Condemnations Trail C'RIVER Assembly Car Distribution
By Victor UDU
The alledged lopsided distribution of oversight vehicles by the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Elvert Ayambem has attracted condemnation and criticisms from sections of the State Assembly.
Ayambem had on Tuesday distributed ford pickup vehicles to some section of the Assembly and denied six others claiming they were yet to be cleared by the Court on matters bothering on election litigation.
Members who were denied these vehicles include Isong Kingsley Ntui, APC, Etung, Hilary Bisong , Boki 11, APC, Rita Ayim, Ogoja, PDP, Martins Achadu, Yala 11, PDP, Pius Asha Ashiaka, Obanliku, PDP and Odey Bryan Wonah, Yala 1, LP.
Concerned about the one-sided distribution some of the affected members stated that distribution didn't reflect equity or fairness considering the fact that even with the litigation ongoing they were all involved in oversight which was never considered when giving the assignment.
Observers, speaking on condition of anonymity aledgedly see the event as steps taken by the leadership of the Assembly deliberately to weaken opposition.
They argued that even at the National Assembly level and elsewhere every serving legislator even with litigation ongoing were never denied their due.
"We were all elected and are therefore entitled to those vehicles to do oversight and wondered why the Governor and his Deputy were not denied same Since they had issues pending in the court, explaining that the vehicles could be retrieved when ever the issues pending in courts are trashed out afteall only a key is giving and the duplicate is kept in the custody of government making it easy to be recovered".
Reacting to the allegations, the Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon Elvert Ayambem said lawmakers who have pending litigation would not be entitled to the vehicles untill pending issues are cleared.
He said no one has denied them vehicles but that it's the practice in the assembly because the vehicles are not owned by members, only those that have been declared winners by INEC can access them but those with subsisting cases in court would have to wait until they are cleared, we would not like to be going after legislators if they eventually loss their cases to retrieve them."
"We are thoroughly guarding against any manhunt against any of our colleagues, Davis Eya (Abi) had litigation at a time and was the only one not given. The car was parked in the Assembly until the Court pronounced him winner and he got his vehicle. So it's more like a ritual done in the legislature that once you are in court, committee vehicle is not given to you until you are cleared by a competent court that you are the one who won the election. It is just that those of them complaining today are green horns in the Assembly. For those of us who are old, it is not new but to new members it's new. I think they are misinforming the public. Once they scale through their tribunal cases, they would get their vehicle", the Speaker stated.
