Senator Jarigbe, Others Call for Probe of Former Gov. Ayade's 8 years In Office, Describe Tenure As Wasteful
By Ndifreke BASSEY
Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe and some stakeholders in Cross River Project have called for a comprehensive probe of former Governor Ben Ayade's eight years in office, describing his eight years as wasteful.
In separate statements issued on Wednesday, Jarigbe, representing Cross River North senatorial district accused Ayade of looting the state dry for eight years without completing one known project while a group alleged that the former Governor's administration was a monumental failure and therefore he should be made to account for his stewardship.
According to Jarigbe, "it’s only in Cross River State that a Governor will loot for 8 years, without completing one known useful or functional project and walk away proudly without a probe.
"That is what gives him the impetus to be lobbying for a ministerial appointment. Do we know how many lives we have lost to maladministration and deprivation of the people to satisfy other people’s quest for primitive acquisition?
"How many of the food-on-the- table beneficiaries are sure of their next meal today ?It was just a manipulative ploy to distract our people because of the fear of hunger?
"We compromised our future and development of the State for Rice and Beans. What was the percentage of the total income of the State, spent on food on the table? It was a very negligible percentage. Where did the rest of the funds go to? How is the new Government taking off? Was there anything left in the Treasury of the State?," he queried.
Calling for Ayade's interrogation, he said: "The Anti- Graft Agencies should answer Cross Riverians. It is time for us to ask questions and it’s time for answers to be given. What happened to the litany of Petitions before EFCC?"
Also in their reaction, the Coordinator of Cross River Project, Comrade Ekpenyong Effefiong, said: "Ayade's tenure for eight years was a monumental waste and deviation from what he promised during electioneering. He only created room for bogus employment in order to divert attention from people prying into his administration for real governance.
"All the projects including the much-advertised three signature projects of Bakassi Deep Sea Port, Supper Highway and Garment Factory were dead on arrival. The so-called Rice City, Cala Pharm and Banana Plantation and Pile and Pylon factories were also dead on arrival even as billions of tax payers money were sunk into these projects.'
According to Ekpenyong, "the group has gone round some of these uncompleted factories and discovered that none of them is even functioning.
The group, therefore, called on EFCC and other financial crimes to interrogate Ayade to tell the world where the billions provides for these projects were taken to, adding that Cross Riverians can no longer stomach such alleged monumental fraud.
