.”

He called on government at all levels to respect citizens’ rights and the nation’s constitutional provisions to avoid an invitation to anarchy.

The FCT Police Command has foiled an attempted robbery at a First Bank PLC branch in Mpape, a suburb of the capital city.

The spokesperson of the command, ASP Mariam Yusuf, confirmed to our reporter that normalcy has been restored in the area after four of the suspects were arrested and one of them gunned down.

The CP, Bala Ciroma, confirmed that one of those arrested was a staff of the bank, who was acting as an insider for the four others. He said it was a foiled robbery attempt as nothing was lost or taken away from the bank.

 By Emmanuel Uzodinma


The Enugu Electricity Distribution PLC (EEDC), Saturday, spoke on its reported plan to “disconnect South-East prepaid meter users”.

The Head of Communications, EEDC, Mr. Emeka Ezeh, who spoke through a statement obtained by DAILY POST, said that the development did not apply to customers on the Smart Prepaid meter platform, “but the few customers using a particular brand of meter that the company can no longer provide support for, most of which are already obsolete.”


According to him, “the affected customers were pre informed of the development through a letter to them, and were encouraged to take advantage of the ongoing Meter Asset Provider (MAP) metering scheme to get their meters replaced, as the ones they are using are obsolete and no longer compatible with the existing operating technology.

“The company can no longer provide technical support for these affected meters.

“So, it is important to state that customers on smart prepaid meters are not affected by this; the few customers affected have been communicated already”.


Ezeh said that arrangement was in place to reimburse all those affected customers that still have energy units (credit) on their meters with the same value.

“As an ICT driven organisation that is committed to delivering customer satisfaction, we invest in upgrading our infrastructure, and always carry our customers along as we do this.

“In this case, we have informed those customers affected and expect them to understand that the whole effort is towards satisfying them,” he further stated.

A campaign has started to seek justice for a student of LASU, Favour Daley, who was allegedly killed and eaten by her friend and his mom with the help of a prophet for ritual.

According to Omojola Omotayo, who shared the story to call for #JusticeForFavour, the 22-year-old final year student of LASU was allegedly pregnant when she was gruesomely killed by her friend and eaten by his mom who confessed to using her for money ritual with the help of a prophet.



#JusticeForFavour: LASU student allegedly killed and eaten by her friend and his mom (Photo)

She wrote;

#JUSTICE FOR FAVOUR SEUN DALEY-OLADELE
FAVOUR SEUN DALEY OLADELE Aged 22yrs, a 400 level theartre art student of LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY(LASU) was gruesomely murdered on the 8th of December 2019 at Ikoyi Ile in Ikire,Osun state . She came home to see her parents, attended church service on Sunday ,while with her parents that sunday, she received a call from one OWOLABI ADEEKO who was an ex Lagos State University student who asked her to meet with him at undisclosed location. Favour had told her parents she would be going to school as well as seeing a friend that afternoon this person happen to be OWOLABI ADEEKO whom she met about two months ago . That same Sunday afternoon she spoke with her father and he wishes her the best of luck in her forth coming final examination. From then on, everything started happening in quick succession, her phone stopped going through, she did not returned calls neither did she call any of her parents to inform them of her arrival at school . Unknown to the parents she had been murdered by OWOLABI ADEEKO an ex student of LASU in Collaboration with One prophet SEGUN PHILLIP who happened to be a serial money ritualist practising his satanic trade at Ikoyi Ile in Ikire, Osun state and One Mrs ADEEKO who also happened to be OWOLABI ADEEKO’S mother.These three people and others gruesomely murdered Favour SEUN DALEY OLADELE. In his confessional statement, OWOLABI ADEEKO admitted inviting her to an undisclosed location before using One black Honda to take her to Fortress hotel at ikoyi ile ,later that evening OWOLABI ADEEKO and her mother ,Mrs ADEEKO lured her to prophet SEGUN PHILLIP place, introduced later as an uncle,Favour was drugged while at the named hotel, Owolabi futher stated that by the time they got to prophet Segun PHILLIP’s place she was already tired, the three of them simply put favour under the tree close to an uncompleted well dug for that purpose, favours mutilated body was dumbed inside that well. OWOLABI ADEEKO admitted futher that he used pestle to smashed FAVOUR’S head while prophet SEGUN PHILLIP admitted that he used sharp knife to cut favours throat. Prophet Segun PHILLIP also admitted in his statement that he caught her open ,removed her heart and certain parts of Favours body to cook native stew for OWOLABI ADEEKO’S mother. Mrs ADEEKO a collaborator in this evil scheme admitted eating the said native stew called(Aseje) so that her family misfortunes can be changed and so that she and her family can become rich. Again it’s important for us to appreciate the good work of the investigating officers but what is most troublesome is that the duo of OWOLABI ADEEKO and prophet SEGUN PHILLIP were boasting that they will soon be released by the police. We are calling on well meaning Nigerians to demand justice for Favour SEUN DALEY OLADELE, we are calling on Nigeria’s Students to rise up through various medium to demand justice for Favour. We are calling on good people within LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY to use their position to demand justice for Favour. Favour was said to be pregnant at the time of this incident.. Please #justice for Late Favour Seun Daley Oladele and spread the news .These perpetrators must be brought to face the justice…#justiceforFavour-Oladele

