Chairman of Cross River State Football Association, Rt Hon. Essien Ekpeyong Ayi
By PATRICK ABANG, Calabar –
The newly elected Chairman of the Cross River State Football Association, an affiliate of the Nigerian Football Federation (NFF), Rt Hon. Essien Ekpeyong Ayi, has lamented that the last 8 years has been a disaster for football activities in the state.
Hon. Ayi stated this over the weekend when he took another oath of office as the Cross River State FA Chairman.
The federal lawmaker, who represent the people of Akpabuyo, Bakassi, and Calabar South in the House of Representatives, has been the Cross River State FA Chairman for the six term.
According to him, Cross River State before now was known for sports development and has hosted national and international competition but regretted under the outgoing administration, Cross River was taken aback.
“I have single handedly involved and back rolled all football activities in the state because of my passion for football”
“I have been sponsoring and supporting all league matches in the state, I have sponsor governor’s cup from my pocket because of my passion for football”
It would be recalled that Hon. Ayi defeated Dr Eric Akpo with 13 votes to 11 out of twenty four delegate that voted at Grand Hotel Atimbo, Calabar Cross River State.
Other members elected include – Mr Gregory Abang, VP 1, Dr Godwin Odey VP 2 , Tom Agi and Peter Ushie for Northern Senatorial District, Paul Atila and Johnson Ekpo Central Senatorial District , Oqua Etim and Onyeka Onyakwulu Southern Senatorial District.
Earlier representative of the Nigerian Football Federation NFF and first Vice President, Felix Anyansi Agwu, said as representative of Electoral Monitoring Committee, their mission was to make sure the election was peaceful, credible and transparent.
