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Gov Otu Has Changed The Narrative In Cross River – Hon Brian Odey
…As Governor Otu, Ogar Eba, Emmanuel Ironbar, Others welcomes Hon Brian Odey to APC
…Over 2000 LP defectors join APC in Yahe Ward
By Ebriku John Friday
The member of the Cross River State House of Assembly representing Yala 1 State Constituency, Hon Odey Brian has applauded the Cross River State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu, saying he has changed the narrative in the state.
Hon Brian Odey, member of Cross River State House of Assembly representing Yala 1 State Constituency addressing mammoth crowd during his official defection rally in Yahe Ward, Yala LGA, yesterday
Hon Odey, who is also the chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts stated this during his defection rally into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), at his Yahe Ward in Yala Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The State Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu ably represented by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Eyambem, the Cross River State APC State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq, JP, Deputy Speaker Hon Sylvester Agabi Jnr, Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Emmanuel Ironbar, Deputy Chief of Staff to the Governor, Hon Boniface Okache, were amongst top government functionaries and political leaders present to welcome the lawmaker into the APC family.
Also present were several members of the party, Commissioners, senior government appointees, APC chapter and ward excos, including Commissioner for Housing, Hon (Dr) Mrs Beatrice Igwe, DG Rural Electrification Agency,.Hon Francis Ekpo, GM RUWATSSA, Hon Sunday Oko (Otolo), Hon John Eyikwaje, Hon Mrs Ezama, Hon Richard Ogbeche, Barr Roland Ipuole, Victor Bravo, SA Mobilisation amongst others.
This is just as Hon Brian defected with over 2000 supporters including the ward and chapter excos of the Labour Party in Yala and other LGAs in Cross River North.
The state lawmaker was received by the ward Chairman, who presented him with the copy of the party constitution and a bunch of broom which is the symbol of the APC.
In his remarks, Hon Brian said, “I stand before you today to make this sweet and wonderful decision to join the APC. We are all aware that I cannot do without the APC. They were involved from the start, I was endorsed and adopted and today I have become a legitimate and bonafide member of APC.
“I want to thank our dear Governor, His Excellency, Sen Prince Bassey Edet Otu for.the enabling environment, for accepting us and for making it possible for us to be here. We are all aware that he has changed the narrative in Cross River State. He has done so well in so many areas. He has reduced the spare of insecurity to the barest minimum.”
Meanwhile the State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar in his remarks said the defection of Hon Brian Odey into the APC has completely annihilated the Labour Party in Yala and Cross River North.
Welcoming him to the APC, Eba described Hon Brian as a “young man, who is humble, unassuming, down to earth, and called by God Himself to join our party. His spirit has been with us all this while, but today he is physically joining us. I have no hesitation to welcome him into our party. I must commend him for what he has done.”
He said, there was something fundamental about Hon Brian, that his efforts to attend the rally was meted by different hindrance as flights were either canceled or he missed his flight, but that Hon continue to tell him on calls that, ‘My story of returning to APC will not be complete if you are not here.’
He explained that, “It was the original plan of our party to zone the house of Assembly ticket to Yahe because Yahe Ward has never had House of Assembly before but we were cut in between two injustice by compensating those who have left PDP to join us. But as fate would have it, it didn’t work out. But today I stand here publicly again to forgive everybody who was part of whatever befell us that made this ticket to come to Yahe. Because this is the will of God.
“We don’t have problem of leadership in Yahe, we have had the best of leaders. But what Yahe needs now is a servant leader and so I welcome Hon Brian Odey into the APC.
“Today Labour party is in tartars. Section 59 sub section 51 of the Constitution of the federal Republic Nigeria has given him the humongous right to join us. I am happy because he has completely annihilated the entire LP structure in Yala and Cross River North, starting from chapter Chairmen to the whole ward Chairmen. Congratulations!
“But let me use this opportunity to send a notice to anybody who said he is sitting in National Assembly that we have come to take over Yala, Ogoja and the North. I come with the anointing of the taking over in Edo State. And we would do it double in Yala.”
In the same vein, the Speaker of Cross River State House of Assembly has called on the people of Yala to stand with the State Chairman, Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq, JP and deliver 95% to Governor in 2027 as their appreciations for the huge sacrifices of the State Chairman and the great work of the state state Governor, Sen Prince Bassey Otu.
He said, “I bring greetings from His Excellency the sweetest Governor of our time. He has transformed the entire Cross River State and of course from Yala, which means the Governor has Yala at heart. And for this thank you, you are all sending to the Governor by welcoming your representative to our party, shows clearly that you people are very grateful for what the governor has done. Hon Brian Odey is the annihilator of Labour party in the North. You have done so very well.
“Our state chairman, Barr Okadigbo, I tell you in good faith that God bless the day you found Hon Brian, you didn’t just gave me a friend, you fave me a brother. You gave me a dependable ally,. Hon Brian is a very humane person, humble, soft spoken with a very good heart. Hon Brian can befriend anybody for the sake of peace. God bless you .
“And please for those of you who have found time to come to say you are aligning with the APC I tell you in no distant time the governor would have recognized you and shining like a bright star.
“Let us join hands together and help the party chairman who has worked tremendously for this party. Let’s join hands together with him and the rest of your representatives to pull Yala 95% to the APC. That is the only way you can tell the Governor thank you. There’s no governor that has done as much as what Prince Bassey Otu has done for the Ukelle people and the entire Yala LGA. I tell you this in good authority, the Governor has Yala at heart.
