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Category: Cross River Update

  • Protest Erupts at Cross River PDP Office Over Ousted Chairman

    Protest Erupts at Cross River PDP Office Over Ousted Chairman

    Protests have ensued from efforts by officials of Cross River Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to re-install the ousted Chairman, Mr. Venatius Ikem.

    As the move crystalise, party faithfuls converged on the state secretariat in Calabar, voicing their strong disapproval over the potential reinstatement of the party’s ousted state chairman. 

    Members from various local government areas and wards across the state gathered, holding placards expressing their dissatisfaction with the former chairman’s leadership.

    The protesters made it clear that if Ikem were reinstated, they would consider leaving the party.

    Some placards boldly declared their stance with messages like “Ikem must go,” and “The decision of the Cross River State Working Committee (SWC) is the best for the party.” 

    The protest, led by the chairman of Calabar Municipality, Bassey Asuquo, emphasized the belief that removing Ikem was a necessary step for revitalizing the party’s fortunes in the region.

    Asuquo and other local leaders spoke passionately about how Ikem’s leadership had hindered the progress of the PDP in Cross River.

     They argued that his actions had caused stagnation and division within the party, which they believed was detrimental to its overall growth.

    “We fully support any measure, including the removal of Ikem, that will help the party move forward,” Asuquo stated. “If the national leadership reinstates him, we’ll have no choice but to leave.”

    The protest gained further momentum with comments from Chief Dennis Nkiri, the PDP’s deputy state chairman, who assured the demonstrators that the party’s leadership was committed to doing what was best for its development.

     Mike Ojisi, the party’s state Publicity Secretary, added a metaphorical warning, saying, “We want Jonah to be removed from the boat for it not to sink.”

    Ikem’s removal, which took place two weeks ago, followed serious accusations of financial mismanagement, authoritarian leadership, and poor performance.

     However, the former chairman has contested the decision, labeling it as unconstitutional, and has threatened to seek legal action to reverse it.

    Despite his protestations, the anger among local party members remains palpable, with many insisting that his exit is non-negotiable for the future of the PDP in Cross River.

  • Cross River gov assents to amended electoral law

    Governor Bassey Otu has granted assent to the amended Cross River Electoral Law passed by the State House of Assembly which stipulated a four-year tenure for elected Local Government officials.

     

    Signing the amended Law on Thursday in Calabar, the state Capital, Otu stated, “Let me thank Mr Speaker and members of the House of Assembly, and of course, our own Electoral Commission for making sure that we have an up-to-date act that is ready to put the third tier of government into office.”

     

    The amendment by the House of Assembly was necessitated by the Supreme Court’s verdict granting autonomy to the local government as well as ensuring that states of the federation ensure local administrations are headed by elected officials in accordance with the constitution.

     

    “Local government is very important. That is the government that is closer to the people than any other government that we have in the Federation.

     

    “I want to appreciate the fact that you have done a good job and I know that Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission (CROSIEC), as they are going, they are going to announce the date for the election and people will be ready; so that we will follow the rules of the game,” adding that, “We want this particular segment of our government to be active so that the dividends of democracy will trickle right down to the downtrodden and the people who need it most,” he added.

     

    The Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Elvert Ayambem told newsmen that “what we have done today is in line with the Supreme Court judgment that was passed ab initio, and the Otu-led government being a proactive one, decided that the third tier government must come up almost immediately.”

     

    “For some time, we have not had the opportunity of having substantive chairmen in their right places of authority. And the governor thought it wise that we need to come up with the conduct of local government elections.

     

    “And the House of Assembly, in her wisdom, looked at the CROSIEC laws and realized that there were some grey areas that needed urgent attention. And those grey areas are the areas that have been largely attended to.”

     

    Ayambem said one of the most cardinal points tackled in the amended Law was the review of the tenure of the office of chairmen and councillors from three to four years on par with their elected officials at the state and federal levels.

     

    “As the Supreme Court judgment rightly had outlined the third tier government should enjoy the same status as that of the executive, the status of a governor and the status of a president where they have a tenure of four years in office and not three years at it were. So we looked at it in consonance with the Supreme Court judgment.

     

    “All that we have done is align strictly with what the Supreme Court has outlined. So we looked at it in consonance with the Supreme Court judgment all that we have done is align strictly with what the Supreme Court has outlined,” the Speaker added.

     

    Ayambem reiterated the state government’s stance on holding local government elections before the end of the year 2024.

     

  • Body Of Ex-Senate President Joseph Wayas Arrives Nigeria After 33 Months

    Body Of Ex-Senate President Joseph Wayas Arrives Nigeria After 33 Months

    The body of Nigeria’s Second Republic Senate President, Senator Dr. Joseph Wayas arrived in Nigeria 33 months after his death in the United Kingdom.

