27th June, 2019
Governor Ayade Must Explain N12 Billion Security Vote, Contingencies And Landscaping Of Governor’s Office
The African Action Congress AAC, is calling on Governor Ben Ayade to come clean on some suspicious items in his secretive 2019 budget of Qabalistic Densification.
These items include the N7 Billion earmarked for security vote; the N4 Billion budgeted for ‘contingencies’ and the N1 Billion to be spent on landscaping of the Governor’s office.
Governor Ayade should explain why despite the same figure was allocated for the 2018 fiscal year, the State witnessed never ending cycles of violence, thuggery, politically motivated attacks and killings, as well as community clashes with almost no measure put in place to curb these.
The AK47 economy has blossomed under this administration with kidnappers having a field day while gangstars terrorize neighborhoods without let or hinder. The case of ace broadcaster, PeterTex Etim who was kidnapped in January 2019 and the recent kidnapp of the governor’s cousin Gab Adah, who have both remained with their abductors, begs the question of where these monies went to.
The inadequate concern the Ayade’s administration shows to such issues as well as communal clashes, only re-enforces the age long belief that the elites always remain aloof of the happenings of the downtrodden.
The AAC understands the need for funding of the security agencies, but such bulk sums with no plan of action for expenditure raises questions about the sincerity of purpose especially in a budget so hidden that less than 30 Cross Riverians have access to it!
Also, what contingencies are there that will cost the Governor N4 Billion of taxpayer’s money?
Is this an avenue for him to recoup monies spent during the campaigns?
It is on record that the Cross River State Government House has one of the most beautiful landscapes in Nigeria. The lodges and the Governor’s office have remained preferred destinations for people who want beautiful landscapes as backgrounds for their pictures. What landscaping is Governor Ayade doing that will cost N1 Billion?
We do not think an overhaul of the landscaping of the Governor’s office, the Peregrino lodge, the Presidential lodge and the Deputy Governor’s lodge will cost N1 Billion.
Until a detailed plan of action that justifies this expenditure is made available to Cross Riverians, as a party, the AAC shall hold that these sums where merely budgeted to be whisked away by government officials.
Citizen Agba Jalingo
State Chairman