Month: July 2023

Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has assured residents of the Calabar Metropolis that the State Government under the leadership of Sen. Bassey Edet Otu, is poised to tackle headlong the menace of flooding bedeviling the city.

Ayambem who gave the assurance, Tuesday, on the floor of the Assembly, after motion sponsored by Hon. Cyril James Omini, member representing Yakurr 1 State constituency called on the State Government through the Ministry of Environment and waste management agency to urgently de-silt all drainage systems in Calabar Metropolis.

Recall that the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), had announced that this year’s flood might be worse than 2022, with Cross River included among the affected states.

Arising from the forecast by relevant agencies on the impending flood danger and damages that it may cause the State, the 10th Assembly under Speaker Ayambem has swiftly swung into action to avert future flood disasters.

Ayambem stressed that the State Government will always be a step ahead in tackling adverse weather effect and the danger it poses on the state.

He also said that government is aware of its responsibility to evolve strategic methods that will improve the environment and guarantee a flood-free Cross River for all.

Hon. Peter Akpanke, the Member Representing Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency, brought smiles to the faces of his constituents, particularly women, individuals with physical challenges, aged parents, and those on the sickbed during his recent birthday celebration. Over the weekend, he generously extended the festivities to all three local government areas (LGAs) within his federal constituency.

In an effort to enhance the joyous occasion, Hon. Peter Akpanke launched a Medical Support Scheme, providing food items, and offering cash donations across the three LGAs of the Federal Constituency.

The thoughtful gesture received heartfelt appreciation from the beneficiaries in the various LGAs, who showered the Hon. Member with prayers and good wishes.

Expressing gratitude for the kind wishes and continuous support, Hon. Peter Akpanke emphasized that the welfare of his people is his primary duty, and he will strive to uphold it by God’s grace. Furthermore, he promised to celebrate his birthday annually at home with those he represents.

Accompanying him during the celebrations were Hon. Philip Agbese, the Member Representing Ado/Ogbadibo/Okpokwu Federal Constituency of Benue State, Hon. Adida Agabi, the State Auditor of the People Democratic Party, Cross River Chapter, his Campaign DG, Hon. Charles Eneji, and numerous other stakeholders, including religious, political, and opinion leaders from Bekwarra/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency.

Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Hon Elvert Eyambem, has directed an upward review of monthly emoluments to auxiliary staff of the Assembly with immediate effect.

Rt. Hon. Ayambem, who gave the directives in a meeting at the Assembly’s Conference Center in Calabar, emphasized that the 10th Assembly under his leadership will prioritize the welfare of the people.

The Speaker’s directives triggered ecstatic cheers and plaudits from the Assembly staff, who hailed Ayambem as “Mr. Talk and Do”.

In a related development, the Speaker also ordered the immediate rehabilitation of the toilet facilities and water systems, as well as the installation of solar lighting system around the Assembly complex, to curb the security challenges in the vicinity.

The Speaker charged the staff to be diligent in discharging their duties as it will foster a conducive working environment and produce positive results.

The staff also praised the Speaker for restoring sanity to the Assembly, and for making staff welfare his topmost priority, while acknowledging the Speaker’s goodwill as a morale booster and promised to reciprocate the uncommon gesture.

Chairman of the famous GFO Orim Foundation and Immediate past Chief of Staff to former Governor, Chief Hon (Dr) Martin Orim has received an award of excellence/ humanitarian award from the South-South Geopolitical zone of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).

Chief Martin Orim was nominated for the award on the 30th of June 2023, and the award was presented at Wetland Hotels in Delta State, as a result of his contributions to the wellbeing of the Nigerian Police Force, the society at large and his outstanding personality in human capacity building.

He thanked the Organizers (PCRC) for finding him worthy for the award, and pledged to keep up with his contributions to the development of the society.

 

The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Ayambem has called on his counterparts to consciously project the interests of their people in their legislative business as critical stakeholders in their respective governments.

Giving the charge on the sidelines of the conference of Speakers of Houses of Assembly, held at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja on Thursday, with the theme ‘Partnership to Engage, Reform and Learn (PERL), Ayambem stressed on the need to build strong relationships through meaningful engagements that will ensure that citizens become increasingly more effective and also influence governance.

