by crossriverwatch admin
There are indications that Cross River State Governor, Liyel Imoke may not return to the state after his two months leave in the United States of America.
While some of his administration officials and some members of the state assembly and federal legislators from the state have continued to assure the public that the governor will return to the country after his leave, the leadership of the ruling People’s Democratic Party told crossriverwatch in an interaction that it does not matter even if the governor decides to extend his leave.
While responding to questions from crossriverwatch reporters at the party secretariat in Calabar, the deputy chairman of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr. Fidel Egorom said: “I want to add that the health of the governor is a private matter. There is none of us that is super human, that does not fall sick or periodically go where we desire to check the state of our health.
“The situation in Cross River State is very unique in the sense that though the governor is not around, he has written to the House of Assembly which has empowered his deputy to act in his stead. So governance is going on. This does not happen in other climes. So if after the two months leave, the governor feels he is not alright to resume duty, he can extend the leave and governance will continue in the state”.
When reminded that it took over a month for cheques to be handed to winners of the Obudu mountain race because of the governor’s absence, the deputy chairman simply asked: “someone just refused to do his job there. you don’t know that he is working even from where he is?”
Mr. Egorom also said it was uncharitable for anyone to accuse the Imoke administration of not doing enough to transform the state from a civil service state to an industrial state. He scored the Imoke administration very high in tourism development, rural development, agriculture and health care delivery.
It will be recalled that Governor Imoke left the country about two months now for medical check up.
The opposition Hope Democratic Party which was recently deregistered by INEC was the first to ask questions about the governor’s whereabouts.
A statement from the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Christian Ita later clarified that the governor had proceeded on a two months accumulated leave.
His deputy has since been empowered by the State House of Assembly to act as governor pending Imoke’s expected return to the state.
Though some of the governor’s aides and members of the National Assembly have assured that the Governor is in good health, it was gathered that Imoke’s health penultimate week was getting worrisome.
So, for now despite the denial that Imoke is not in the hospital; that he is rather resting in his Ellicott City, Maryland home, no one can actually place the state of his health.