Consultancy Services

ASSOCIATION OF CROSS RIVER STATE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PENSIONERS

RECONSTITUTION OF CONSULTANCY OUTFIT

MISSION:
To Impact knowledge and transfer the experience from our years of service to the younger generation through appropriate training and retraining of functionaries in the public and private organizations.

PROFILE:
Outfit in made up of experienced retired civil and public servants, members of the academia and chartered professionals.

MANDATE:
Training and retraining through seminars, workshops, conferences, and symposia, retreat etc. for personnels of public and private organizations.

Rendering specific professional services in areas of need to the public.

* Operate skill acquisition and entrepreneurial development centres to

afford Pensioners and indeed interested members of the public the

opportunity to learn a trade and establish small and medium scale

enterprise that will enable them create wealth and become self-reliant.

ORGANIZATIONAL CHART:
Activities and courses are collapsed into single faculty-Human departments.

The faculty is headed by a Dean-There is a secretary. The departments are under departmental heads. Each department has consultants and eminent contributors

FOREWARD
Cross River State as a State in South South Region of Nigeria, is seen by many people in different perspectives, without a deep knowledge of the state. Some due to lack of information and ignorance have given different interpretations to the state to suit their various interests.

This is the second edition of masterpiece “CROSS RIVER STATE AT A GLANCE” is put up by the Association of Local Government Pensioners in Cross River State as their contribution towards enlightening the people on the real Cross River State. People within and outside Cross River State have certain misconceptions about the state in areas of culture, languages, tribes, tourism potentials, etc and their locations within the state.

Researchers have been lamenting about the dearth of vital information on Cross River State, but with this book, all the lamentations and misconceptions have come to an end. The revision of “Cross River State at a glance” is predicated on the fact that some information, facts and figures in the first edition are obsolete and therefore, they are updated to meet current reality.

CROSS RIVER STATE AT A GLANCE is a book with insights into not only Cross River State as an entity, but detail information on the 18 Local Government Areas making up Cross River State. The Local Government Areas are arranged in alphabetical order so as to assist the readers. Each Local Government Area comes with its features and characteristics. The various contributors who are seasoned Local Government Administrators have brought their wealth of experiences to bear in this book for the benefit of our diverse readers.

Having traversed the entire Local Government Areas of Cross River State in the course of my duty for an average of twice yearly for a period of 22 years, and as a former Director of Local Government Inspectorate, Ministry of Local Government Affairs, Calabar and as a lecturer in the University of Calabar, I find this book very fascinating and informative to our esteemed readers. We therefore without hesitation recommend this book to all Nigerians as well as tourists to Cross River State.

Sir. Patrick O. Bassey (KSM)
June 2022

PREFACE

“CROSS RIVER STATE AT A GLANCE” was conceived by the Association of Cross River State Local Government Pensioners based on their personal experiences and observations on the structure, composition and operation of Cross River State Local Government Areas.

Uptil now, many people including students do not know the number of Local Government Areas and its headquarters in Cross River State. Many others lack the knowledge of number of wards in each of the 18 Local Government Areas as well as the Federal Constituencies in each ward. Population figures of the State and Local Government Areas as well as their maps are not known by many people in Cross River State. In addition to the above, many tourists do not know which Local Government Area has tourist sites of their interest for visitation.

There are many distortions as to the distances from Calabar, the state capital to the local government area headquarters, as well as distances between major towns in Cross River State.

This book therefore provides leverage for the understanding of the above puzzles. It is quite revealing.

Simple local and practical examples have been used throughout this book for purpose of clarity. People going for interviews concerning Cross River State should heave a sigh of relief. Local and State Government Civil/Public servants, Pensioners, Tourists, Politicians, Colleges, Tertiary Institutions, Businessmen, Transporters, Researchers, etc. should make this book a must read to broaden their horizon about Cross River State.

Comrade Bassey B. Okosin
Chairman
Association of Cross River State Local Government Pensioners.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We hereby thank the Almighty God for His grace that facilitated this work; we are grateful.

