Over the years, many have come to casually refer to the official residence of the Governor of Cross River State as “Peregrino”.
While this label has gained popular usage, it is important to clarify that the Governor’s Lodge has never officially been named after any individual.
The Governor’s Lodge, a state asset of great significance, was purposefully designed to serve as the official residence and operational base for the sitting Governor.
It is fully equipped with essential facilities including a chapel, security quarters, gym, guest suites, and a multi-functional hall, all tailored to support the Governor’s official and private engagements.
The confusion surrounding the name “Peregrino” stems from one specific part of the lodge, the 200-seater hall within the premises, which was renamed in honour of the late Ajayi Peregrino, a respected figure who once served as Director of Protocol to a Nigerian Head of State.
Tragically, he lost his life in an air crash and was buried at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar.
Ajayi Peregrino was posthumously honoured by then-Governor Donald Duke, who named the hall after him in recognition of his service, towering personality, and close ties to the Cross River people.
He was known not only for his impeccable discipline and professionalism, but also for his marriage to an Efik daughter, Eme Peregrino, which endeared him even more deeply to the local community.
As the years passed and state functions frequently took place in this hall, public communications often referred to events as “holding at Peregrino Hall.” Gradually, this led to the widespread though mistaken assumption that the entire Governor’s Lodge was named Peregrino.
Personally, I find the name Peregrino House both appealing and dignified. Given its deep emotional resonance and long-standing informal usage, one might argue that the name has become a part of our cultural-political lexicon.
But for the records, the official name remains the Governor’s Lodge, and only the hall within it bears the name “Peregrino”, in solemn memory of a man whose legacy lives on in quiet dignity.
— AEI, Nsidung!
