Despite Complaints Of Unpaid Salaries, Ayade Gifts SUVs To Three Lawmakers For Joining Ruling Party

Despite the outcry by state civil servants over unpaid salaries, the Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, on Monday presented Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs to three members of the House of Representatives from the state for joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The governor’s Chief of Staff, Martin Orim, presented the cars to the lawmakers on behalf of his principal at the Cross River State Liaison Office, Abuja.

Beneficiaries of the gift included Rt. Hon. Legor Idagbo representing Obudu, Bekwarra & Obanliku federal constituency, Rt. Hon Mike Etaba, representing Obubra/ Etung federal constituency and Rt. Hon. Alex Egbona, representing Abi/Yakurr federal constituency.

Idagbo and 30, 000 of his supporters followed the footsteps of the Governor and dumped PDP for APC last month. Mike Etaba defected in May while Egbonna is the only elected member of APC from Cross River state.

According to Ayade, the gift was in appreciation of the members’ loyalty to his leadership and the APC.

He reiterated that the car gift was to help facilitate their movement in the course of representing the people.

Ayade said the Cross River APC reps members understood the imperative of socketing the state to center, describing them as dependable allies.

Responding on behalf of the reps members, Rt. Hon Legor Idagbo said the loyalty of the members would remain with Gov. Ayade.

This is not the first time the governor will dole out gifts to public officers in the state.

In October last year, he gave out 54 SUVs to officials of the 18 local government councils in the state.

The latest development will spark an angry response from workers who had been at loggerhead with the state government over unpaid salaries.

Civil servants across the Cross River had in May protested the non-payment of three years and eight months’ salaries.