By CrossRiverWatch Admin
The African Action Congress AAC in Cross River state is dismayed by reports of ongoing communal crises in Cross River state and the mindless absence of the “Father of the State”, Governor Ben Ayade, who is reported by the media to be away in Europe.
Yesterday, the entire local and national media was awashed with a gory report of how a mother Aliza, was forced to watch as her husband, Ati Ato and son from Ebom community in Abi LGA in central Cross River state were beheaded by men from neighbouring Usumutong also in Abi. The headless bodies have been recovered, according to reports.
This followed other reports of another ongoing war between Obudu and Tivs in the northern part of the State with media reports also claiming that 6 persons have been killed including two youth corpers who were allegedly hacked to death while on a journey.
In the midst of these communal wars and killings, governor Ayade is away in Europe on a journey he did not tell Cross Riverians when he was leaving and what he went for.
The AAC is fully aware that the 2019 Budget of Qabalistic Densification earmarks (N7,000,000,000) Seven Billion Naira as governor Ayade’s security vote, yet out of the 18 LGAs in the State, 14 are having active communal crises that have festered and spread under his government.
Records from the Cross River House of Assembly Peace and Security sub-committee reveal that, active communal crises in the State have increased from 30 in 2015 when governor Ayade took over to over 40.
The AAC considers this trend unacceptable and as a Party concerned about the continued loss of lives and disruption of community life among our people, we are calling on governor Ayade to explain to the people of Cross River state how the 7billion Naira Security vote in the 2019 appropriation law is been spent and why these incessant crises have not abated.
Our party dare say that governor Ayade has no clear cut conflict resolution strategy for the communal crises in the State other than just sending security forces each time one erupts and withdrawing them after a while to wait until another eruption.
Apart from just explaining how such outrageous budgetary provision is been expended, Governor Ayade must also promptly unveil a robust alternative conflict resolution strategy that will involve seasoned experts, security agencies and warring communities, with a view to healing wounds and restoring confidence and peace.
Thank you.
Citizen Agba Jalingo
Chairman,
AAC, Cross River state.