Cross River North is the most deprived zone under Ayade - Eyo Ekpo

Eyo Ekpo, governorship candidate of the SDP flanked by his running mate, Engr. Wofai Ewa, Secretary of the party and Wade Friday, Obanliku State House of Assembly candidate.

Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, (SDP), Mr. Eyo Ekpo has accused Governor Ben Ayade of poor performance as well as destroying the legacies of the state.

Ekpo who stated this yesterday while briefing newsmen at his campaign office in Calabar added that the northern senatorial district of the state where Ayade comes from has suffered more neglect and deprivation in terms of good governance than any other zone under his watch.

The lawyer and former Attorney General of the state said that because of Governor Ayade's poor performance, even the north where he comes from would not vote him as he noticed during his state tour that people are more concerned about good governance and not where the Governor comes from.

He added that the two major political parties, the PDP and APC have failed in delivering good governance in the state as such SDP was the better alternative which would reposition the state in the part of greatness.

According to him "We started our state wide tour last week from the north. Why we started from the north is simple; because the Governor is from the north. From what we saw, I can tell you that Cross River North is the most deprived part of the state under Ayade.

Despite the fact that the Governor is from the north, the major asset which is the 147Km Mfon-Obudu road has been taken away from the people. He has destroyed other few assets in the north. Last year during the burial of Late John Odey, the Governor promised that the road would be commissioned before December but from what we saw it doesn't look like anything would happen even if Ayade is given another four years".

He added that "the people of the north and the entire state are waiting for respite from the SDP because the two major political parties have failed us".

On the recent budget presented to the state house of assembly by Governor Ayade, he said that the document was without content as such shouldn't be recognized as a budget.

According to him "What Ayade recently presented cannot be called a budget. It's a complete scam. No paper was even laid before the assembly for debate. What would they be debating on? He went to the assembly to give a chat and not to present a budget".

Continuing he said that the "development has further shown that what Cross Riverians have been facing in the past four years; insult from the Governor. This is why there should have been loud voice everywhere demanding the impeachment of the Governor".

Ekpo also berated the candidate of APC, Sen. John Owan Enoh for failing in his legislative duties in 20 years.

"We have a man who has been in the legislature for 20 years and now want to be Governor. Now where are the bills to his name? Where are the institutions, the projects he has attracted to the State? It's not enough to go the national assembly, get money and come back home to give a few people or buy sewing machines or fairly used cars for people".

Speaking about the recent adoption of President Muhammadu Buhari, candidate of the APC by the National Executive Council, NEC of his party, the gubernatorial candidate said that he will continue to support former Governor of the state, Mr. Donald Duke as Presidential candidate of the party.

"We will continue to support Donald Duke for the Presidency because the decision of the NEC of the party doesn't have popular support of the people. Duke remains the candidate of the party recognized by INEC".