Ayade donates buses to clubs, places 100 fans on salary

From left : Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade with Chairman of Rovers Football Club of Calabar, Pastor Maurice Inok, during a visit to government house Calabar, yesterday.

Soccer clubs in the state Wednesday got a major boost as the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade donated 2 coaster buses to both the Rovers Football Club of Calabar and Pelican Stars.

The Governor announced the largess when the teams led by the chairman of Rovers Football Club, Mr Maurice Inok stormed the Government House to endorse him for a second term in office.

Speaking during the visit, Inok enumerated Ayade's achievements in his three years in office adding that Cross River is blessed to have Ayade as Governor.

"We want to thank the Governor for payrolling the players of Rovers and Pelican Stars and for the prompt payment of monthly imprest to the teams.

" There has never been a time we called on you for assistance and we get turned down, you have always stood by us and for this we are grateful.

"We have followed your administration's success over the years and I must say we are highly impressed. From having the highest number of youths in your government in the country, to building world class factories in the state, all of these can only be achieved by a visionary leader like you."

Mr Inok used the opportunity to enumerate some of the challenges facing the teams and prayed the Governor's assistance in tackling these issues.

Responding, Governor Ayade expressed satisfaction with the performance of the teams despite the challenges they face.

" I am quite amazed that you have been able to perform at this level despite all the issues you have mentioned here today. It shows the spirit of commitment on your part and as a government we must have to play our role. "

The governor made a personal donation of one coaster bus to each of the teams and also increased the teams imprest from N3m to N5m monthly.

Speaking further, Governor Ayade also announced the payrolling of 100 members of the Cross River State supporters club and ordered that they be paid arrears from January 1 2018.