Rt. Hon. Ayambem noted that the theme of the conference will help in the way legislators organize their legislative business as well as how state government make, implement, track and account for policies, plans and budgets used in delivering goods and services to the citizenry.

According to him, it will also help on how citizens themselves engage with these processes.

In his words, “I am delighted with the organization of this conference. I believe that it will help to awaken the mindset of the Speakers in attendance on the need to continuously put the people first in the day-to-day running of the affairs in their respective States.

“I also believe that the event will help me promote the interest of my people through developmental programmes.”

Concerning Cross River, he expressed enthusiasm, readiness and legislative curiosity toward a stable Assembly, assuring that the 10th Assembly, under his leadership, will by God’s grace be the best.

President Bola Tinubu has assured women in the country that his administration is committed to ensuring that Nigeria is retrieved from the vested interests that have stifled her development.

He also assured the women that issues of security, healthcare system and industrialization would be top on priorities of his administration.

President Tinubu spoke on Thursday at the State House when he received in audience the All Progressives Congress Women Leaders in the 36 States and Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, led by the APC National Woman Leader, Dr. Betta Edu.

The President declared that his administration was already implementing many policies and programmes that would positively impact the citizens.

This, he stated, includes the Students’ Loan Scheme, which he said would ensure their children enjoy a stable academic calendar in their respective tertiary institutions.

“We have established a scholarship scheme that would guarantee their four years of tertiary education,” he further said.

“Security is paramount in my administration’s agenda because women bear the cost of insecurity anywhere in the world. Issues of insecurity are being discussed at the highest level and this administration will ensure that insecurity is halted immediately.

“Medicare is another. We will ensure that health facilities are revamped and we will pursue this with vigour. Industrialization is yet another priority as your children and relations will gain employment,” President Tinubu stated.

While appreciating the women leaders for the visit, President Tinubu praised them for their support during the campaigns and elections, adding that they all deserve awards for their efforts.

“You all deserve gold medals because you worked so hard politically, overcoming so many obstacles like the fuel scarcity and Naira ‘confiscation,’ promising that their children would receive better rewards as their future is now guaranteed with the initiatives being put in place.”

With his new role as ECOWAS Chairman, President Tinubu told the visiting women that though his emergence would place on him additional responsibility, it would spur him to work even harder.

“We will continue to strive for a better Nigeria. You will not regret your confidence in this administration.”

Reaffirming his administration’s open-door policy, President Tinubu explained that the unity of the country is essential and central to his mind.

He advised the women leaders to be accommodating of others from other parties, who, having seen the silver lining and the brighter future that lie ahead, are now willing to come on board.

He tasked the APC women leaders to educate the citizens on the policies and programmes of his administration with the awareness that the present difficulties are temporary.

“You understand better, you are better coordinators, you know how to multi-task. The gains of the subsidy removal will be channeled to better the lives of Nigerians from the few that have been fleecing the nation,” the President said.

Earlier, APC National Woman Leader Edu stated that the women had come to congratulate the President on his victory at the polls, for the several good policies of his administration and for his election as ECOWAS Chairman at the last Summit.

The National Woman Leader enumerated the sterling records of the President as Governor of Lagos State which had endeared him to Nigerians.

These, Dr. Edu stated, include the unprecedented economic development of the state and infrastructural developments.

The APC Woman leader appealed to the President to consider more women in appointments into government positions.

Dele Alake
Special Adviser to the President
(Special Duties, Communications and Strategy)
July 13, 2023

Ejik Oban Development Association (EODA), a socio- political group in Akamkpa Local Government Area of Cross River State have commended Distinguished Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong for his commitment to the welfare and progress of Akamkpa people and the entire country with his People oriented motion on the rehabilitation of Calabar- Oban-Ekang Cameroon Border Road.

In a statement signed by Mr Chris Edet, the President of Ejik Oban Development Association, an umbrella body for Oban people in diaspora, described the Senator representing Cross River South Senatorial District as rare gem and a gift to the people of Cross River South and Nigeria in general.

“We are glad of your achievements and dedication to the service of our people with your heartwarming motion on the rehabilitation of Calabar Oban-Ekang Border Road, a vital infrastructure for the development and security of our Constituency, Cross River State and the Nation in general,” he said.