“And please the reward for hard work is more work. The day the party chairman would come to say Yala I have worked for you, work for the State, it’s your turn to reward me, please do not hesitate to reward Barr Okadigbo.”
Concluding the speaker asked, Are you going to do that to support Barr Okadigbo? and he got a yes chorus answer. Again, he asked “In 2027 are going to support and vote Prince Bassey Otu? He got a resounding ‘Yes’ chorus answer from the mammoth crowd that gathered during the rally.
It would be recalled that Yala 1 State Constituency comprise eight political wards namely: Yahe, Okpoma, O’oh, Ugaga, Okuku, Echumofana, Gabu and Yache wards.
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NDDC At 25: Cross River’s Cynthia Oloko, 19, Emerges Second Place Winner At Miss Niger Delta 2025
...Deputy Governor, APC Chairman, and Senators Celebrate Her with Generous Cash Gifts
Miss Cynthia Iyowogoga Oloko, a 19-year-old from Cross River State, has emerged as the first runner-up (second place) at the Miss Niger Delta 2025 beauty pageant. The event, held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, was part of the 25th Anniversary celebrations of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
Cynthia, a final-year student of Rivers State University of Science and Technology, where she studies Human Anatomy, competed alongside nine other contestants representing the nine states of the Niger Delta—Abia, Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, Imo, Ondo, and Rivers.
Crowned with the title “Pride of the Niger Delta”, Cynthia received a cash prize of ₦7.5 million for placing second in the pageant.
In recognition of her achievement and the pride she has brought to Cross River State, several political leaders and dignitaries extended their support. The Deputy Governor of Cross River State, Rt. Hon. Dr Peter Odey, gifted her ₦3 million, the APC State Chairman, Barr. Alphonsus Ogar Eba, Esq., JP, contributed ₦1 million, while the state’s two Senators jointly supported her with another ₦3 million—bringing her total cash reward to ₦14.5 million.
According to the organisers, all nine contestants underwent intensive training and were empowered with skills and starter kits to help them become self-reliant and impactful in their communities.
The Miss Niger Delta pageant is designed not just as a beauty contest, but as a platform to empower young women across the region. It aims to nurture leadership, entrepreneurship, and community development among participants. The initiative is rooted in the belief that empowering women is key to building stronger families, communities, and society at large.
Many past participants have gone on to become successful entrepreneurs and community leaders. The programme, sponsored by the NDDC, is part of its commitment to identifying and nurturing young talents in the region.
This year’s overall winner received a brand-new car and ₦10 million, while the second runner-up (third place) received ₦5 million. The remaining six contestants each received ₦1 million as a consolation prize.
Miss Cynthia Oloko was born in 2005 to Engr. and Mrs Cosmas Oloko Ekawu. She attended Trailblazers Academy in Gwarinpa, Abuja. Her hobbies include swimming, running, networking, and travelling. She aspires to build a career in entrepreneurship and politics, with a strong passion for leadership and community development.
Congratulations Miss Cynthia
The Chairman of Yala Local Government Area, Cross River State, Hon Dr Fred Okem has dissolved all revenue agencies operating in the Council with effect from 31st December 2024.
Hon Dr Fred Okem, Chairman Yala Local Government Area
This was contained in a release on Monday 6th January 2025 by the Chief Press Secretary, Emmanuel Unah.
The Chairman also cautioned that anyone who flouts the directive would be handed over to the security agencies for proper action in line with relevant laws.
The local government helmsman is expected to reposition the revenue agencies with the aim of boosting internally generated revenue in the council for adequate measures towards the development of Yala in line with the People First Agenda of the State government.
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Council, Ms. Grace Ike, has been named Nigeria’s Media Personality of the Year 2024. This prestigious recognition was conferred by the Editorial Board of Good Governance Today Nigeria at a grand ceremony held at the National Merit House, Abuja.
NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike
In addition to the honour, Ms. Ike was inducted into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame—a testament to her exemplary contributions to leadership and professional journalism in Nigeria.
The award acknowledges Ms. Ike’s uncommon leadership qualities and her unwavering commitment to advancing journalism as a tool for national development. Her selfless service to humanity, her state and the nation has made her a beacon of hope and inspiration for many.
Speaking at the event, the organiser and the managing editor of Governance Today , mr Sylvester Abudu Omose commended Ms. Ike’s visionary leadership and her remarkable strides in reshaping the landscape of journalism in Nigeria. Her relentless dedication to using journalism to advocate for transparency, justice, and public enlightenment was described as both inspiring and transformative.
“Ms. Grace Ike’s achievements transcend the ordinary. She has redefined what it means to serve humanity through journalism. Her work exemplifies the power of the media in fostering societal progress and governance,” the board stated.
In her acceptance speech, Ms. Ike represented by one of her media aides, mr Ademola Adepoju expressed her gratitude for the recognition and attributed her success to the collective efforts of her team at NUJ FCT Council and the support of stakeholders in the journalism community. She reiterated her commitment to promoting ethical journalism and upholding the values of truth, accountability, and service to humanity.
“This award is not just a recognition of my efforts but a call to do even more. Journalism is the lifeline of democracy, and we must continue to use it to uphold justice and transparency for the betterment of our society,” Ms. Ike remarked.
The event was attended by dignitaries from the media, government and civil society, who lauded Ms. Ike’s achievements and pledged continued support for initiatives that promote good governance and ethical journalism in Nigeria.
As Ms. Grace Ike steps into the Good Governance Today Nigeria Hall of Fame, her legacy as a leader, journalist, and advocate for humanity continues to inspire a new generation of professionals committed to making a difference in their communities and the nation at large.
