Special Report – Joseph ETTA Calabar
For Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State, the fear of conducting the L.G.A election is the beginning of wisdom.
It will be recalled that the state House of Assembly gave the Governor a month ultimatum, which has since elapsed to conduct the Local Government Area council Election in the State.
However, to this is one of the contending issues between the Legislature and the Executive which is likely to snowball into a possible Face-Off between the Executive and the Legislature.
Prof. Ben Ayade now compliance to the called. For the conduct, the council is not going down well with the members of his party the PDP.
Former Councilor, Hon. Effiom Effiwat told Pilot that: “we are not happy with the Governor, He is playing maradona”, he promised to conduct the council Election after using us as the foot soldier to win his election. Infact as I am talking to us, our service allowance in the last dispensation is has not been paid.” He stated.
Meanwhile, Governor Been Ayade treated the issue with lavity and non chalant over the issue of conducting the council election in the state. Cross River State is one of the few state in the federation that is yet to conduct it’s council election.
It will be recalled that the election into elective position in L.G.A’s in the State was last conducted 5 years ago. On investigation, it was discovered that the reason for the poor state of the finance of the state is unconnected to the directive by the National Intelligence Financial Unit (NEIFI), stopping the reduct of the Local Government Funds to the State treasury.
A top source who spoke in confidence that before now, all over the years.
The L.G.A funds formed largely the main source of funding projects and paying off staff salary accross board in the state.
In a related development, the L.G.A in the state are headed by the appointed officials by the Governor.
When the Pilot visited some of the area councils in the state such as Akpabuyo L.G.A, Bakassi L.G.A, Calabar South L.G.A and Calabar Municipality Headquarters looks like G Ghost town and with no serious Government activity.
The facilities are all in a decayed state and deplorable conditions.
In a chat, the few staff mingling around said: “Nothing is really happening here” There is no money, salaries are not paid, no money to work with, we are cash strapped, we only come to sign the attendance register and go home.” They added.
