Ben Ayade 


It happened during a Thanksgiving mass held on Sunday in Calabar, when the Cross River state Governor Ben Ayade made a donation of N25m to church, but  the Catholic Bishop of the Uyo Diocese, John Ayah  refused the  governor's generous  offering.


The service held on Sunday at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Ikot-Ansa, Calabar.


The liturgy of thanksgiving was held in honor of Justice Emmanuel Akomaye, who was recently promoted to the position of Justice on the Nigerian Supreme Court.


During the occasion, thee governor donated N25 million on behalf of the state government, his family, and the judiciary.  As  the special guest of honor, he  had been invited to donate in support of the church’s 2022 harvest unveiling.


'You are our pride, Cross River North’s pride, the son of the soil, Bishop John Ayah, and I will whisper my package to you later", Ayade remarked.


The Bishop responded by asking to speak and introducing the governor as his brother from northern Cross River.


“I need to speak, my brother.  The governor and I  are both from Cross River North. Bishop Ayah added, “I want to thank the governor and ask him to package whatever he has for me, add to it, and utilize it to pay the workers’ salaries.


The church and everyone else gave the Bishop a standing ovation for his audacious decision to refuse the governor’s gesture, which took a few minutes to subside.


According to a parishioner who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the governor returned to the podium to explain himself right after.


He claims that governor Ayade defended his leadership in the state, noting that for more than seven years, his administration had been dependable and regular in paying salaries.


The governor was cited as saying, “The people will respect Ben Ayade after he leaves office.”