The University of Calabar is to  open a Chinese Language Centre in January 2020 to teach mandarin.

This was disclosed by the Vice Chancellor,Prof Zana Itiunbe Akpagu after his visit to the Embassy of the Peoples’ Republic of China in Nigeria on the 27th of November 2019. The Center which will be domiciled in the Bassey Andah Institute of African and Asian Studies is to commence the teaching of Chinese already approved by the University’s Senate. The Chinese government is to send teachers,assist in curriculum development,provide teaching aids and equipment,etc. The University is expected to provide offices ,accommodation in the university quarters for the teachers,etc.

 A memorandum of understanding (MOU) is expected to be signed on Monday the 30th of December 2019. The MOU signed on behalf of the Confucius Institute will allow Unical join 3 other elite Nigerian universities(including Unilag ) in the teaching of mandarin.

 The socio-economic benefits and the employment prospects offered by this window of opportunity are monumental. This will also push forward the Sino-Nigerian cooperation. The VC was accompanied on the visit by the Director of BAIFAAS Prof Michael Bonchuk.

It has taken 48 hours of deep inner reflections to come up with this post. “No victor No vanquish, it’s a win win situation for Cross River state”

Ordinarily all I should come to Facebook hours after being sworn in as commissioner for health, should be to say big thank you to my Boss Governor Ben Ayade and his dear wife; of course to all Cross Riverians as well as Nigerians for the unwavering, unprecedented support in the last 4 years.

I will still begin with thank you! I thank God almighty for Life and the privilege to serve. His love, protection, favor, grace, mercy have been so overwhelming... if I had one billion tongues to say thank you ... it won’t still be enough... plsssss help me tell God thank🙏🙌🏻

I wish to specially thank the Governor of my state Cross River; Sen. Ben Ayade, for the unwavering support from a father to a daughter... the last four years has been a learning ground for me, trust me... giving me such huge assignment in my twenties was daring... but God was there all the way to help me perform exceptionally well! This was an opportunity of a life time; am glad I didn’t let you down... in fact I learnt from the very best. God bless you Boss.

Well for those who don’t know, an angel lives amongst men in Cross River State, the beautiful Quintessential Wife of the Governor of Cross River State Dr Linda Ayade. She is not just a mother, but a mentor, a friend, a defender, a motivator, she is the air beneath my wings....I really don’t want to get emotional... but God will bless you... what you have done for me... may God bless you and your children even to your fifth generation beyond your carrying Capacity. You are a rare Gem! ... I love you so much, the God I serve will defend you!😍🥰🔥🙌🏻🙏🥰😘

To all Cross Riverians, I cant thank you enough. I have never felt this loved all my life...your support for Betta can not be described! You correct me, you cheer me up, you are there for me, you connect to my programs and make them work! May God bless all of you and our dear state! To The youths; this one is deep... I love you all dearly... no worry as una the project Betta we go do more for una... pls meet me when you need help... I will try my best... it’s our turn now... let’s do it again together🥰😍

To my dear family, God bless you all... I love you... thank you for the understanding😍

To all our Development partners, donors and even my medical colleagues as well as the ED NPHCDA and the Minister for health, all my big friends and fathers in Nigeria and other nations; I say a big thank you for all the support. Please we need more support now than ever before!

To my big sister Dr Inyang Asibong you did well... and am glad you have an international platform to explore... I will just continue from where you left off. Great Exploit in your new office!

This is another great opportunity to do more, the work is humongous, but with Jesus we will go beyond all expectations... with God on our side we will support Governor Ben Ayade and Dr Linda Ayade to leave a lasting Legacy in the Health Sector.

