The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Senator Sandy Onor has warned financial institutions within and outside the country against further lending to the current government in Cross River State.
Senator Onor, who represents the central district of Cross River at Nigeria’s senate, cautioned banks and similar lending institutions against granting more loans to the Governor Ben Ayade led government due to the state’s huge debt profile.
Onor noted that the debt burden of Cross River currently pegged at over $279 Million (Two Hundred and Seventy-nine Million Dollars) would be “to put the final nail on the coffin.”
He disclosed: “The people are making moves to borrow another N35 Billion, with only a few months left to the end of their administration. As at March this year, the debt profile of this state stood at $279 Million according to the Debt Management Office.”
According to him, governor Ayade’s government connived with the state legislature to borrow the loan, noting that once the administration secures
the 35 Billion Naira loan, the incoming government come May 29, 2023 would have a mountain of debt to grapple with.
He urged: “We must not allow this to happen because the incoming government will be inheriting a mountain of debts to grapple with. In the eyes of the law, there is no House of Assembly in Cross River State and anything that carries the imprimatur of this Assembly is null and void ab initio.
“This should serve as warning to all financial institutions in and outside Nigeria not to grant loan, in whatever form, to the current government of Cross River State as they will be doing so at a very high risk.
“Until the courts pronounce otherwise, the House of Assembly as currently constituted cannot enact legally binding resolutions and laws,” Onor insisted.
Local government elections
The PDP gubernatorial candidate also drew attention to the plans of Professor Ayade’s APC led state government to conduct local council elections next year before handing over power on May 29, 2023.
Onor, who described the plans as ‘laughable,’ said “it cannot also stand because in law, you cannot build something on nothing. In the eyes of the law, the state House of Assembly is in abeyance and therefore cannot confirm the governor’s appointees into the Cross River State Independent Electoral Commission.
“Members of the commission as announced by the governor and supposedly confirmed are a product of illegality; they lack the legal powers to handle that all important state assignment,” he stated.
He reiterated the commitment of the PDP to reclaim Cross River State through legal means.
Appreciating party stakeholders
The PDP flagbearer expressed appreciation to the people for the warm welcomed accorded him on his return from Abuja where he received the Certificate of Returns from the national leadership of the party.
Onor commended past governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke “for their fatherly role in midwifing the processes that led to the party’s primary in the state” as well as major contenders during the primary, Senator Gershom Bassey and Daniel Asuquo for the generous display of the spirit of sportsmanship.”
He assured the people of a new Cross River that is committed to community development through a robust local government system that would positively impact the economy of the grassroots.
He said, “I am aware that the people are anxious to see the birth of a new Cross River State that we promised. All I can say is that we are very close to our Eldorado.”
The candidate was accompanied by the one of the contenders during the gubernatorial primary, Princess Filia Henshaw amongst other party stalwarts.
Lateefah Ibrahim
