By Abasi Ita, Calabar
…We share stream with cows for drinking water-Bekwarra Monarch
…We are ashamed of Ayade’s performance, he is a collosal disaster -Obudu Chiefs
Tales of woes arising from the insensitivity demonstrated by Governor Ben Ayade administration towards the plight of his people dominated pre elections discourse especially in Cross River North, where the Governor hails from.
Baring their minds during the Town Hall interactive meetings floated by the PDP ahead the forthcoming elections, opinion leaders of the area noted with dismay, the neglect and deprivations suffered by Cross River Northern Senatorial District despite having one of their own as the sitting governor
Speaking during a Town Hall meeting with the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Campaign Team in his palace in Abocheche,Paramount Ruler of Bekwarra, His Royal Highness, Linus Odey disclosed that his subjects share drinking water with cows from the only available stream due to absent of portable drinking water or borehole
The royal father revealed that the area lacks basic amenities ranging from health facilities, electricity,schools as well as access roads for evacuation of agricultural produce to markets for optimum returns and economic growth
According to him” it’s appalling that in this 21st century, we still drink water from a stream which also serve as the source of drinking water for cattle belonging to nomadic herdsmen.
“To compound our woes, Bekwarra was disconnected from the national grid at the onset of the present state administration in lieu of the widely advertised stable power supply from Obudu power plant, since then, we have been groping in darkness while the power lines stretching to Benue have all been vandalised”
In the same vein, the Paramount Ruler of Obudu, HRM Uti Jeddy Agba represented by Chief Cornelus Ulem said royal fathers have been reduced to the level of penury even with their son as a sitting governor.
In his words,” the present administration headed by our own son review our monthly stipends downward to a paltry #7.500.00 for village heads while clan heads are now entitled to #22000 . 00.This is humiliating and inhuman”
“You can see the desolate state of our Council of Chief Chambers, yet our son is the sitting governor of our state. We have been in darkness for years now. The situation of things in our state under the watch of our son, Senator Ben Ayade is pathetic. It is a huge embarrassment to us”
Also speaking, the youths leader of Obudu, John Ikong stated that the only thriving industry credited to the present administration is the upsurge of cultism in Obudu disguised as “Food on the Table” appointments which has promoted violence and acrimony amongst brothers”
“The only viable government presence in our locality with direct impact on our lives are courtesy of Senator Jarigbe”
At Yala, the Paramount Ruler,Ambassador Onah Ipule lauded the PDP for the notable development strides recorded under Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke which projected Cross River to global limelight .
In his remarks, Yala youth leader Joehbe Onah said the area lack “asphalt road *network as ninety percent of road are dusty and bumpy thereby exposing them to health hazards, road mishaps and* economic stagnation
“The Okpoma road linking us with Ebonyi State was in good shape until Ayade came in 2016 with a promise of dualization. The over bloated contract for the dualization was awarded to a proxy company and paid for. Our good road was excavated and abandoned after a section was partly asphalted. The dust from the road now called “Ayade Powder” has killed dozen of our people due to poor visibility”
In Obanlikwu, the Paramount Ruler, Dr. Amos Itim decried the deplorable state of the once-famous Obudu Cattle Ranch which was a global tourist attraction before the arrival of Governor Ayade.
A youth spokesman, Adie Kingsley said apart from a signpost mounted at the hectares of land annexed without due process by Governor Ayade for a rice farm, there is no state government presence in the area under the present administration.