Lion of Judea my trust is in you! Jesus I need you now more than ever before... please help me!!!!

I wish to extend my congratulatory message to you openly; Dr Inyang Asibong on your new office as the  Commissioner for International Development Cooperation/Donor Support  after serving meritoriously recently with the Cross River State Ministry of Health. Medical and non medical staff from the Health ministry will miss you and your personality for leaving an outstanding legacy especially as you change the narrative in the Ministry from the *MinistryofHell* to the real ministry of Health. You created the harmonious relationship between top hierarchies where they was no power tussles and indifferences.

You were Labour friendly and  you open up 3 schools of Nursing and three schools of midwifery that were closed down, you built three General Hospitals through public Private Partnership (PPP) and gave  boasts to three General Hospitals, one from each Senatorial District where Intra modern Eye center, VesicoVaginal Fistula and Recreation centre were built among others laudable achievements. Just as the staff were expecting your return to continue your good leadership style, their expectations were cut short as the Governor had assigned you to serve in a different capacity in view of your versatile capabilities and leadership prowess.

Your new position is as a result of your immense commitment and dedication to serve where God will be taking you and not by displaying inglorious intentions. just like Abraham in the Bible who chooses direction over intention of Lot his brother,your direction and not intention determines your destination.

Am happy you have the capacity and what it takes to perform brilliantly in your new office and position.
As the Lord chooses you today through the digital Gov of Cross River State, Gov Ben Ayade, He will inspire you with the right things to do on the new level you found yourself.
You won't just be opening door to your new office, you will be opening the door to life new opportunities that make you go global like the  likes of Dr (Mrs ) Ngozi Okonjo  Iweala Former Nigeria Finance Minister and World Bank development economist and Dr Akinwumi Adesina  ,former Agriculture Minister and currently, President, African Development Bank who are now global figures who have impacted the world

once again, Congratulations!!

Coco-Bassey Esu

Recently, Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade spoke live on a private radio station in Calabar during which he shared his thoughts on a number of issues, including the creation of new ministries amongst which is the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
We bring you excerpts of that interview.


Your Excellency , what does Christmas mean to you and how are you celebrating?

Ayade: Christmas is a time for family reunion, it is a time for peace and enjoyment and I use this opportunity to send a strong clear message to the entire residents and citizens of Cross River State that I love you all and I ask that in the spirit and merriment of Christmas, you show the same warmness to your neighbour by providing a shoulder for your weaker neighbour to lean on and that our state be blessed as we enter the year 2020.

Does this mean that 2020 is going to be a year of bumpy package for the state?

Yes. In Cross River, 2020 will mark a classical departure from our history where Cross River State will be fully industrialized and a proper and real economy will start to exist. Cross River State will be the torchlight for Nigeria and indeed Africa starting from the second quarter of that year. So indeed bumper package awaits the people of Cross River State.

You have just Inaugurated your Cabinet with about ten  new ministries created, what informed this?

AYADE: Let me  begin with a good example of one of the ministries, the Ministry of Aviation. This has never been conceived by any state in Nigeria. Why would a passenger pay over N70,000 to fly to Calabar? The route to Calabar either from Lagos or Abuja is the most expensive in Nigeria. This is occasioned by the fact that there is no corresponding surplus of airlines coming into Calabar. So it is a responsibility of government to respond to the challenge of our people, recognizing that they are being extorted as a result of monopoly. I need to create the ministry of aviation that can bring into realisation Cally Airline, we need to create an airport in Obudu to support the patronage of international tourists coming to Obudu cattle ranch, we need to take advantage of the massive climatic condition suitable for the growth of ornamental plants for export in Obudu cattle ranch. So, if you don't create an independent ministry specifically focused on delivery of proper air traffic and cargo movement, there will be a big problem in your hands.
Take Ministry of Foreign Affairs, for instance. The whole world is moving to Africa. Africa is the last frontier. So we need to have a Ministry that is focused on the globalization perspective, taking a look at each continent, each nation and its direct relationship with Nigeria with a view to taking advantage of it to advance our economy. The Americans have huge resources and they are coming to Africa. China has set aside billions of dollars for Africa. We need an aggressive person who can catch on all of those international resources, we need a ministry focused on all of these international connectivity to distill all of that for the benefit of Cross River State. If you leave it in a big umbrella, it will get scuttled, but once you put a specific specialized ministry, taking it with a direct instruction you are going to get value. If every of the 39 ministries achieve only one thing, I would have at the close of 2020 achieved 39 different projects that I would have delivered. It is a systematic division of labour to allow for specialization. That way you get indicators that you can use for budget monitoring and full evaluation of commissioners. Don’t forget that the appointment of commissioners is for an initial period of one year.

