‘Next Level Impunity, Illegality’ – PDP Berate Sacked Cross River Lawmakers For Approving 1.5Bln Loan

By Jonathan Ugbal

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The People’s Democratic Party, PDP in Cross River State has described reports of the sacked House of Assembly sitting to approve a 1.5 billion Naira loan facility as counterpart funding for the Universal Basic Education Commission, UBEC, and 10 Special Advisers as the worst level of impunity and illegality an administration can go.

The State Chairman, Barr. Venatius Ikem in a statement to CrossRiverWatch said the action shows that the current Ben Ayade-led administration has no limits to how far it can go in terms of illegality and impunity.

“Indeed, just like his political party says, this is indeed the next level of impunity and illegality. How can 18 people, who were sacked by Justice Taiwo Taiwo of the Abuja Division of the Federal High Court, go out to approve the appointment of 10 Special Advisers and plunge the State deeper into debt by borrowing 1.5 billion Naira?” Barr. Ikem questioned.

He wondered what happened to the Governor’s dream of using intellectual money, green money, and all other monies he kept blabbing about such that he will have to go and borrow to get UBEC funding.

He said the PDP is aware of the desperate bid to deploy these funds to impose a successor that will cover up Governor Ayade’s misdeeds in office as well as other failed political ventures.

Barr. Ikem averred that: “Cross Riverians know that the plan is to award contracts to cronies, colleagues, and allies instead of competent contractors, and the kickbacks will be used to replicate the vote-buying situation we all witnessed in Ekiti.

“The PDP is also aware that the failed Senator representing Cross River North Senatorial District, Stephen Odey who was reappointed to his former position as Chairman of the State Universal Basic Education Board, is in dire need of rehabilitation, having sold most of his ill-gotten assets and obtained loans to prosecute his failed Court case against Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe which forced him to accept the indignity of accepting an appointment under a Commissioner.”

He called on Cross Riverians to resist these “last kicks of a dying horse” as the current administration has shown its hand in the sufferings of the people. 

Watch.