    The remains of the elder statesman, who arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja on Wednesday morning, were received by his family members; Cross River North Senator, Jarigbe Agom; Hon. Peter Akpanke; kinsmen, and other stakeholders.

    The body was thereafter deposited at the morgue of the National Hospital, Abuja, after opening two years and nine months at a London morgue.

    Senator Jarigbe, Hon. Akpanke and the family members of the late former two-time Senate President, were full of praises for Cross River State governor, Senator Prince Bassey Otu, for his spirited efforts in facilitating the transportation of Wayas’ remains to Nigeria.

  • Governor Bassy Otu Signs N296bn Budget, Economy Tops

    Governor Bassey Otu of Cross Rivers State, Friday, signed the ‘Peoples First’ Budget of N296, 985, 631, 978.1k into law.

    A statement by the Chief Press Secretary, of the governor, Emmanuel Ogbeche, stated that the event has the economic sector topping with N104, 986, 870, 898.59 billion.

    Presenting the estimates to the State House of Assembly on October 26, Gov. Otu said, “We have prioritized a higher capital expenditure over recurrent expenditure in our public expenditure structure, a

    “As a deliberate principle, we have maintained a higher capital–recurrent expenditure of 61.6% to 38.4%.

    “This not only emphasizes the importance of structural development but also a demonstration of the State’s commitment to the provision of the much-needed infrastructural facilities in our rural and urban centres.”

    Though the Governor had proposed a budget size of N250 billion with N154 billion as capital expenditure and N96 billion for recurrent expenditure, the Assembly jerked it up by N46 billion to N296 billion.

    The new budget bucket has capital expenditure of N180 billion and recurrent expenditure of N116 billion.

    Speaking at the budget signing, Governor Otu said, “the increase is predicated on the need to provide adequate financial support to our people living with disabilities which I requested for, after laying the Budget proposal before the State House of Assembly.

    “The increase in the budget allocation for this community is not just a necessity but a moral imperative: to erase social imbalance of this special demographics as they are a vulnerable group. They require specialized care, adaptive equipment, and access to resources that accommodate their unique needs.

    “This increase will facilitate better access to healthcare, assistive technologies, education, and employment opportunities tailored to their capabilities. Therefore, it is not just a fiscal decision but a statement of our values as a society which is espoused by my administration.

    “In addition, there is an upscale budgetary provision for payment of gratuity, debt services, counterpart funds, nutrition activities, social protection, climate change and gender responsive budget.”

    He further assured that, “This Administration is committed to prudent spending, effective governance, and unwavering dedication to the welfare of our people.

    “Towards this end, I have directed that efforts be made to ensure the earlier submission of the 2024-2026 Medium-Term Expenditure Framework and Fiscal Strategy Paper.
    “To achieve the laudable objectives of the 2024 Budget, we will further intensify our revenue mobilization efforts.”

    Aware of dwindling revenue inflow, the Governor noted that, “I am optimistic about our ability to finance the budget with creative funding options. We hope to surpass our revenue targets, therefore, revenue-generating agencies, and indeed all MDAs must ensure prompt and full remittances of collected revenues.”

    Highlights of the budget include; economic sector – N104, 986, 870, 898.59 billion; general administration – N95, 815, 641, 732.54 billion; law and justice – N7, 947, 139, 687.33 billion; regional sector – N1, 262, 390, 126.52 billion, and social sector – N86, 973, 489, 533.02 billion.

  • NSCDC parade suspected child rapist, vandal in Cross River

    The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps on Wednesday in Calabar paraded a man suspected to have raped two siblings aged six years and 11 years.

    The Commandant of the NSCDC in Cross River, Mr Samuel Fadeyi, told newsmen that the suspect was arrested following an alarm raised by neighbours.

    He said the suspect allegedly drugged the two minors who were hawking cow skin “Ponmo’’ by giving them soft drinks which he had spiked.

    He explained that immediately the drug in the soft drinks started having effect on the children, the suspect allegedly defiled them.

    “Luck ran out of the child rapist and when we tried to arrest him, his colleague, a suspected cultist and phone snatcher whom we had arrested earlier, tried to help him to escape.

    “The suspected cultist was arrested anew alongside the suspected rapist.

    “The suspected rapist, however, said he did not commit the crime though he had engaged in such activities in the past. He said he was being accused on account of past incidents.

    “We have taken the children to the hospital where they were confirmed to have been sexually-abused,’’ Fadeyi said.

    The corps also paraded a suspected vandal, aged 29 years who confessed that he committed the crime and that it was his third time.

    Fadeyi said the vandal was arrested in Calabar South for vandalism of electrical installations and theft of armoured cables which he sold to scrap metal dealers.

    “The suspected vandal confessed to the crime and he will lead us to his patrons.

    “He claimed that he vandalised the installations and stole the armoured cables to be able to feed and begged for forgiveness,’’ the commandant said.

    Fadeyi added that both suspects would be arraigned soon.