By Inyali Peter
The All Progressives Congress in Cross River State has accused Cross River Governor, Senator Ben Ayade of having a ‘callous and lackluster’ attitude towards the deteriorating security situation in the state and demanded his resignation.
The APC in a statement signed by the acting state chairman, John Ochalla said before the advent of the administration led by Ayade, the state was rated as most peaceful while Calabar, the capital was the most serene and peaceful city in Nigeria and just 23 months into his stay in office, “has returned the state to the unfortunate old days where killings, kidnapping, armed robbery among all manners of social vices were the order of the day.”
The APC said the kidnap of the commissioner for water resources on Sunday which came a fortnight after the killing of over a dozen people due to gangstars rivalry was just a warm up to plans hatched by the administration to kidnap its members in the forthcoming Local Government elections and recounted some brazen situations carried out by criminal elements.
“Last year, the number two man in the state, the Deputy Governor Prof. Evara Isu was unceremoniously held hostage for hours by militants. The governor was in Canada signing his ineffective MOUs when the government house was under siege.
“Again, the convoy of the deputy governor was attacked leaving one of the security officers attached to him dead. the government did nothing.
“Just yesterday (Sunday), the Commissioner of Water Resources, Mr. Gabriel Odu-Orji was abducted in broad daylight and 24 hours later nothing has been said or heard about it.
“This is coming after over 20 youths were killed a fortnight ago in a bloody cult rivalry war. Till today, the government has neither made statement nor arrested the perpetrators. This has created room for the suspicion that government officials are behind the ugly situation.
“We are also aware that there are plans to assassinate, kidnap or attack some of our members during the upcoming Local Government elections. To achieve this, some overzealous government officials are test running their plot with the unfortunate abduction of the water resources Commissioner. We also are aware that the said Commissioner who was pronounced suspended last year have been at loggerhead with the Governor.
“Whether this is a prelude of what would happen to APC members or not, Ayade is duty bound as the Chief Security Officer of the state to protect every single Cross Riverian and their properties. But recent developments have shown that Ayade is grossly incompetent to protect lives and properties.
“We therefore demand Ayade’s urgent resignation. A Governor who prefers spending millions of naira in buying unmerited awards than strengthening the security apparatus of the state is unfit to rule and therefore should voluntarily leave.
“However, in a situation where the governor refused to resign honorably, the State House of Assembly should commence impeachment proceedings against him. The Assembly must stop acting like a rubber stamp or an agency of the executive arm.
“The security situation has reached all time low. If people who are duty bound to protect lives and properties can no longer protect even themselves, what then is the hope of a common man? Ayade has extended his unseriousness and infant leadership style to security which ought to have been given top priority.
“This is the time for even his party members to speak against this situation because if a Commissioner can be kidnapped then nobody is safe again in the state,” the statement read.
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