Account For N19bn FG Refund, C’River Lawmakers Tell Ayade

Some members of the Cross River State House of Assembly have called on Governor Ben Ayade to give account of the sum of N19billion which he received from Federal Government in respect of repairs of federal roads.
In a chat with newsmen shortly after receiving three more special advisers and commissioners that resigned from Ayade’s government over inability to defect with the governor to APC, the lawmakers who themselves have also refused to defect to APC are Nelson Ofem, Fred Osim, Efa Esua and Friday Ukpache.
According to them, he hardly consults with the assembly but takes unilateral decision even on critical projects that would gulp staggering state resources.
Their spokesman, Fred Osim, maintained that many of the much-trumpeted 35 signature projects of the government, for instance, did not pass through the scrutiny of the assembly.
“We can tell you that those projects are all scams. Look at the superhighway which he dragged the president to come and do the ground breaking ceremony. Look at the Bakassi deep seaport. Six years they are still on the drawing board. They will not be completed. They will not work. He is a liar”, they said.
Reacting to the statement, the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Ayade, Christian Ita, said they were not telling the truth, adding that all the projects passed through due processes, and that many are now up and running.

By: Friday Nwagbara, Calabar