Month: May 2026

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News

Gov. Bassey Otu Becomes First Nigerian Governor to Export Football Talent to Europe

In a historic move that sets a new benchmark for youth empowerment in Nigeria, Cross River State Governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu, has launched an unprecedented initiative to export homegrown football talent directly to European leagues.

The initiative dubbed “From Cross River to Europe,” and co-ordinated through the Cross River State Youth Empowerment Scheme (YES)—is designed to transition young football athletes from local pitches to global stages. By providing a structured pathway for professional development, the program effectively eliminates the barriers of lack of opportunity that have long stifled the dreams of gifted Nigerian football youths.

Dr. Kalita, Chairman of the YES initiative, hailed the Governor’s visionary leadership during a press briefing. “Governor Bassey Otu is a trailblazer. No government in the history of Nigeria has ever taken the bold step of directly sponsoring young football talents to Europe,” Dr. Kalita stated. “We promised the people that under the ‘People’s First’ mandate, we would empower our youth in their specific areas of strength. Today, we are delivering on that promise.”

Beyond individual empowerment, the scheme is strategically designed to ensure institutional sustainability. A portion of the players’ future remuneration will be channeled back into the state, creating a steady stream of foreign exchange.

“The era of our talented players watching their dreams die due to a lack of support is officially over,” Dr. Kalita added. The scheme will operate in close partnership with the Cross River State Ministry of Sports to identify and groom the next generation of football icons.

 

 

 

 

 

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News

Relief at Last as Bekwara Council Chairman Odama Flags Off Strategic Abuochiche–Itekpa Link Road

The Executive Chairman of Bekwarra Local Government Area, Hon. Egbung Odama Egbung, has flagged off construction of the long-neglected Abuochiche Old Junction to Itekpa Road, setting in motion a project many residents describe as long overdue.

For years, the stretch served as a difficult passage despite its importance. It links critical facilities including the Model Clinic, Noble College, Bekwarra Luxury Suites, and a major fuel outlet. Its poor condition had slowed movement, affected local businesses, and limited access to essential services.

With work now underway, residents say the impact is already visible. The road is expected to ease traffic pressure around the New Junction, especially on peak market days, while offering a faster route for commuters coming from Ogoja and southern parts of Bekwarra to the council headquarters.

The project forms part of the Chairman’s Inter-communal Rural Tract Revitalization effort, aimed at opening up key access routes across communities. Speaking at the site, Odama restated his focus on practical development, noting that projects will be handled in phases to ensure wider coverage.

He called on residents to safeguard the infrastructure and sustain support for ongoing development efforts, assuring that more communities will benefit in the months ahead under the present administration.

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Politics

Jarigbe Hits Ayade Hard, Says Former Governor Joined APC After Losing PDP Structure, Adds: “Ayade Is a Political Disaster, Cross River North Will Not Vote for Him Again”

The political atmosphere in Cross River North has taken a sharper turn as Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe has issued a strong response to former Governor Ben Ayade, accusing him of distorting facts, misleading the public, and attempting to rewrite the political history of the Northern Senatorial District.

In a statement titled “Senator Ayade Distorts Facts: We Put the Facts Right,” Senator Jarigbe dismissed Ayade’s claims of political strength and commitment to the All Progressives Congress, APC, insisting that the former governor had lost touch with the people of Cross River North.

Jarigbe accused Ayade of hypocrisy, particularly over his alleged claim of love for Muslims. According to him, Ayade once criticized him for wearing Hausa traditional attire and described the outfit as a sign of “split personality.”

“A man who admonished me for dressing in Hausa traditional attire and referred to my Hausa outfit as a display of split personality cannot claim to be a lover of Muslims more than me,” Jarigbe stated.

He further alleged that Ayade had shown resentment towards the Muslim community, adding that Muslims in Cross River North voted massively for him against the former governor.

The senator also challenged Ayade’s political relevance, stressing that while he was still in the PDP, his political structure defeated Ayade in Cross River North.