For a work of this nature to be properly completed, a lot of contributions were made by various persons, groups and institutions. The contributors to this book were experienced serving and retired civil/public servants of the Unified Local Government Service and erudite scholars. It is therefore necessary to say thank you and to show appreciation to all who contributed in one way or the other towards the production of this book.

We also thank and appreciate all those who have done previous work of this nature. Their works indeed provided the compass that guided the course of this publication. Notable among them are: Chief Wilfred Inah; Prof.Ekweme F. Okoli; Mr. James O. Ojiako, Mr. Areoye Oyebola, Dr. Ogbu U. Kalu, Frank Ogodo Ogbeche, etc.

We thank the Board of Trustees, elected members, State Executive Council members, Chairmen and their branch executives, leaders and members of the Association for their individual and collective contributions towards the production of this revised edition. They include: Comrade B. B. Okosin (Chairman); Sir Engr. Godwin Anake (KSJI); and his Secretary, Comrade Barr. Maurice Effiong; Sir P. Bassey (KSM); Mr. Francis Ojong; Engr. Michael Erim; Chief Effiom Edem; Deacon Comrade Benson S. Ogban, Deaconess (Mrs.) Uduak Benjamin, Chief Barry A. Inyang, Mr. Okon E. Agbara, Mr. Peter Ozah and Ntoi C. N. Nkom. Of special note is the contribution of Elder Dr. Eyo Bassey Effiom who provided enormous materials that added value to this publication. We wish to thank the Printer Elder (Prince) Ededem Eyamba for typesetting and putting the final manuscripts to a readable material.

Comrade Bassey B. Okosin
Chairman
Association of Cross River State Local Government Pensioners.

DEDICATION

“Cross River State AT A Glance” to all Retirees of the Unified Local
Government Service.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
There is a great deal of connection between the past, present and future. Without the past, there can be no present, and without the present, there is no future. The ability to understand the past can better help one to understand the present and shape the future.

It has been observed that most Nigerians particularly Cross Riverians, of the young generation do not have knowledge of the historical antecedents of the state. Consequently, it has become impossible to correct the past mistakes, assess the developmental strides of the state, and chart a new way forward.
It is in an effort to bridge the information gap between the past and the present, that the Association of Cross River State Association of Local Government Pensioners, consultancy services outfit, build up a profile of Cross River State from inception to date.

The publication is organized into 21 chapters. The first chapter is the introduction. Chapter two (2) captures the history of the State in terms of creation, the people, Geography, Historical and Tourists sites, Education, Health, Industrial development and other important information about the state. The History of each Local Government Area is chronicled in the remaining 19 chapters, based on the following templates:
Name / Creation
The People
Population
Occupation
The Geography of the L G A
Historical and Tourist Sites
Educational Institutions
Chairmen of Local Government Areas
Industrial Development
The work is concluded in chapter 21

This publication will be of immense benefits to students and scholars of History and of course other members of the reading public, who are desirous to have insights into Cross River State.

It will also benefit tourist and investors, who would want to take advantage of rich tourism and industrial potentials of the state.

CHAPTER 2
PROFILE OF CROSS RIVER STATE CREATION

PRELUDE:
The political entity known as Nigeria is made up of territories acquired by the British along the confluence of the Niger and Benue Rivers during the later part of the 19th Century (Okoli 1980). The acquisition was piecemeal and took place in successive stages, through signing of treatise of protection with Local Chiefs, kings and occasional Military Expedition.

Between 1990 and 1914 what later became Nigeria was administered as three separate entity- The Lagos colony (declared in 1861) and protectorate, and the protectorates of Southern and Northern Nigeria. Calabar was the headquarters of Southern protectorate while Zungeru was that of Northern protectorate.

National Museum, RS

In 1906 the Southern protectorate was merged with the colony of Lagos to become known as the colony and protectorate of Southern Nigeria. On January 1st, 1914, Southern and Northern Nigeria was amalgamated with Sir Fredrick Lugard as the Governor General.

