By CrossRiverWatch admin
The Speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Hon. John Gaul Lebo has added a new twist to the dirt challenge in Calabar by declaring that the reason the State capital is filled with filth is because the State Governor, Senator Ben Ayade has been paying salaries regularly and people are eating more than they used to eat.
The Speaker made this disclosure while speaking at the May 29, thanksgiving service at St. Bernard Catholic Church in Calabar to mark the Democracy Day Anniversary and governor Ayade’s one year in office.
The embarrassing situation of filth in Calabar took the center stage when the officiating Priest, called on the governor who was seated right at the front pew to return Calabar to its clean and green status. The priest repeated the statement – ‘Return Calabar to its clean and green status’ three times.
When the governor took the podium, he wasted no time in replying the priest and told him he was not fair to his administration. The governor said, while efforts were ongoing to clean up the capital, he accused the priest of failing to outline the areas where his administration has performed excellently.
During his remark at the service, Hon. John Gaul threw the congregation into shock and laughter when he announced over the microphone that “Calabar is now dirty because the governor is paying salaries regularly and promptly so people are eating more than they used to eat and generating more waste.”
Some persons who reacted to the Speaker’s assertion after the service said his was insensitive to the feelings of the residents of Calabar.
Our reporter saw people gathering in small groups and speaking in hush tones, expressing shock about the Speaker’s comment.