By CrossRiverWatch Admin
Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has approved the appointment of Ojong Ayiba as the Managing Director of the Tinapa Business and Leisure Resort.
Also, Ayade approved the appointment of Justina Ovat as the General Manager of the Tinapa lakeside Hotel.
Ojong Ayiba is the immediate past Chairman of Ikom local government area of central Cross River State.
Ovat is the founder of the Calabar Hospitality House and until her appointment was the Special Adviser on Tourism Development to Governor Ayade.
A statement signed by the spokesperson and Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade says the appointments are with immediate effect.
Until their appointments, the commissioner for finance, Asuquo Ekpenyong jnr. was heading both facilities following the termination of the appointment of Mrs. Francisca Edem as the MD on February 10, 2016.
The sacking came barely a year after Francisca who was a Special Adviser to former governor Liyel Imoke replaced Arch. Bassey Ndem whose tenure had elapsed.
The resort, since its commissioning by former President Olusegun Obasanjo has been enmeshed in several controversies notably the muddled takeover of the facility by the Asset Management Company of Nigeria (AMCON) which remains a mystery as the stage of takeover is known to only a few.
An initiative of former governor Donald Duke, the project is seen by some as a white elephant project as it is yet to achieve its full potential.