Following the inauguration of new governors in most states of the country on Monday,May 29, former governors were expected to handover the keys to the office of governor and residence to the new occupant but sadly, reports indicate that some former governors are yet to vacate the Government Houses. which are bonafide properties of their respective states”
They are also said to be engaged in last minute looting spree.
In states where the successor governor is a member of the opposition party, report of looting is widespread. However,in states where the new governor is annointed, the volume of looting is downplayed.
Zamfara State is one of the states where the former governor,Bello Matawalle’s alleged looting spree was uncovered and heavily publicised and criticised. Matawalle, according to a statement by his successor, Dauda Lawal,took away armoured cars from the government house and asked him to urgently returned it.
In Cross River State, the newly inaugurated governor, Senator Bassey Edet Otu popularly called ” Sweet Prince” by his people as a result of his spirit of benevolence and compassion was yet to access the government House since his Inauguration.
Otu’s predecessor, Prof. Ben Ayade is alleged to have looted several government properties including vehicles. As at the end of last week,a total of 50 cars were said to be removed from government house.
At the swearing- in of Senator Otu at the UJ Useuene stadium, Calabar, the former governor, told Cross Riverians and Visitors that he would commission outstanding projects of his administration with Governor Otu on Tuesday,a day after the inaugural event.
According to Nkoyo, a resident of Calabar, who sat in a row of women, the former governor ” does not mean well for our state”
” How can he commission a project he executed after leaving office? In the first place what kind of projects is he commissioning? Is it the Spaghetti road,a narrow drive way that is less than 1 kilometre?
” Do you know that this man is yet to pay arrears of salaries and pensions? They are even busy stealing in government house. Infact,let him go in peace” she said
Another woman, Priscilla lamented the level of poverty in the state . ” We are suffering, our businesses are not doing well, We want the new government to support us in Agriculture and small businesses to help us train our children.
While abject poverty permeates the state, looting of funds in various government accounts by the former government officials reportedly held sway.
In less than 5 days after he took the oath of office, Otu directed that the state Auditor General ,John Odey go on compulsory retirement leave. The governor also appointed a new Secretary to the State Government and a Chief Press Secretary to formally kickstart the business of governance.
Meanwhile, the Accountant General of the state,Joe Adie was said to be a regular visitor to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC in Port Harcourt over seizures made on billions of naira during the Ayade administration.
The state was also involved in other corruption issues including the 1.4billion foreign loan scandal.
