Month: January 2023

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News Politics

DG of OBO PDP Candidate Defects, As APC Concludes Campaign in Northern Senatorial District with an Unprecedented Crowd

As the campaign team of the All Progressives Congress arrives Okpoma, the LGA headquarters of Yala, the state governor and senatorial hopeful for the northern senatorial district, Sen. Ben Ayade and the party’s governorship candidate, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu have called on all registered voters to reject the People’s Democratic Party and vote the APC.

The team which included party leadership led by the state party chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Eba, deputy governorship candidate, Hon. Peter Odey, Director General of the campaign organization, Amb. Soni Abang among others, praised the governor for constructing the Okpoma-Mfum road.

Director General of the campaign, Amb. Soni Abang while addressing the Mammoth crowd said

“I am from the central part of this state and I can say that it is not our turn to be governor. It is witchcraft to want to take what it is not yours and we are not like that”

Governorship candidate of the APC, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu appreciated the people saying “ I am always excited whenever I am in Yala because of your political consciousness. We will complete all the projects that is yet to be completed. This state was almost insolvent when governor Ayade took over but out of ingenuity and deep vision he has laid a solid foundation for the State. When we take over, we will facilitate loans and grants to Yala sons who are involve in businesses, including ensuring that our sons who are local contractors are encouraged to rise and compete with companies like Julius Berger.

“I took Yala salt somewhere and I was told that it is the most organic salt you can ever have. We will harness the full potential of this mineral resource by establishing a salt factory, People know me for keeping to my words. If I say I will do something, you can take it to the Bank”

Speaking, Governor Ben Ayade said, “all through my stay in office, I did not sell any government property, instead I have built so many. I want to publicly appeal to our incoming governor, Sen Bassey Otu, that when you get into office, please make sure you complete this Okpoma-Mfum road. Let this be your first project in office.

“during my first term, all my projects were in the south. In politics, charity begins from the other side before coming home”

He called on the voters to support all candidates of the party

Highlights of the event was the defection of the Director General of the PDP candidate for Obudu, Obanliku and Bekwarra federal constituency, Hon. Peter Akpanke.

Credit: Prince Otu Media

Categories
Education News

Education: Chief Orim, Joins Executive Fellows at Harvard.

 

Chief of Staff to Cross River State Governor and Chairman of GFO Orim Foundation, Hon. Dr. Martin Orim, is currently attending the Harvard University Executive Education program on Power, Innovation and Leadership for the 21st Century.

According to the Harvard Kennedy School’s Executive Education website, the Senior Executive Fellows programme is “the unparalleled professional development programme for executives”.

The programme draws attendance from top US government and military officials, leading academics, and business leaders from around the world.

Harvard Kennedy School of Government is the world’s “leading professional school of governance and public problem-solving” according to the school’s online profile.

Chief Martin Orim is a government official, business man and a philanthropist of great repute, from Alege/Ubang in Obudu local government area.

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Politics

Obanliku agog for Ayade as governor canvasses support for Tinubu, Otu, Achunekang, other APC candidates

In continuation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) campaign in the Northern senatorial district of Cross River State, Governor Ben Ayade Monday led the party’s campaign train to the Obanliku local government area where a monster crowd of supporters attended the party’s rally.

The governor who is the party’s Senatorial candidate for Cross River North and the other candidates including the gubernatorial candidate, senator Bassey Otu, House of Reps member representing Obanliku/ Bekwara/ Obudu federal constituency, Hon. Legor Idagbo, state APC Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba and other party chieftains had earlier held a consultative meeting with the Obudu Council of Traditional Rulers who endorsed and gave their royal blessings to them.

The campaign train also held a strategic Town Hall meeting with critical stakeholders in the council including the youths, community leaders, market women, religious leaders and non-indigenes.

The venue of the Town Hall meeting was filled to the rafters and for several hours drumming and chanting of “Ayade, Back to the Senate”, Prince Otu is the next Governor” punctuated speeches by the governor and the other candidates.

At the campaign rally held at the expansive ground of the Obanliku local government secretariat, security agents had a hectic day controlling the massive but ecstatic crowd who insisted on catching a glimpse of the governor, Otu and the other candidates.

Upon sighting Ayade on the stage, the crowd went into a frenzy, ceaselessly professing their support for him and all APC candidates.

Speaking, an elated Ayade expressed gratitude to the people of the council for the warm reception.

Describing Obanliku as home, the Governor said he was sure of a 100 per cent vote of the people.

According Ayade, “Obanliku is my home, I’m home with my people and I’m 100 percent sure of my people’s vote.

“Therefore, I cannot come to Obanliku and ask for your votes, but l will ask for your votes for my own boss, the Jagaban, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, our presidential candidate.He has the capacity and competence to fix Nigeria the way he fixed Lagos.

“I ask for your votes for Senator Bassey Otu. Equity, fairness and justice demand that Cross River South produces the next governor.

“Besides, Otu is a good man. He is qualified and ready for the job, he is competent, he has the experience.

