Given the alleged misapplication and misused of Federal Government’s bailout funds in the state, the All Progressives Congress (APC), Cross River State chapter has called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) not to sweep the matter under the carpet.
The party said Cross Riverians are desirous to know the outcome of the investigations as the state suffered a lot of infrastructural decay and non payment of salaries, gratuities and pensions.
In a statement made available to our correspondent, the acting chairman of the party, Sir John Ochala, decried the misapplication and misuse of the funds by state governments.
“The All Progressives Congress, Cross River chapter calls on the EFCC not to sweep the case of our looted bailout funds under the carpet, Cross Riverians are desirous of knowing the outcome of your investigations,” he stated.
Accusing the state government of being inept, the party boss said the government have succeeded in taking the state backwards in terms of developmental strides, adding that, “this is a very big challenge to us, but our greatest challenge is our mindsets.”
Assessing the two years in office of Governor Ben Ayade, the APC chieftain said the governor performed below average, “On May 29, 2015 when Governor Ayade took his oath of office, he promised commissioning his infamous signature projects in eighteen months, two years after, all the signatures we see and hear of are the MOUs that are never implemented.
The governor is at the verge of deceiving the Acting President to come and commission the Garment Factory, a fraudulent enterprise that belongs to the governor through his cronies.
“The government of Cross River under Ayade have succeeded in making the state the dirtiest in the country, pensions/gratuities are not paid, no portable water, no meaningful project, governance is spontaneous and by impulse, in a state where the number one and two citizens (by default) claim to be Professional, we have the worst state library in Nigeria.”
According to him, the governor who is far older than the last three occupants of the Government House (as at when they became governors) pretends to be far younger than his age and in this self deceit, preoccupy himself with ‘Shoki dance’ while Cross River remains with a clueless leadership.
“The insensitivity of the state government and lack of empathy for Cross Riverians was made manifest when a levy of over 50 percent increase in the cause of loading a trailer of PMS was imposed on the tanker drivers without prior negotiations with critical stake holders.
This led to serious hardship in the state, transport and the cost of general goods and services was up by 300 percent.”
Consequently, assessing the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, the APC chieftain acknowledged some of the successes so far recorded by the Federal Government such as degrading of the Boko Harram insurgents to its minimum, restoration of peace in the Niger Delta region, securing the release of 106 Chibok girls and general security of lives and properties in the country as well as employment of hundreds of thousands of youths in various sectors of the economy.
He said the administration repositioned and revitalised the economy through various short term economic policies that have brought the nation out of recession and commended the government’s fight against corruption, “We commend the very positive results in the fight against corruption that is recovering hundreds of Billions of stolen Federal Government funds.
“Monumental infrastructural development across the country that is the Calabar Lagos rail, Calabar/Itu road, upgrade of airport, school feeding program, increases in direct foreign investment due to transparency of Federal Government etc”.
The acting Chairman however, appealed to Nigerians to pray for the speedy recovery of the President and appreciated the Acting President for diligently holding the fort.
“The All Progressives Congress, Cross River State felicitate with the Federal Government on the occasion of our democracy day and two years in office.
Let us seize this opportunity to thank President Muhammadu Buhari, his able vice, Yomi Osinbajo and the entire executive, legislative and judicial team for their enormous sacrifices towards nation building.
We must not fail to salute the positive and resilient spirit of Nigerians; we say to the Nigerians citizens there is light at the end of this tunnel.”
