The Cross River State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has alleged that the state Governor, Ben Ayade is enticing lawmakers and some of his appointees with millions of naira to have them defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
The party made the allegation on Wednesday at a press briefing in Calabar, the state capital, while demanding that Ayade declare the N19 billion he got from the Federal Government as a refund on federal road projects the state handled.
The Caretaker Committee Chairman of the PDP in Cross River State, Efiok Cobhams, while declaring that the said maintenance the money was refunded to the tune of about 19 billion naira was undertaken by the PDP administrations of Mr Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke, disclosed that Gov Ayade’s movement to the APC will cost Cross Riverians N2 billion
He said: “Governor Ayade has now adopted unconstitutional methods to compel his cabinet and appointees, and other public office holders to follow him to the APC against their choice of remaining in PDP.
“The defection of Governor Ayade to APC is to cost Cross Riverians N2 Billion. This is what Ayade needs to buy defectors from even his cabinet to follow him to the APC.
“Governor Ayade can readily expend N2 billion to fund his defection to APC because he has ready cash from the almost 19 Billion naira recently paid to Cross River state as a refund for federal road maintenance undertaken by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke.
“Governor Ayade has refused to declare this money to the people of Cross River state and is frittering it away on purposes other than the common good of Cross Riverians.
“We call on Governor Ayade to declare this N19 billion which is the single largest revenue flow to Cross River State since the creation of the state, and to apply same in infrastructures like rural roads, urban road network and water which benefits the common man.
“We are all embarrassed that Governor Ayade inherited the best public water supply systems developed by the PDP administrations of Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke across the state, and has allowed them today to all fall into disrepair. Our people have gone back to streams and wells for water.
“Governor Ayade has now also adopted unconstitutional methods to compel his cabinet and appointees, and other public office holders to follow him to the APC against their choice of remaining in PDP.
“Members of the House of Assembly have been offered N30 million each and an SUV each if they agree to decamp. Commissioners in Ayade’s cabinet are being offered N3 million and a car each to defect to the APC.
“Local government chairmen and councilors are under threat of removal from office unless they defect. All appointees of the governor have been instructed to produce their APC membership cards before they can receive salaries.”