What are your thoughts about the new ministries and what are your expectations from them?

AYADE: The Ministry of Infrastructure has a responsibility to deal with my signature projects. Remember that seaport is infrastructure, superhighway is infrastructure, the dualization of Odukpani to Calabar is infrastructure. So that ministry has the sole problem of doing the connectivity between local governments and also creating a modern evacuation architecture that can support industrialization.
When it comes to issues of patching potholes, doing streets within Calabar, it is the job of the Ministry of Urban Renewal because infrastructure is for the bigger projects but the ministry that deals with urban renewal has the responsibility of keeping the town clean and neat with landscaping and planting of trees and grasses, keeping the lawns clean and putting the irrigation lines and all that.
For new cities, local governments that are not urban centres yet, we have the ministry of new cities development to deal with these. Anyhow you see, I took my time here to explain the difference between each ministry to ensure that there is no point of conflict as each ministry has a distinct role and responsibility as provided by my construction. So, I think that states should watch out because by the close of April next year, the Odukpani- Calabar dualization would have been completed. If you get close to the right hand side of Odukpani roundabout, you will see that there is a massive construction of the spaghetti flyover by a Turkish company, that is ongoing. All of that comes under the ministry of infrastructure. I think that is the one that will give us the kinetics that will allow for the evacuation of all our agro produce from the hinterland to the export zone which is the Ayade industrial park and ultimately into the deep seaport for export. I have a great dream with big ideas of what Cross River should be. Unfortunately, I came in at a time that we were financially challenged as a state with the economy at its lowest with the income from the federal allocations at its lowest ebb. If our people know what we get as a state they will be amazed as to how we are able to even pay salaries of primary schools teachers, civil servants and yet still embark on projects. You never know it  all, it is not easy. That is why when I see people criticise which is normal, I sympathize with their innocence because if they had an idea of what we inherited, they will be amazed and call me a super magician which is what my colleagues call me.

You have increased the number of youths and Women as Commissioners in your Cabinet, How would you assess the Performance of the earlier once you appointed?

AYADE: When you look at the new ministry I created, ministry of youths and skill acquisition, it focuses on the youths as well. The whole idea is that 65% of the Cross River population is below the age of 35. The implication is that they have the  larger population besides being the leaders of tomorrow. So, expanding and even bringing them into power is another opportunity for them to grow and take over.
While the older people have experience, the younger ones have passion and passion is the most important aspect than intelligent and capacity. Once you have passion, other things will follow. The only place you find real passion is among very young people. When young people who have never had appointments in government are given assignments, the kind of resource they throw upon me, I begin to wonder why they were not given the opportunity earlier.
Look at Finland, young women are ministers, President. They are all below the ages of 40. You see somebody at 32 is a President, so why would Africa abuse such huge energy, confining governance to the old? So indeed, my government is for the youth. I have a youthful mind, I am an old head on a very young shoulders.

Your Excellency why did  Create Ministry of Robotic and Artificial Intelligence?

AYADE:  The future starts today. Look at the whole world, before now it used to be heavy industries. Perhaps, let me take a little opportunity to educate the audience a little. The first step of industrialization was agro industrialization. The British started agro industrialization in 1876, beginning with agricultural produce and its ultimate beneficiation across the value chain which means you take cocoa and process it into chocolate, you take a product and drive it to the final value chain under agriculture.
The next step was heavy industries, manufacturing, construction, refineries, airports, construction of aircraft. That was the second industrial revolution. The third one is ICT. It is the latest and trending where you have someone like Jackman, just having a platform where a consumer and a producer meet on an artificial platform and make all the billions. You can imagine somebody has a Facebook for social meeting and he does a small advert there and he becomes a rich guy. The world today has moved to the first generation which is artificial intelligence and robotics. In this you are dealing with very sophisticated technology, the future where people will just sit down and take a robot to become a farmer. Difficult things that man cannot produce, robots will take over. You take artificial intelligence, people will begin to produce things that otherwise would have been found too cumbersome. So if you don't go into robotic and artificial intelligence by the time the world is moved, you see a car drive through a tollgate without stopping and yet pays the toll. Those days there was a manual barrier, today artificial intelligence knows the details, so the world has moved.
Young generstions of Cross River who are into software that will partner with Microsoft and work with ministry of Robotic and Artificial intelligence to create a new intellectual platform that will drive the future of Cross River, that is the way to go. Vehicles today drive themselves without any driver, so how is Cross River State preparing herself for that future? That is why Calas Vegas will be driven by artificial intelligence because all the movements will be by robotic technology. That's why I put an engineer in charge, who will work with me and the Microsoft team to actualise our dream.

