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Youths back removal of Akpabuyo council boss
By Bassey Inyang
Correspondent,
Calabar
A
youth organisation under the name, Concerned Youths of Cross River State
(CYCROSS), Abuja chapter, has expressed support for the state governor, Mr
Donald Duke’s decision to remove the Chairman of Akpabuyo Local
Government, Dr. Salem David Joshua.
The
group’s position followed a petition sent by Joshua to the National
Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP),
challenging his removal from office.
In
a letter to the party’s NWC, signed by the Abuja chapter chairman of the
youth body, Mr John Offiong, and secretary, Mr Joseph Edem, it argued that
Joshua’s removal was in order. The letter read in part: “In view of
the offset by certain persons in the state as regards the ousting of the
Akpabuyo Local Government Area chairman and his baseless allegation on the
allocation of council funds, we the Concerned Youths of Cross River State
(CYCROSS) categorically state that this act is the height of distraction of our
visionary governor.
“Reasons
are that, it was an agreed issue between the state executive and council
chairmen to work together as regards the vision for a proper execution of
projects that will benefit communities and the state at large. For instance,
the erstwhile council chairmen left their councils owing as much as 5 to 18
months salary arrears even when they were getting the allocation direct from
the Federal Government. But today there is no local government in Cross River
State that is being owed a month’s salary because the state’s chief
executive is capable and more proficient in the management of the state funds
and projects.”
The
group further stated: “The ousted chairman with a log in his eyes wants
to pull the peg in a better man’s eye. It was a clear case of nonchalance
and negligence of function on his part when violence erupted in Akpabuyo,
claiming some lives and rendering others homeless.”
It
argued that the state House of Assembly’s sanction of the order of the
state governor was based on facts contained in the findings of the commission
of enquiry set up by government to investigate the violent clash that pitted
the people of Efut Esighi against Ikot Eyo Ndem.
The
youths also went to the national secretariat of the party, where CYCROSS
President, Mr. Joseph Bassey and other executive members met the PDP leadership
over the issue.
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