Based on constitutional arrangement in the 1950s, Nigeria was made up of three regions – Northern, Eastern and Western. The fourth region known as the Mid-western region was however created out of the Western region in 1963. In the 1960s the four regions were further divided into provinces and divisions. There were 35 provinces and 97 divisions, Inah (2012). Before the creation of Mid-West region each of the regions was composed of major and minor ethnic groups. In the Northern region the Hausa – Fulani was the major ethnic group with about ten (10) minor ethnic groups. The Yoruba constituted the major ethnic group of the Western Region with about five minor ethnic groups. In the Eastern Region the Igbo was the major ethnic group while Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers constituted the minority group. The Calabar minority group was in turn composed of the Efiks, Ibibios, Annangs and Ejaghams though with dialectical differences. In the same vein the Ogoja minority ethnic group was made up of Ejagham, Yakurr, Yala and Bette, while Ijaw, Ogoni and Ikwerre constituted the subdivision of the Rivers minor ethnic group.

The relationship that existed between the colonial masters and the Nigeria educated elites can be likened to that between the major and the minor ethnic groups. As the elites were discriminated against in terms of appointments into the public service, promotion etc, so also were the minor ethnic groups, marginalized, subjugated victimized and deprived. The fears of the minority groups were further heightened by the powerlessness of the central government, to checkmate the region that had become too powerful.
As in other regions, this ill treatment meted out on the minor groups by the majority group in Eastern Nigeria necessitated the demand by the people of Calabar, Ogoja and Rivers (COR) for the creation of separate region for them.

Events that occurred in Nigeria shortly after independence in 1960, helped to fast track the realization of the dream of a separate/state for the minority ethnic groups in Nigeria in general, and the Eatern region in particular. Some of the events included: political maneuvers that attended the 1964 federal elections, the western region crises of 1962- 1965, the census crisis of 1962 – 1963, the revenue crisis of 1964.

BIRTH OF SOUTH EASTERN STATE
The crises that characterized the political activities in the 1960s culminated in a coup d’etat of 15th January 1966 that ushered the military into Nigerian politics. Though the coup was aborted, the civilians willingly called on the military to take over the reins of governance. Accordingly, Gen. T. U. Aguyi Ironsi became the military Head of State. Shortly after taking over, he appointed military governors to take charge of the Four Regions. Thereupon, Lt. Col. Odumegwu Ojukwu was in-charge of the East, Col. F. A. Fajuyi, West Lt. Col. David Ejoor, Midwest while Lt. Col. Hassan Katsina was incharge of the North.
However, Gen. Ironsi and other military officers lost their lives in a counter coup d’etat of 29th July, 1966, leading to the emergence of Lt. Col. Yakubu Gowon as the Head of State.
There was a sharp disagreement between Ojukwu and Gowon over the Nigerian project, whereas Ojukwu sought for the restructuring of the regions that will give each region a modicum of independence, Gowon wanted Nigeria to remain an indivisible federation. In reaction to the stand of Gowon, Ojukwu threatened to pull out of Nigeria.
It was in an effort to checkmate the activities of Ojukwu and to allay the fears of the minorities over domination by the major ethnic groups that Gowon in a radio broadcast at 9:00a.m. on May 27, 1967 declared a state of emergency throughout the federation and announced a decree dividing the country into twelve states as a basis for stability, Ojiako (1979} and South Eastern State was among the states so created. Therefore, South Eastern State was created on 27thy May, 1967 from the former Eastern Region of Nigeria.
The creation of states by Gen. Gowon won the hearts of the people especially the minorities across the country that threw their weight behind him and sabotaged the war effort of Ojukwu.