The group expressed confidence in Senator Ekpenyong’s leadership capabilities and eagerness to drive the needed change and development of Cross River South Senatorial District. They prayed for him, asking for continued wisdom, courage and strength as he carries out his legislative duties for the common good of our people.

The president of Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive council of Basang Development Union (BDU), Hon Sylvanus Anywawho has congratulated His Excellency Sen Godswill Akpabio on his emergence as the 10th Senate President.

The President of the union, Hon. Anywho made this known through a press statement, and it reads:

“The president of Basang Nation and leader of the 8th Executive council of Basang Development union write to Congratulate His.Excellency Distinguished Senator God’sWill Obot Akpabio, on his emergence as the Senate President of the 10th Senate, and consequently, Chairman of the 10th National Assembly of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

 

“Your emergence has blissfully enjoyed the support of Nigerians through the majority votes of members of the senate and the critical support of Mr. President, your party, and a section of members of the various opposition fronts.”

“It is about forty years, since our late son and leader, Late Senator Dr. Joseph Wayas was elected into this exalted office as Senate president. The South South region has not been opportuned to have any of their representative elected into this office. Basang Nation in Obanliku Local Government of Cross River State and the entire South South is indeed grateful to God and Nigerians for once again considering and recognizing the region for the Senate presidency.”

“While congratulating you and other Principal officers of the Senate, and indeed all members inaugurated, I pray that God will continue to lead you and the 10th senate in offering the totality of your services for the betterment of Nigerians, through the enactment of people oriented laws, congratulations.”

“Distinguished president sir, permit me to remind you that the remains of Senator Dr Joseph Wayas, your predecessor from your zone is abandoned in a UK hospital Morgue.”

“The lamentation of Dr.Joseph Wayas’s immediate family and that of the community is that as a successor to senator Dr. Joseph Wayas from the south South region, we have no doubt that you will immediately put machinery in motion to evacuate his remains home for burial.”

“Senate president sir, following our persistent call on Government to intervene in the burial arrangements of our leader, and son, sequel to the abandonment of his remains in a UK hospital, the senators representing the three senatorial districts in Cross River State, on the 4th of April, 2023 sponsored a motion in the floor of the Senate advocating for the intervention of Government in the burial arrangements. The senators also advocated for his name to be immortalized by naming a National monument after him.”

“As members of Wayas’s immediate community, we appreciated the senators concern but objected to the idea of only naming a National monument after him. Our reason is that it has no consequential benefits to the immediate community.”

“Senate president sir, recall that senator Dr. Joseph Wayas was just commencing a second term in office when he was ousted by the military junta. He had made promises to his community and constituency. It will take the community a long time to have his replacement, just like it took the entire south South zone forty years to have you being elected as Senate president.”

 

“Therefore, our position and agitation is that, late senator Dr. Joseph Wayas, former Senate president from 1979 – 1983 should be immortalized with projects that will be beneficial to his immediate family, his community and the senatorial districts.
These projects are;
1. Construction of Basang west road
2. Urbanization of Sankwala town
3. Convertion of Bebi campus of FCE obudu to a federal university of Agriculture or a federal medical center.

The Basang Nation wishes you success, and pray for unity of purpose til the end of your tenure in office.”

Signed
Hon. Sylvanus Anyawho
President Basang Nation.

The Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Elvert Eyambem has reassured Cross Riverians  that the State House of Assembly under his leadership as the Speaker will not witch-hunt individuals with the aim of bringing them down but to give stability to the executive arm of government.

Rt. Hon. Elvert Eyambem made this known while receiving Progressive Men Forum International led by its chairman, Kingsley Umolo, at the Speaker’s Conference Room in Calabar.

Hon Eyambem while addressing the group of progressives, noted that there was need to support each other to grow rather than pulling down others. He also encouraged the group to develop ideas that will add value to the Assembly and the state at large while also pledging to support the association in wherever they may be in need.

Mr. Ilobo Austine, who spoke on behalf of the progressive group, eulogized the Speaker for his humility, kindness, resilience and doggedness exhibited before the House of Assembly Election and during the Speakership race.

Ilobo thanked the Speaker for always supporting the group and for giving them audience to interact with him. He prayed God grant the Speaker more grace and strength to pilot the legislative chamber.

The progressive group also presented a congratulatory portrait to Mr. Speaker.