Over 70Billion Naira Received By Gov. Otu\'s Administration -PDP Cross River Calls for Accountability

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Cross River State, notes with appalling concern Governor Otu\’s inability to judiciously account for the over 70billion Naira that has entered the State coffers as part of intervention fund released by the President to cushion the effect of the economic crunch beleaguering the nation. Consequent upon the removal of Fuel Subsidy by the Tinubu\’s administration and the subsequent meteoric increase in Federal allocation and other sundry intervention funds accrued to the state, Otu\’s administration has received over #70billion as Palliative/Intervention Fund, which is different from the over # 150billion received as monthly allocation between May 2023 to July 2024.

Following the excruciating economic maladies, biting hunger and astronomical hike in price of food and commodities in Nigeria, orchestrated primarily by the APC\’s anti-people removal of fuel subsidy, one would have thought that Governor Otu, in line with his much touted

\”People\’s First\” mantra, would have the needed decency and humane disposition to manage resources and allocations accrued to the state optimally. It is therefore, exasperating waking up daily to the kleptocratic, avaricious, mindless and fraudulent schemes by the Otu\’s administration, aimed primarily at asphyxiating the State and enriching few of his coevals and immediate family members, at the detriment of the good people of Cross River State.

To examine the facts critically, we make bold to ask the APC led by Governor Prince Otu, to account for the over 31 Billion Naira received from the Federal Government as NG-CARES PROGRAM Fund. For emphasis, the NG-CARES Program with a financial arrangement called Program-for-Results (PforR), has provided over 31billion Naira to Cross River State for five platforms namely; Cash Transfer, Community and Social Development Agency (CSDA), Enterprise Development Fund, FADAMA, and Public Workfare. Despite receiving over #31Billion between December 2023 and June 2024, Governor Otu has failed to account for the funds or provide tangible results.

It is on record that Otu\’s administration claim that 1,700 Persons have benefited from the fund. Assuming without conceding that this is true, it therefore raises concern about the utilization of the #31Billion and how much was received by each of the beneficiaries.

Additionally, the state has received three tranches of Electronic Money Transfer (EMTL), each not less than #billion, as well as billions from import duty, Companies Income Tax (CIT),

Petroleum Profit Tax (PPT), and Customs External Tariff Levies (CET).

Rather than judiciously allocate these monies to programs and projects that are people-oriented and can ameliorate the plight of the people; Governor Otu\’s Budget for 2024 includes questionable allocations such as;

#5Billion for Renovation of Governor\’s office
#52.5million for printing 400 pieces of Almanacs.
#36.75million for equipping and restructuring the Assembly Clinic.

To think that the production of mere almanacs cost more than the Assembly Clinics, underscores the point that Governor Otu and his cohorts have turned themselves into narcissistic kleptomaniacs.

#273million for pilgrimage activities.
#157.5 Million for Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) African.
#262.5 million for CPA International.
#210million for Health Programs for Ex- HoA members.
#52.5 million for air conditioners, Fans and Water Dispensers.

Just recently, the July 2024 FAAC allocation for the 18 Local Government Areas in Cross River State was paid, which amounted to the sum of #5.63Billion. Assuming that the allocation is equitably divided, each LGA would receive about #312.777million, which could significantly impact on the development we are desperately yearning for in the State, It\’s worrisome that even the Governor\’s wife has been rumoured to have captured Local Government fund leveraging on her experience as former Director in the Local Government Service. Till date, LGAs are not funded by the State Government except through IGR. Rather than fund LGAs, the Governor\’s wife is alleged to have erected gigantic edifices all over Calabar from her sudden mysterious wealth which is from corrupt enrichment from LG funds, while LGAs wallow in penury and the Urban Development Authorities have been rendered comatose with filthy streets. Yet, authorities are preying on overtaxed Petty traders struggling to make ends meet in a devastated economic environment.

PDP Cross River State call on the Governor to atleast, have the decency to live up to his own \”People\’s First\” mantra as the lack of transparency and accountability in his Government is humongously alarming.

PDP Cross River State also call on Cross Riverians, Anti-graft Agencies, Traditional Rulers, Religious Leaders and Stakeholders to beam their searchlight on the Government and demand for the true dividends of Democracy.

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