Calabar Marina Resort reopens after weeks of shutdown by government

The Calabar Marina Resort has reopened for business after weeks of government shutdown due to the tragic boat mishap that claimed the lives of three medical students.

Governor Otu who was represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Honorable Elvert Ayambem while reiterating that it was necessary to temporarily close the Resort in order to equip and put more safety measures in place to avert future incidents, urged the management to learn from its past mistakes and raise the bar of management and operations.

Not only making everyone mourn the demise of the students that lost their lives, he went ahead to ban the entire Marina Resort. It was a height taken so that things can be put in the right places.

“I know a lot of Cross Riverians are waiting for the return of Cross River State. A lot has been signed there, let us add value rather than destroy, let us learn to respect government policies, let us learn to keep government policies as clean as they will be.”

The Speaker commended Governor Otu for the giant strides recorded so far in his 100 days in office.

Again, as encomiums continue to pour out on Nigeria’s 63rd Independence anniversary across the country, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu said every October should be a period for deep reflection on individual patriotic contribution towards nation-building, rather than an occasion for fanfare and media razzmatazz.

The Governor made the remark in a message made available to Cross Riverians and Nigerians to mark the 63 years of the once colonized British empire – Nigeria.

While recognizing the flaws the nation has recorded along the journey of nationhood, he enjoined all and sundry to bridge the fault lines of ethnicity, crime, and criminality, hate and rancor, and imbibe instead the true spirit of brotherhood, patriotism, and commitment to protecting the nation’s democratic experience to enable political leaders provide the needed leadership.

The full message read: “My dear Cross Riverians, today we take a retrospective view and celebrate the arrest, intimidation, incarceration, and other forms of human indignity our heroes of conscience suffered in order to set Nigeria free from the shackles of colonialism. The continuous reminiscence of who we were under Britain – our colonial masters and who we ought to be as an independent country, leaves much on our heads to ponder and much on our hands to do in order to justify our independence.

“Our independence therefore ought to be the celebration of our self-determination, independent thought, and action. Every 1st October of a year is, therefore, a period for deep reflection on our individual patriotic contribution towards nation-building rather than an occasion for fanfare and media razzmatazz.

“When the Nigeria Green-White-Green flag was being hoisted on 1st October 1960 and the Britain Union Jack lowered, that was a symbolic elevation of the consciousness of Nigerians to take their destiny into their hands by way of patriotic zeal and action.

“While we applaud the patriotic consciousness of the late Mike Enohoro for moving a motion for Nigeria’s independence in the British Parliament in 1953, we should realize the fact that the action was borne out of sheer sacrifice and patriotism. On this auspicious occasion of our independence anniversary, I urge everyone’s watchword to be “the country first”. Our collective resolve and the sacrifice we make as a people will make the country greater than what it was prior to 1st October 1960. It is the only driving force towards a better Nigeria. For it is our sense of unity that will guarantee the indivisibility of our country, sense of ingenuity will give us technological breakthrough while our sense of patriotism will be an enabler of peace and security of our nation.”

“The past sixty-three years of our nation’s independence, has seen us record some modest achievements in the political sphere, infrastructure, and importantly, We have had twenty-four years (still counting) of unbroken civilian democratic governance.

“In order to consolidate on these gains, I enjoin all of us to bridge the fault lines of ethnicity, crime, criminality, hate, and rancor, and instead, imbibe the true spirit of brotherhood, patriotism, and commitment to protecting our democratic experience so that our political leaders can continue to provide the needed leadership,” he added.

“My administration will continue to work selflessly and sacrificially to take the Cross River of our collective dreams. I wished everyone a joyous 63rd independence celebration and prayed to God to bless the state and the country.”

The event climaxed in UJ Esuene Sports Stadium with the traditional ceremonial parade by the Nigerian arm forces as well as the cutting of the 63rd-anniversary independence cake.

The exercise witnessed dignitaries including service chiefs, top government functionaries, members of the State Executive Council, students, and the public.

By: Archibong Emmanuel
(Snr. Reporter)