C-River Plans International Fiesta To Celebrate COVID-19 Free Status
- 2-Face Idibia, Iyanya, Cobham Asukwo, others on parade
- RATTAWU threatens industrial action
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Excited by its acclaimed Coronavirus (COVID-19) free status, the Cross River government is planning an international gospel festival to appreciate and thank God Almighty for His loving kindness and awesomeness over the State.
Already, there is excitement in the air with Governor Ben Ayade saying that celebrating the State’s zero-positive status is to glorify God as the doer of all good things for His people.
The event, expected to feature international artists and their Nigerian counterparts, including 2-Face Idibia, Iyanya and Cobham Asukwo, is being packaged by the Cross River Cultural Centre in partnership with the State Carnival Commission to thank God Almighty for his grace and wonderful gesture to the people of Cross River amid the dreadful coronavirus pandemic.
Senior Special Assistant to the Governor for Cultural Centre, Hon. Victor Ekpo Ita IV, who dropped the hint in a chat with online media practitioners, said the festival would be hosted as part of events marking post-Coronavirus era in the state.
According to him, the State is not taking anything for granted and that explains its willingness to express gratitude to God Almighty for His awesome mercies in protecting the State. and its people.
He said for Cross River to achieve such enviable feat, despite its lean resources, could only be the handiwork of God, who in His infinite mercies, provided protective coverage to preserve the people.
The Governor’s aide said for about two decades now, the ancient city of Calabar has maintained the enviable position as Nigeria’s entertainment hub through a carefully designed and packaged tourism calendar that spans the 12 months of the year.
He listed the special activities to include: the annual Calabar Carnival; the Yakurr Leboku New Yam Festival; Nyoro Ekpe and Utomo Obong that are packaged to show case the rich cultural heritage of Cross River to the world.
He therefore assured that the festival would come on stream immediately the Federal Government officially announces the resumption of normal activities in the country.
In another development, the Cross River Chapter of Radio, Television and Theatre Workers of Nigeria (RATTAWU) is threatening to down tools over the withdrawal of weigh-in allowance hitherto paid to its members by the State government.
State Chairman of RATTAWU, Comrade Amaku Amaku of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Calabar, said the Union is embarking on a senitisation and mobilisation campaign to prepare members for the planned action in the event the Ayade administration continue to ignore their demands.
He said there would be no going back on the strike if the government refuses to rescind its decision and resume paying the weigh-in allowance to RATTAWU members which is not peculiar to the state alone but a national issue
But reacting to the industrial action notice, Senior Special Assistant to the governor on Cultural Centre, Hon Ekpo Ita assured the aggrieved workers of Governor Ayade’s quick intervention to resolve the issues at stake.
He said as a labour friendly government, negotiations are ongoing to ensure the current industrial harmony in the state is not threatened or disrupted in any way.