“I ask for your votes for Legor Idagbor for the House of Reps and Sunny Achunekang for the House of Assembly; they are eminently qualified, tried, tested and proven.”

On their part, Senator Otu and Hon. Idagbor assured the people of unprecedented socio-economic and infrastructural development if elected.

Categories
Politics

Come Together and Make Commitment to the General Cause, Let Your Votes For APC Speak For You – Legor Tells Obanliku

The All Progressives Congress APC Candidate for Bekwarra/ Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo has charged the good people of Obanliku to come together and make a commitment to the general cause to vote for APC in the 2023 General Elections and let their votes speak for them.

The Member Representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency said this when the campaign train of the party berthed in Obanliku and was received by massive record crowd recently.

He gave an analogy of how the people of the Northern Senatorial District came together and agreed that no body from the district should run against Sen. Liyel Imoke in his re election on the condition that the Governorship seat will move to the district in 2015, concluding that that was how Ayade became the beneficiary of that commitment.

Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo further stated that as a representative, he had promised Obanliku that they will not suffer under his watch and he has thus facilitated more constituency development projects in the Obanliku than in the other two Local Government Areas and will show this same commitment when he bows out of the House of Representatives.

Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo was in the company of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, the Senate Candidate for Northern Senatorial District, Sen. Prince Bassey Otu, the Governorship Candidate of APC for Cross River State and Rt. Hon. Sunny Achunekang APC Candidate for House of Assembly for Obanliku State Constituency.

Categories
News

VIDEO: Chief Orim Attends Harvard Leadership Course

The Chief of staff to Cross River State Governor and Chairman  of GFO Orim Foundation, Chief (Dr) Martin Orim is currently attending a leadership course at Harvard Kennedy school in the United states of America.

Chief Martin Orim disclosed this at the evening hours of today through his official Facebook page.

The post reads:

“At Harvard Kennedy School, Institute of Politics, learning Leadership for the 21st Century, listening to experts and meeting great minds and friends across the globe.” – Martin Orim”

Categories
News Politics

Presidency: Tinubu can fix Nigeria, says Ayade

Cross River State governor, Professor Ben Ayade has declared the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the only presidential candidate with the capacity to move Nigeria forward.

The governor, who is the APC senatorial candidate for Cross River North made the declaration at Ogoja, the political capital of Cross River North senatorial district at the weekend during an electioneering campaign.

The town was totally shut down as a mammoth crowd of cheering residents trooped out to welcome the APC campaign train.

The Ogoja council Hall where Ayade had earlier had a strategic meeting with critical stakeholders of the council before proceeding to the Ogoja Township stadium for a rally was filled to the rafters.
At the stakeholders meeting, Ayade insisted it was the turn of Southern Cross River to produce the next governor, saying anything to contrary amounts to injustice.

Security agents had a hectic day at the stadium wadding through thousands of ecstatic crowds that swarmed the facility to get a glimpse of the governor and other candidates of the party in the state, including its governorship candidate, Senator Bassey Otu, House of Reps candidate, Hon. Jude Ngaji and House of Assembly candidate, Thomas Aruku.

Speaking at the rally where hundreds of former members of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP defected to the APC, Ayade urged the people to vote for the APC from top to bottom to reciprocate his achievements in Ogoja.

“I built the first Vitaminized Rice Mill in Ogoja. For the first time, a state polytechnic is coming to Ogoja. For the first time, Ogoja has four Commissioners. Ogoja is my home”, he said.

The governor argued that justice, equity, competence and capacity to deliver demanded that Tinubu and Otu become president and governor respectively.

His words: “Tinubu can fix Nigeria. Tinubu comes with experience, he is an experiential architect with eyes-on and hands-on.

“He is a man who has got capacity; he has been invited at this time to do all he can to see to the growth of Nigeria. I, therefore, ask every person here to vote for Tinubu and also ask everyone here to please, tell every Nigerian to vote for Tinubu. It is the turn of Southern Nigeria to produce a president.

“Nigeria must remain one and the indivisibility of Nigeria is based on the principle of justice. It is also based on that sense of justice that I ask you to vote Distinguished Senator (Prince Otu) as the next Governor of Cross River state. It is the turn of Southern Cross River to produce governor, North and central having produced theirs. Prince Otu has the capacity, he has the intellect, he has integrity, he has content, he has every single element that qualifies one to be governor.”

Speaking further on why the APC presidential candidate should be voted into office, Ayade said Tinubu would make the infrastructural and economic development of Cross River a priority if elected.

According to him, “we are supporting Tinubu because if you listened to his speech on the day he won the primaries, the only thing he mentioned was the Bakassi Deep Seaport.

“He said he was going to ensure that the Bakassi Deep Seaport was completed under his first term. If he does that Bakassi Deep Seaport with a dual carriage road and the superhighway, Cross River will be the next Lagos.

“So supporting Tinubu is total because if he could fix a populous Lagos with calmness and decency, moving to the 5th biggest economy in Africa, then he can fix Nigeria.