What are we expecting from you  and Your team at this year's Carnival?*

AYADE: Trust me, I will do well and will like to thank your station. You have always been with us. You have been a very strong organ for us. You have helped us to also bring our projects to the fore. Let me also use the platform to educate Cross River that never in the history of the state have we suffered the level of economic challenge that we are going through. Our allocation has never been this low, we are not part of the 13% derivation, we are not part of the stabilization funds, we don't have anything out of NDDC, our land taken, our oil wells taken. There is a massive deduction from federation allocation occasioned by the debt we have actually accumulated. In three months, I don't pay less than N7 billion servicing debts. That kind of pressure on a state can lead us to nothing. God sees my heart. I want you to take example from states who are in the same bar of allocation with us. Primary schools teachers are owed in the last 10 months. People never know until you look at the other side. It always look greener. Just take a look at any other state. If Cross River is number 35 in revenue allocation, that gives you the idea of what I go through. You will wonder why the street lights still work, wonder why refuse is being picked, wonder why all those factories are springing up and it is only when I leave office that the society, Cross River State will appreciate the value that I brought.

What is your Assessment of Security Situation in Cross River State Today especially at the City Center?

AYADE: Take your time and look at statistics from the federal Bureau of statistics, look at the crime dairy of the Nigeria Police, crime rate in Cross River and indeed Calabar is very low. We are not there yet because we still have these occasional issues of kidnapping occurring. The painful thing is that people say why are you not demolishing houses? 100% of kidnappers in Cross River are not from Cross River, they don't live here, they are outside of this state, so you can't track them because they just come in from outside, commit a crime and leave. That is why we are starting massive racking and stop and search. Next year, which is almost from next week, traditional rulers and traditional institutions will be part of our security structure, where if there is an incident in your locality, we take your certificate and take you out of salary. Security is a responsibility of every citizen, the security in a tourist destination should be perfect and absolutely number one.
Today, nobody remembers that when I came into office you couldn't be in Calabar by 6pm. You won't be on the streets because skolombo boys. All that have been taken away until when kidnapping took over Nigeria and when there was too much military presence in the Niger Delta, all of them moved into Cross River State because operation Delta Safe provided security all over Niger Delta except Cross River State because they were after protecting oil lines. That massive movement of people into Cross River led to increase i  rate of kidnapping which I focused on and set up 'Operation Skolombo,' alongside different operating forces to focus on homeland security and deal with it squarely. Now, there is progress report.
Once an incident occurs in Cross River, everybody hears it instantly, but I tell you I cannot compare Cross River with any other state in terms of crime rate. We are miles and miles better. We are very open as we speak. I want to assure Cross Riverians that we are on top of our toes. I will know no sleep, I have to know no sleep for you to be able to sleep. Our security men, the commissioner of police, commander, 13 Brigade, other service commanders have just risen from a meeting. All areas and waterways are blocked. There is only one exit out of Calabar and nobody can take anything out. Walk safe and feel free to walk across the entire length and breadth of Calabar and enjoy your Christmas and enjoy Carnival Calabar.

Popular Nigerian singer, Ayodeji Balogun popularly known as Wizkid is currently trending on social media after a photo wherein he was spotted with legendary actress, Genevieve Nnaji hit the internet.

In the photo, the singer was seen with the actress at a concert with Wizkid wrapping his hand around the actress’s neck.
He was then seen whispering into the respected screen diva’s ear.

Since the photo broke out, fans have been saying that Wizkid likes big things – a reference to the perceived relationship between the singer and Tiwa Savage .


What Nigerians are saying:

Chelsea fans flooded social media with calls for Frank Lampard to be sacked after the Blues lost to Southampton.

Chelsea fans have called for the head of Frank Lampard after Chelsea lost 2-0 at home to relegation-threatened

Southampton. Goals from Michael Obafemi and Nathan Redmond either side of half-time sealed the Blues’ seventh loss of the season.

