By Jonathan Ugbal; Government House Correspondent
Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has announced an increment to the funding of Rovers football club of Calabar and Pelican Stars football club.
The clubs monthly imprest has been increased from NGN3 million to NGN5 million and Mr. Ayade said he will donate new buses to both clubs to aid their movement.
Mr. Ayade made the promise when the teams led by the chairman of Rovers Football Club, Mr. Maurice Inok stormed the Government House to endorse him for a second term in office.
He expressed satisfaction with the performance of the teams despite the challenges they face.
“I am quite amazed that you have been able to perform at this level despite all the issues you have mentioned here today. It shows the spirit of commitment on your part and as a government we must have to play our role,” Ayade said.
Also, Mr. Ayade announced the pay rolling of 100 members of the Cross River State supporters club and ordered that they be paid arrears from January 1, 2018.
Earlier, Inok enumerated Ayade’s achievements in his three years in office adding that Cross River is blessed to have Ayade as Governor.
“We want to thank the Governor for payrolling the players of Rovers and Pelican Stars and for the prompt payment of monthly imprest to the teams.
“There has never been a time we called on you for assistance and we get turned down, you have always stood by us and for this we are grateful.
“We have followed your administration’s success over the years and I must say we are highly impressed. From having the highest number of youths in your government in the country, to building world class factories in the state, all of these can only be achieved by a visionary leader like you,” Inok said.
He solicited the state’s continuous support to both teams.