Cross River at 50: Cross River continues to survive despite ceding of Bakassi

Governor Ben Ayade

BY AGOSI EZIN

Cross River State Government said it has grown industrially, culturally and socially to become a leading tourism state in the country for the past fifty years of creation. 

The State was among the twelve states created in May 27, 1967 by the former Head of State, General Yakubu Gowon during the military era.

The former Military Administrator of Kwara State, Col. (rtd) Pam Oga noted this in Calabar during the celebration Cross River at 50.

Ogar, who is heading the Central Planning Committee of the state’s fifty years anniversary, said the state has made progress in every sphere and has continued to survive despite ceding of Bakassi peninsular to Cameroun and the 76 oil wells to Akwa Ibom state. 

In his words, “The state has been ruled by eighteen governors, comprising twelve military governors and six civilian governors.  Under these leaders, the state made progress and since then, the state has witnessed tremendous growth and development in the areas of tourism, agriculture, health, education and many other spheres of development and endeavor”. 

He explained that the creation came by agitations of marginalization by minority groups in the country.

Ogar stressed, “You will recall that before the creation of states, minority groups in the then Eastern region of Nigeria had consistently cried out over the persistent marginalization by the majority groups in Nigeria.  They cried out over the limited opportunities in economic, social and public service positions.  They cried out over their limited opportunities in every sphere of life”.

“They cried out over discriminatory appointments, postings, and promotions and they cried out over the lopsided siting of development projects, infrastructure and social services.  These agitations by these aggrieved victims of marginalization in Nigeria, led to the demand for the creation of states to allow the aggrieved people to dwell on their own and manage their affairs the way they deem best,” he explained.

On changing the State logo, the Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Rosemary Achibong, said the state government has decided to keep the state former logo.  

She said the Governor, Senator Ben Ayade had to consider keeping the former logo because of the social media controversy surrounding change of the former logo to a new one.