Days after a group of Cross River indigenes stormed the Wadata House National Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Abuja again witnessed a wave of protests against the Cross River Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade.
This time around, the protesters in their hundreds, took over the whole of the premises surrounding the party’s national Secretariat demanding that the party look into their case.
The protesters demanded that the Governor must go and the party should not contemplate giving him a second term unless the PDP wants to lose the State.
In a petition addressed to the National Chairman of PDP, the protesters under the name, Forever Cross River led by John Offiong and Basset Ekpo Bassey claimed that Cross River State under Ayade has derailed from what it was under the past administrations of Donald Duke and Lyel Imoke.
They referred to the mismanagement of meagre state resources through ‘high sounding, yet incomplete and dubiously misconceived projects such as the Super Highway, which has led to deforestation of the state by the Governor’s brother, Deep Sea port project, new City of Callas Vegas, Cally Air Airline, Rice city’ to mention a few.
They also raised an issue over increasing insecurity in the state which has reached an alarming rate.
They alleged that the insecurity in the state is being promoted by the Governor and his close aides including his Chief of Staff, brother, who has the appellation Co- Governor, Special Adviser, Governor’s Office and others.
The group called on the party to ensure that Ayade does not emerge as the party’s candidate in the next election if they want to win the State.
According the the Forever Cross River Group, the PDP stands the chance of losing the State if Ayade is fielded for a second term.
In the same vein, they also presented a petition to the EFCC in which they alleged that the Governor and his brother, Dr Frank Ayade misappropriated bailout funds running into billions.
They listed contracts such as dualization of Tinapa Odukpani highway, dredging of Callas Vegas for which over 26billion had been released by the state government and practicality nothing had been done.
The group therefore implored the EFCC to beam its searchlight on the activities of the Governor and his government.
Abujareporters.com
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