Lampard opted to stick with the 3-4-3 formation which proved so successful away to Tottenham last weekend.

However, Marcos Alonso was absent from the squad and Mason Mount dropped to the bench. Matteo Kovacic was also suspended after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.

Chelsea still had enough firepower and were expected to ease to victory against a struggling Southampton.

But Lampard was unable to prevent his side falling to an embarrassing defeat and fans turned on their former captain on social media.

“Lmaooo 2-0? Sack Lampard now!!! We can’t be losing at home against struggling teams like it’s nothing to @ChelseaFC,” one supporter tweeted.

And another added: “For the first time @ChelseaFC sack lampard before it is too late!”

While a further used wrote: “Sack lampard now such a useless coach gambling every week!! #lampardout.”

And one more fan commented: “This is hard to watch. @ChelseaFC Lampard will always stay average. Losing vs relegation team at the Bridge. Sack him at HT.”

Hoards of other supporters also called for their head coach to be axed despite sitting fourth in the Premier League table.

By Wale Odunsi


Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, a former Minister of Finance and Chairman, Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunisation (GAVI), has urged the President Muhammadu Buhari government to improve on immunisation coverage.

Okonjo-Iweala made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia on Thursday.

She commended the Federal Government for efforts made so far, but urged government to work harder to attain the average target set for Africa.


She said: “We like Nigeria to improve the immunisation coverage. We were initially at 33 per cent.

“Now they have worked hard. We are at 50 per cent now but we need to work harder to get us to the average for Africa.”

“Nigeria is one of the key countries where GAVI is engaged and we are very happy to be here.

“We have a very large programme for Nigeria and it is all grant and not a loan,” the former Managing Director of the World Bank Group said.

By Romoke W. Ahmad


Kwara State Governor, Mallam Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, has disclosed that the state government does not tamper with local government allocations from the federation account as being insinuated in some quarters.

He assured that rather, the entire allocation of the councils was used for payment of salaries of the local government staff and pensioners, adding that nothing usually remained in the council coffers for infrastructural projects.

He made this known while speaking at the public presentation of a pictorial compendium of the state of infrastructures and social amenities across the 16 local government areas of the state in Ilorin on Thursday.

The compendium was compiled by a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Kwara Development Trackers (KDT).

The governor put the salary arrears of the local government council workers left behind by the past administration at N5 billion adding that the monthly allocation from the federation account for both the state and the 16 local government areas is in the region of N6.5 billion.

He added that the previous government spent between N6 billion and N10 billion on water reticulation of Ilorin metropolis, with no water to drink in the city.

“That is why we have proliferation of boreholes in major towns and cities of the state. We don’t have reason to have borehole scattered across the Ilorin town. Boreholes are like stand-by generators to complement electricity supply,” he said.

“Our challenges are enormous and we are equal to the task. We know the enormity of the work and the task ahead. Sixteen years of rot of the last administration is difficult to fix in six months. Our administration has saved a sum of eight billion. This amount will be used to fund the 2020 budget,” he said.

In his welcome address, the convener of KDT, Barrister Sambo Muritala disclosed that his team embarked on the assignment to assist the present administration in identifying the needs of the people of various communities across the state.

“It is our resolution that no matter how beautiful the good idea of a government is, there can never be any commendation from the people if this good idea of government is not in tandem with the basic needs and necessities of the people,” he said.

DR INYANG ASIBONG, COMMISSIONER FOR INT'L DEVT COOPERATION/ DONOR SUPPORT SHOWERS LOVE ON STREET CHILDREN AND THANKS GOV AYADE FOR HER APPOINTMENT



The Commissioner, MIDC,  Dr Inyang Asibong has distributed Xmas gifts and cash to street children in the Calabar metropolis.

In her message to the street children, She said," I'm here to show love, support and give a sense of belonging to you, who are the future and hope of the Nation. This is in  part, a way of saying thank you to God and to His Excellency for the reappointment to serve as a member of the CRS Executive council. Thank you my boss, Gov Ayade for the reappointment and for having the confidence in me "

Dr Inyang Asibong promised to work harder to bring the glory to God and Cross River State and to make His Excellency, Gov Benedict Ayade and Cross Riverians proud. She also thanked Cross Riverians for their goodwill and urged everyone to continually pray and support for her boss, Gov Ayade and his new cabinet to take Cross river to  greater heights of prosperity and wealth.