Chief Barrister Okoi Obono-Obla, the Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Prosecution at the Ministry of Justice has urged Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State to emulates the President by conforming with the constitutional stipulates ver treatment meted on his Deputy.
Obono-Obla came hard on Gov. Ayade this morning in a statement made available to News Punch following the governor's decision to incessantly travel out of the nation without handing over to his deputy.
Obono-Obla, a renown human rights activist, constitutional lawyer, and ant-corruption fierce crusader said; "President Muhammadu Buhari has set the template which our State Governors should emulate and copy in so many ways."
"President Buhari has shown that he is a man who is not obsessed with the trappings and paraphernalia of power that is typical of African Rulers/Leaders."
"He is so humble, humane, exemplary, law abiding and simple. He shows absolute respect and confidence in the way he deals with his Vice President."
"Twice President Buhari in strict compliance with the provisions of the Constitution has handed over the reins of power to Vice President, Oluyemi Oluleke Osinbanjo, SAN, GCON. "
"In March, 2016, President Buhari handed over to Professor Osinbanjo as Acting President when he travelled to United Kingdom on a short holiday."
"Again, on the 6th June, 2016, President Buhari handed over the reins of governance to Acting President Yemi Osinbanjo"
"But not our State Governors! Our Governors hardly learn. The Governors are one of the fundamental problems confronting and grappling the country. "
"They are dictatorial, magisterial, arrogant, power drunk, vindictive, and reckless. They treat their Deputies with so much distain, contempt and scorn."
"The Governors have rendered the legislative branch of government in potent to the extent the State Assemblies have been turned to appendages of the Governors."
"In one of the States in the South/South Region one of the Governors in a frenzy and stupor of power drunkenness promoted his immediate younger brother ‘’ Co-Governor’’.
"The ‘’Co-Governor’’ moves around the State Capital with convoy of siren blaring vehicles. He is he who must be obeyed. The words of the so-called ‘’Co-Governor’’ is Law. "
"The ‘’Co-Governor’’ is the de facto Governor of Cross River State in all ramification."
"Whenever the Constitutional Elected Governor; the de jure travels out he hands over the reins of power to his ‘’ Co-brother Governor. Imagine the absurdity and illegality."
"From January to April, 2016, Governor Ben Ayade travelled out to God knows where! He was away for almost ten weeks without transmitting a letter to the State House of Assembly as prescribed by the Constitution in order that Deputy Governor Professor Ivara Esu would assume office as Acting Governor. Rather, his brother, Frank Ayade whom he appointed Co-Governor’’ assumed office and exercise the functions of the State Governor till his return. "
"Again, Governor Ayade has travelled out of the State for the past two weeks. Governor Ayade again failed to hand over the reins of power to his Deputy. In the absence of the Governor, the Cross River State has continually slides into a State of lawlessness, anarchy!"
"Two weeks ago secret cultists and hoodlums declared a ‘’ civil war’’ in part of the State Capital and went into a orgy of mindless violence and killings."
"Last week, some militants in the out skirt of the State Capital ambushed a convoy of vehicles carrying expatriate workers and kidnapped them before they were released after a week after payment of a ran some to the criminals."
"Undoubtedly the Security network Cross River State has broken down and collapsed in the face of mediocre governance and incompetence."
Ayade in January traveled out of the country for over one month without officially informing the State Assembly and handing over to his Deputy. Again, he is said to have traveled again now repeating the same 'criminal act'