“Let’s support Tinubu to become president of Nigeria so that the Bakassi Deep Seaport can be constructed.”
On his part, Senator Otu appealed to the people to vote for him and his running mate, Hon. Peter Odey who is an indigene of the area, promising to consolidate on the gains of the Ayade administration.

Categories
News

NYCN Present Akah Pius With Honourary Award

Former President of National Youth Council of Nigeria Obanliku Chapter, Comr. Akah Pius was on Friday honoured with an award by NYCN Obanliku Chapter in recognition of his commitment and immeasurable contributions to the growth and development of Obanliku and her Youths.

The former president was honoured at the recently concluded Youths Summit at Civic Center, Sankwala, Obanliku.

The current president of NYCN Obanliku, Comr. Prince Adie, presented the award at the event. Adie said that Akah was honoured in recognition of his outstanding and immeasurable contributions to the growth and development of Obanliku Nation and her youths while serving as the President of the Youth Council Obanliku Chairman of conference of Chairmen in the state.

According to Prince Adie, efforts of Akah Pius in repositioning and strengthening Youth Council and her youths in Obanliku are laudable and worthy of commendation.

Receiving the award, Comr. Akah thanked NYCN for the honour, noting that the award is special to him considering that he has received several awards across the state for his contributions to youths development but this was his first from Obanliku Youth Council which he served to merit others.

Akah assured of his continuous support to the development of Obanliku youths.

The former youth president used the opportunity to charged youths to be focused, determined and explore opportunities outside politics.

He frowned at the manner in which the entitlement mentality had led people into disparaging distinguished personalities. “Nobody owes you anything. Let us try and overcome the entitlement mentality.”, he added.

Categories
News

Obong Crisis: Etubom’s Council Members Write Governor Ayade, seek his intervention to forestall breakdown of Law

Some Legitimate Etuboms of the Palace of the Obong of Calabar have kicked against the purported selection process that produced Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu who was dethroned by the decisions of the Supreme Court in Appeal No: SC.633/2013-Etubom Anthony A. Ani & Ors v. Etubom Ekpo Okon Abasi Otu & Ors and Appeal No.: SC.634/2013-Etubom Anthony A. Ani & Ors v. Etubom Essien Ekpeyong Efiok & Ors.

In a statement jointly signed by three (3) of the
Legitimate Etuboms on behalf of the Etubom’s Traditional Council, the Etuboms stated clearly that all those who took part in the selection process were not qualified ab ignitio to take part in the process.

The traditional rulers in their statement urged the State Governor to intervene in the matter to forestall a breakdown of Law and order and ensure the unbiased implementation of the Decisions of the Supreme Court.

The Full Press Statement is attached below.

Categories
News

Obanliku Youths Honour Abeshi in Recognition of His Contributions to Community and Youth Development

 

The National Youth Council of Nigeria Obanliku chapter recently presented a plaque award to Assoc Prof Sylvester Abeshi a consultant gynaecologist with the University of Calabar teaching hospital and HOD of the department to honour and recognise his contributions to the development of Obanliku.

Speaking on behalf of the youths and the youths coordinator Prince Adie Unimke during the presentation, Marcus Mark, the chairman of the awards committee expressed his unreserved appreciation to Assoc Prof Abeshi for all of his contributions to the growth Obanliku.

Prof has been a great inspiration to medical students of Obanliku origin who have studied under him and have always stood as a pillar for them to look up to. He has also continuously privately supported the education of several other Obanliku young men and women in cash and kind.

Receiving the award, Assoc Prof Abeshi took time to narrate the story of how hardwork and determination has led him to the apex of his career. He implored Obanliku youths to become more intentional and committed to their education as it will break barriers for them.

Categories
News

NEITI south-south Boss receives NYCN award, calls for actionable ideas in promoting youth development

On Wednesday, Nigeria Extractive Industries and Transparency Initiative representative from south-south, Engr. Christian Awowoh, received National Youth Council of Nigeria, Obanliku Chapter honorary award for his distinguished services to the Nation and contributions to the growth of Obanliku youths.

While receiving the award at his Calabar abode, Engr. Christian Awowoh called on the youths imbibe the culture of hardwork and determination to succeed beyond politics. He urged the youths to place premium on businesses and career development as these are more profitable than using social media as platforms to exhibit idleness.

According to the NEITI south-south Boss, the narratives of outsiders developing Obanliku should be withered. He said Obanliku development should not be dependent on non-indigenes but on the collective efforts of all Obanliku sons and daughters towards changing the outlook of the LGA.

“I cannot come and build Obanliku city alone. But Tanko, Dr. Amanke and a few others have contributed to the infrastructural renewal of Obanliku (Sankwala City). So it means that if 100 sons and daughters of Obanliku could replicate what Tanko and a few others have done, sankwala will become a city.” He noted.

Awowoh thanked the Youth Council for finding him worthy of the award and pledged his continuous support in youth development.