A state cannot be created without a leader. Soon after South Eastern State was created, Brigadier Udoakaha Jacob Esuene was appointed Military Governor. He did not move to the State immediately, he stayed in Lagos the then Federal Capital to monitor and await the liberation of the state which was caught in the web of the civil war that started in July, 1967. He governed the state between 27th May, 1967 and 29th July, 1975.
In 1976, the name South Eastern State was changed to Cross River State, following a State Creation exercise carried out by the Late former Head of State, Geneal Murtala Mohammed. However, on 27th September, 1987, the population and geographical location of the state was tinkered with, by the then Gen. Ibrahim Babangida regime, when the Ibibios, Anangs, Oron, etc. known then as “Mainland” were carved out and constituted into a state called Akwa Ibom State. Cross River State as presently constituted has Calabar as its capital city. It is composed of 18 Local Government Areas, as follows:

NAME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA HEADQUARTERS
1. Abi Itigidi
2. Akamkpa – Akamkpa
3. Akpabuyo – Ikot Nakanda
4. Bakassi – Ikang
5. Bekwarra – Abuochiche
6. Biase – Akpet Central
7. Boki – Boje
8. Calabar Municipality – Calabar
9. Calabar South – Anantigha
10. Etung – Efraya
11. Ikom – Ikom
12. Obanliku – Sankwala
13. Obubra – Obubra
14. Obudu Obudu
15. Odukpani – Odukpani
16. Ogoja Ogoja
17. Yakurr – Ugep
18. Yala – Okpoma

S/N NAME OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CHAIRMEN IN CRS
1. Rt. Hon. Farathor Riman – Abi
2. Hon. Linus Etim Bassey – Akamkpa
3. Hon. Emmanuel Offiong Bassey – Akpabuyo
4. Hon. Iyadim A. Iyadim – Bakassi
5. Hon. Dr. Joseph Emeka – Bekwarra
6. Hon. Ada Charles Egwu – Biase
7. Hon. Pastor John Ewa – Boki
8. Hon. Effefiong Nta Eke – Calabar Municipality
9. Hon. Mrs. Esther Bassey – Calabar South
10. Hon. John Nkum Etuk – Etung
11. Hon. Kinsley Egumi – Ikom
12. Hon. Mrs. Margaret U. Inde – Obanliku
13. Hon. Bassey Agara Tom – Obubra
14. Hon. Bonny Ewhe Eraye – Obudu
15. Hon. Mrs. Justina Edem – Odukpani
16. Hon. Emmanuel Ishabor – Ogoja
17. Hon. Ofem Ebri Obetem – Yakurr
18. Hon. Barr. Fabian Odey Ogbeche – Yala

ADMINISTRATION
From 1967 to the 2000s, the pattern of Administration was the same. Whoever was at the helms of affairs whether military or civilian governor appointed commissioners to take charge of the various ministries. The numbers of ministries were not static; they fluctuated depending on the needs. The commissioners are the political heads of the ministries, which are vehicles for the implementation of government policies and programmes etc. In each ministry, permanent secretaries are appointed. They are the administrative heads of the ministries.

There is also a secretary to the military or state government who in the early years of the state, doubled as the Head of Service. He plays advisory and guidance roles on service matters. However, in the later years, the office of the Secretary to the State Government was separated from that of the Head of Service.

Besides the ministries, there are Departments, Commissions, Agencies, Authorities, Boards, Bureau, through which government business is also conducted. The number of these parastatals are also not static. The creations are discretionary.

The principle of separation of power is applied in the administration. Thus, we have the Executive, Judiciary and Legislative Arms. However, the legislative arm is absent during a Military Regime.

A typical state executive council in a democratic dispensation is made up of the Governor, the Deputy Governor, Commissioners, Secretary to the State Government, Special Advisers, etc. Whereas, the Chief Judge of the State is the Head of the Judiciary, the Hon. Speaker of the House of Assembly is the Head of the Legislative Arm or legislature.

Functionally, in a military regime, the executive formulate policies, programmes, decrees, edicts, etc and also implement same in most cases with military fiat.

On the contrary, in a democratic regime, the Legislative Arm makes the laws which are interpreted by the Judiciary and implemented by the Executive. This is not to say that the Executive Arm cannot formulate policies/programmes, but such, must be passed into law by the Legislative Arm.