By BANNERNEWS Reporter, Calabar
The special adviser to Governor Bassey Otu on public affairs, Mr Gill Nsa has stated that it was very unfortunate for the former chairman of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress, APC, in the state Alphonsus Ogar Eba Esq to talk carelessly about the government he was a key player.
Eba, the PDP running mate in company of the governorship candidate of the opposition People’s Democratic Party, PDP, Sir Arthur Jarvis Archibong, had made several allegations against Governor Bassey Otu’s administration.
Eba accused Otu’s administration of being fake and fraudulent as well as the governor’s inability to complete road projects in the northern senatorial district in his three years in power, and blocking Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, interventions in the state.
Eba also alleged that the governor had converted the vast rubber plantation established by the former premier of eastern region, late Sir Michael Okpara, to his private palm fruits property, hinting that as chairman of National Rubber Commission, the take over would be addressed.
In his reaction, Nsa said it was unfortunate for Eba to speak carelessly, stating that it was because Eba had fallen out of favours from the governor.
Nsa described Eba’s allegations as lies against the administration and the person of the governor.
The governor’s aides said Eba did not have the credibility to speak against Otu, recalling that the former chairman himself was kicked out of office sometime ago because of his alleged dubious nature and frauds he reportedly perpetrated whilst in office.
“It’s because this is time for politics and because he fell out of favours from Gov Otu the reason he was spewing the lies. It’s also because Gov Otu had refused to protect him when his then state working exco, the 18 chapter chairmen of APC jointly passed a vote of no confidence on him. They had accused him of frauds and duping them of their entitlements.”
On the NDDC contract which Eba claimed Otu thwarted Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong’s effort, Nsa said the construction of the Adiabo road Eba referenced was in two parts.
Nsa explained that the government was handling a major part with bridges while the NDDC handles the other.
“Management of NDDC even came to assess it and had commended the state government”, he said.
On the roads in Cross River northern senatorial district, Nsa explained that most of the road projects were not started by Otu’s administration but inherited from previous governmens.
“Otu’s administration is still working on all the inherited projects with a view to completing them soon. The roads in Yala and other parts of the north are being executed according to time specifications. Government is a continuum”, Nsa explained.
