By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar.
National Vice Chairman, South South of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Ntufam Hilliard Eta, has described governor Ben Ayade’s frequent prolonged stay outside of the country as an affront on the Cross River people.
He said as a result “the state legislature that should remind the governor of the relevant laws on such trips and caution him in that respect is unfortunately a rubber stamp “.
Eta recalled that “Ayade left the shores of Cross River on January 14 while the state was witnessing both cult and communal conflicts in the guise of going to canvass for more investments for the state from China but has not returned till date”.
According to him “what stands as a breach of the law is that he left without transmitting the reigns of power to his deputy and the state legislature has turned a blind eye on the governor”.
The APC chieftain reasoned that the state legislature has not taken a decisive action against the governor “because they have turned themselves into Ayade’s rubber stamp”.
He noted that “their inaction is understandable pointing that APC” had last year April called for Ayade’s impeachment on grounds of certain constitutional breaches”.
Eta said rather than attend to the people’s needs “the leadership of the legislature are only interested in buying awards they do not merit.”
He described the Azikiwe Leadership Award and others conveyed on the Speaker, John Gaul-Lebor recently as “misplaced” saying there was nothing spectacular about him that calls for the awards.
His reaction was contained in a statement signed by his media adviser, Bassey Ita.
He said Ayade has not learnt to take a queue from President Muhammadu Buhari who transmitted a letter to the National Assembly regarding his previous vacation and over the extension of his recent vacation in the United Kingdom.
“Ayade has a history of breaking the law on prolonged stay abroad. He left the country on the 14th January and today is 6th of February, close to a month and he never transmitted power to his deputy to run government”.
Eta said,”understandably, the State House of Assembly would not raise eye brows. It’s unfortunate that these folks would not take a queue from Mr. President who not only transmitted a letter to allow his Vice to act but followed it up recently on ground of the extension of his vacation. I think this man (Ayade ) is taking Cross Riverians for a ride”.
On the bailout funds and the Paris Club debt refund, APC leader said Cross Riverians should raise serious concern about the whereabouts of the bailout funds as well as urge the governor to explain how he has or intends to spend the debt refund money.
According to him, “the way the state government bungled the issue of spending the bailout funds during the public hearing organised by the Senate clearly revealed the crass lack of accountability and probity of the Ayade government,” adding that “Ayade should invest in development programmes and projects for the good of the masses rather than starching funds for a second term agenda”.
National Vice Chairman, South South of the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) Ntufam Hilliard Eta, has described governor Ben Ayade’s frequent prolonged stay outside of the country as an affront on the Cross River people.
He said as a result “the state legislature that should remind the governor of the relevant laws on such trips and caution him in that respect is unfortunately a rubber stamp “.
Eta recalled that “Ayade left the shores of Cross River on January 14 while the state was witnessing both cult and communal conflicts in the guise of going to canvass for more investments for the state from China but has not returned till date”.
According to him “what stands as a breach of the law is that he left without transmitting the reigns of power to his deputy and the state legislature has turned a blind eye on the governor”.
The APC chieftain reasoned that the state legislature has not taken a decisive action against the governor “because they have turned themselves into Ayade’s rubber stamp”.
He noted that “their inaction is understandable pointing that APC” had last year April called for Ayade’s impeachment on grounds of certain constitutional breaches”.
Eta said rather than attend to the people’s needs “the leadership of the legislature are only interested in buying awards they do not merit.”
He described the Azikiwe Leadership Award and others conveyed on the Speaker, John Gaul-Lebor recently as “misplaced” saying there was nothing spectacular about him that calls for the awards.
His reaction was contained in a statement signed by his media adviser, Bassey Ita.
He said Ayade has not learnt to take a queue from President Muhammadu Buhari who transmitted a letter to the National Assembly regarding his previous vacation and over the extension of his recent vacation in the United Kingdom.
“Ayade has a history of breaking the law on prolonged stay abroad. He left the country on the 14th January and today is 6th of February, close to a month and he never transmitted power to his deputy to run government”.
Eta said,”understandably, the State House of Assembly would not raise eye brows. It’s unfortunate that these folks would not take a queue from Mr. President who not only transmitted a letter to allow his Vice to act but followed it up recently on ground of the extension of his vacation. I think this man (Ayade ) is taking Cross Riverians for a ride”.
On the bailout funds and the Paris Club debt refund, APC leader said Cross Riverians should raise serious concern about the whereabouts of the bailout funds as well as urge the governor to explain how he has or intends to spend the debt refund money.
According to him, “the way the state government bungled the issue of spending the bailout funds during the public hearing organised by the Senate clearly revealed the crass lack of accountability and probity of the Ayade government,” adding that “Ayade should invest in development programmes and projects for the good of the masses rather than starching funds for a second term agenda”.