According to Jarigbe, his camp won the Senate seat, two House of Representatives seats, and four House of Assembly seats, while Ayade, then a sitting governor, only managed to secure the House of Assembly seat in his immediate state constituency.

“We are not political weaklings. We come with votes. We have votes for the party because we have worked for our people,” he declared.

Jarigbe also faulted Ayade’s claim that he worked for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu in the 2023 general election. He argued that Ayade contested the APC presidential primary against Tinubu, lost, refused to step down, and later failed to deliver Cross River State to the APC during the presidential election.

“Senator Ayade lied when he said he worked for Mr President in 2023. He took part in the presidential primary election and lost woefully to PBAT. In the general election, he lost Cross River State to the opposition. Why is he lying?” Jarigbe asked.

On Ayade’s movement from the PDP to the APC, Jarigbe claimed that the former governor only defected after losing control of the PDP structure in the state. He said Ayade did not join APC out of genuine love for the party but because he felt politically displaced.

“Let it be on record that Senator Ayade only left PDP for APC after we collected the PDP structure from him. He felt empty, displaced, and dejected. He did not leave for the love of APC,” he said.

The senator further accused the former governor of poor governance, saying Ayade should not be rewarded with another opportunity after, in his words, “emptying the treasury” and denying the people effective representation.

Jarigbe maintained that the people of Cross River North have rejected Ayade and commended the APC leadership for refusing to impose him on the people.

He also took a swipe at Ayade for allegedly making a public post and blocking comments, daring him to open the comment section and allow the public to freely express themselves.

“Senator Ayade just made a post and blocked people from commenting. I dare him to unblock and see the comments from the public,” Jarigbe said.

Speaking on zoning, Senator Jarigbe dismissed claims that the Cross River North senatorial seat had ever been zoned to Ogoja, insisting that he did not become senator through zoning.

“There has never been zoning in the senatorial seat of Cross River North. When was the Senate seat zoned to Ogoja? Did I get to the Senate through zoning? No,” he stated.

Jarigbe advised Ayade to join hands with the leadership of the state and work for the APC, rather than, according to him, building unrealistic political expectations.

He concluded by reaffirming his loyalty to the APC and its leadership, while insisting that no amount of embellishment can turn falsehood into truth.

“No matter how you embellish a lie, it will not become the truth,” Senator Jarigbe declared.

Categories
Politics

President Tinubu Directs Ex-Governor Ayade to Step Down from 2027 Senate Race

Former Governor of Cross River Senator Prof. Ben Ayade, has yielded to a directive from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to withdraw his ambition for the Cross River North Senatorial District seat in the 2027 general elections.

In an emotional statement released on Monday, Ayade disclosed that he was recently invited to Abuja for a high-level national consultation with the Presidency. Following the meeting, it became evident that the President wanted him to shelve his senatorial bid.

“I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony,” Ayade said.

Ayade Lists Contributions, Appeals for Review. The former governor, who served two terms as governor and was a senator before that, recounted his significant contributions to the growth of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the South-South region.

He noted that he was the first APC governor in the South-South and played a foundational role in building the party’s structure in Cross River State. During the 2023 presidential election, he delivered nearly 40,000 votes above the PDP’s performance in the state a historic feat.

Ayade also reminded President Tinubu of his early support, stating that he was the first APC governor to push for Tinubu to be given the right of first refusal as the party’s 2023 presidential candidate. He popularized the slogan: “If Tinubu Can Fix Lagos, Tinubu Can Fix Nigeria.”

Despite these efforts, Ayade said he has been sidelined for over three years without any federal appointment. He is, however, currently running a free transportation scheme as part of his campaign support for the President’s expected 2027 re-election bid.

He appealed to the President to revisit the order, arguing that his federal constituency has only enjoyed senatorial representation for eight years, while his main opponent has had 20 years. Granting the opponent another term, he said, would amount to a fourth term in the National Assembly.