Coalition demands full probe of past administration in Cross River
… says celebrating previous administration sends wrong signals
Ani Bassey
A coalition of of civil‑society groups is urging Cross River State Governor Senator Bassey Otu to put accountability ahead of political niceties and order a transparent investigation into the tenure of former Governor Ben Ayade instead of honouring him with a reception.
In a statement signed by Coordinator Agaba Vincent, Secretary Odey Odey and spokesperson Raymond Agabi, the Coalition of Civic Societies on Accountability and Good Governance warned that a civic reception for Ayade would “send the wrong signal at a time the current administration is working hard to rebuild public trust.”
The coalition highlighted a litany of high‑profile projects launched under Ayade that remain unfinished, idle or abandoned: the 275‑km Superhighway, Bakassi Deep Seaport, Calapharm Pharmaceutical Factory, Obudu Cargo Airport, Rice City, the Rice Seedlings Factory and the Coconut Refinery.
Other projects include the Banana Plantation and Processing Plant, Cocoa Processing Factory in Ikom, Calachika Chicken Processing Plant, a foreign‑affiliated university in Obudu, several Independent Power Plant initiatives, and the Ukelle and Boki‑Obudu road schemes. Many of these were awarded to proxy firms and later left in disrepair, crippling trade and the livelihoods of rural communities.
“These projects were announced with fanfare, yet the state’s economy has not felt a corresponding impact,” the coalition said. “The former governor should be subjected to a transparent probe, not a civic reception.”
The group called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to review petitions concerning the funding and execution of those projects. It also urged the State House of Assembly to launch an oversight review of the financial records from Ayade’s era.
“Public perception of the previous administration remains largely critical,” the statement added. “If the former governor has nothing to hide, a probe will give him a chance to clear his name and help recover any mismanaged resources.”
Governor Otu’s administration has been praised for gradually restoring confidence, but the coalition warned that any gesture perceived as endorsing unresolved issues could erode that progress. “Accountability is the foundation of trust,” the coalition concluded. “A thorough investigation will reassure citizens that governance is being repositioned for their benefit.”
