Political leaders in Nigeria from time immemorial especially in the fourth republic, developed a penchant for misfiring on issues that affect all Nigerians. From power to education, infrastructure, health and the topical COVID-19 pandemic of which as at the time of putting pen to paper, the country has recorded 46 cases with more suspected. It
Being the first of a three-part series by the author… The year has all but come to an end. I have decided to do a tripartite series on the politicians who deserve carrots and those who need sticks based on their outputs in 2019. Like they say, charity begins at home so I will start
For us in Cross River, it is yet another fiscal year, another budget and another tongue twisting confusion. Again as usual, the people would spend more time taking about, and trying to analyze the strange appellation of budget proposal presented to the House of Assembly. Definitely, the analyses would not dwell on its grave implications
Total debt of Cross-River State as at the end of 2017 was approximately N177.16bn. External debt grew to $167.9mn in 2017, from $114.9mn in 2016. Meaning the administration of Governor Ayade alone incurred additional $53mn external debt between 2016 and 2017. Cross River Domestic debt also rose to N125.65bn in 2017, from N116.06bn in 2013.
For a mass population of the Obudu, people, with unarguably the most politically sophisticated elite class in Cross River State, the Ayade governorship has presented them with an incomprehensible paradox. While his emergence as the first democratically elected governor of northern Cross River State extraction has enhanced their claim to being the drivers of Northern
I hate to break it to you, but the bitter truth is that someone you know might be considering suicide right now! Mark was my uncle, my mother’s last brother. He was only two years older than me and because he grew up in my father’s house, we were very close. We shared a room
April 2018, Cross River State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade, wept profusely at the State Executive Council chambers whilst signing the N1.3 trillion budget of kinetic crystallization into law. The governor asked Rev. Fr Bob Etta, his Special Adviser on Religious Matters, to commit the budget to God and while the prayer was ongoing, Ayade broke
The polity is awash with high expectations and permutations as usual. Heightened by the growing internet penetration that has ensured that you can no longer give anyone ‘news’ that is new, because in the remotest corner of our country and State, someone somewhere has a smart phone that conveys to his palm almost in real