Exclusive: How Ayade Runs Otu's Gov't From Outside, Submits 162 Names For Appointments

By Dominic OKOH

Baring any last minute change, the immediate past Governor Ben Ayade's list containing 162 names submitted to Governor Bassey Otu for political appointments may be released by next week, The Beagle News can reveal authouritatively. 

The Beagle News investigations revealed that the 162 names were drawn mostly from the 54 wards that make up the five local government areas of Cross River North Senatorial District with a few others from other zones in Central and South, fueling speculation that Ayade to an extent still has some grip over Otu's administration.

It was further revealed that Otu may tow the line of Ayade's food-on-the-table agenda as about 450 political appointees are to be reeled out soon to accommodate key political actors and other party supporters who played critical roles during electioneering.

The list, before Otu for consideration, is causing ripples among the Governor's kitchen cabinet and top All Progressives Congress (APC) members who feel that Ayade is becoming overbearing by trying to meddle into everything Otu is doing with the reason that he made him (Otu) Governor against all odds.

Ayade is said to be breeding down on Otu's neck to announce the names on the list to accommodate his men who have sacrificed everything for Otu to emerge successful at the polls.

An impeccable source close to Government House told The Beagle News that before now Ayade sent in 11 names for commissionership consideration and 10 scaled through with only Eric Anderson's name dropped from the former governor's list.

Other names from Ayade that made it as members of State Executive Council include the commissioners for Industry, Sports, Housing, Finance and Education.

Sources disclosed that at the outset of this administration, Otu tried to be independent by setting up some committees to look into the records of his predecessor, especially with regard to Water Board land and recovery of over 500 government cars allegedly carted away by those who served in Ayade's eight year's government. 

According to the source, Ayade and his men fought so hard to scuttle Otu's move and all committees' efforts to re- cover government property allegedly looted by immediate past government, as only about 50 cars have been so far recovered out of 500 cars said to be missing.

A party stakeholder, who simply gave his name as Asuquo Asuquo, questioned the rationale behind Ayade submitting names for appointments when during Ayade's regime he didn't allow anybody even make an input let alone submitting up to 5 names for appointments.

Asuquo said Ayade was in total control of the his administration right from party structures to day-to-day governance of the state, disclosing that Ayade fell out with all the people that brought him as Governor and built his own structure, wondering why Otu should be allegedly held hostage by Ayade and his men who have been shouting for appointments as if it is their birth right.

He said: "All the people including Liyel Imoke, Gershom Bassey, Own Eno, Bassey Ewah, Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe, Essien Ayi, Eta Mbora, Venatius Ikem and Daniel Asuquo that contributed to Ayade's emergence in PDP all fell out with him because he (Ayade) sidelined them and took over the party they suffered to build and governed without recourse to any of them for 8 years.

"Ayade even attempted to chase them away from the PDP until they re-grouped and fought him out to APC. Today, the same Ayade, who was an Emperor during his time, is dictating the pace for Otu and submitting list for appointments. We are really worried and something needs to be done."

A political observer, Comrade Augustine Akpagon, decried the alleged move by former Governor Ayade to meddle into Otu's administration and advised Otu not to allow his administration be hijacked by people who threw the state into economic crisis.

According to him, "Cross Riverians voted for Otu and he should leave up to expectations and no excuses whatever. So let him appoint people with credibility and integrity and not based on god-fatherism."

But a member of APC executive committee, who don't want his name mentioned, said: "Ayade was behind Otu's emergence. So he has a right to submit names. People worked and so should be compensated. Ayade has his own boys to take care of too. So I see nothing wrong in settling them.

"Ayade' food-on-the-table programme helped APC to win election. Anybody trying to stop it would have it tough with the party members."