22 July 2020
Former Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General of Cross River State has publicly taunted public officials of the state government especially members of the Ninth Cross River State House of Assembly (9th CRSHA) over the commencement of flight operations to and from Calabar by Ibom Air, an Akwa Ibom State Government-owned airliner NEGROIDHAVEN can say authoritatively.
While satirically tasking the Cross River lawmakers to respect the state government policy hinging on ethnicity by not resorting to enjoying the services of Akwa Ibom State Government (AKSG) airliner, Eyo O. Ekpo, a 2019 Cross River gubernatorial candidate reminded the public officials of the stands by the Ninth Cross River State House of Assembly alleging that 'Akwa Ibom is a security risk.'
Ekpo's exact words 'Elected and appointed officials of the Cross River State Government, when you start buying Ibom Air tickets and telling us that they're flying new aircraft and giving better service than Air Peace, remember that Mr. Speaker and the Honourable Members of the House of Assembly of Cross River State have resolved that AKWA IBOM IS A SECURITY RISK.
'You all should respect CRSG policy, continue with Air Peace as you await the arrival of Cally Air. Leave us ordinary citizens to fly Ibom Airlines.'
Recall that this same 9th Cross River State House of Assembly CRSHA after a heated and controversial debate on 3rd March rejected the National Judicial Council's NJC nomination of Honourable Justice Akon Ikpeme to the office of Chief Judge of Cross River State, on grounds that she is from Akwa Ibom State and therefore a security risk: https://www.negroidhaven.org/2020/03/chief-judge-9th-assembly-rejected-akon.html?m=
Former Governor of Cross River State, His Excellency Donald Duke is certain that the commencement of flight operations from Calabar the Cross River state capital by Ibom Air will be a plus to the state especially in terms of economic impacts NEGROIDHAVEN garnered.
His words, 'I'm assured that with them coming in, our state would be better-off, commercial life will be better off, and I also believe that it would help further the relationship between the two states.
'Unfortunately, until lately, it's only being one flight coming in and out of Calabar. So, this adds to it; this adds more commerce to the city where people can go in and come out more frequently. Then there are more visitors.
Recall again that Emmanuel Ulayi a then media aide to Gov Benedict Ayade on the 11th of September 2016 reported a statement widely credited to Ayade accordingly: 'We are in a haste to get Cally Air started, so Calabar will have its own airline in partnership with Dana as its technical operator and we have also reach a point where we will be signing up on that deal.'
Monday 20th July witnessed the commencement of flight operations by Ibom Air from Calabar. Already she is plying the Lagos, Abuja and Uyo routes with four aircrafts: https://www.negroidhaven.org/2020/07/with-ibom-air-cross-river-will-be.html?m=1
