Former Cross River Governor, Ayade cries witch-hunt as coalition calls for his arrest

By Akpan David, Calabar

A coalition of civic groups in Cross River State has called on Nigeria’s anti-graft agencies to arrest and prosecute former Governor, Prof Ben Ayade over alleged large-scale financial misconduct and abandoned projects during his tenure.

But reacting, Ayade said neither the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) nor the state had appreciated his sacrifices. Speaking with reporters at the Calabar airport, he denied abandoning his projects, insisting that he acted in the state’s best interest.

“APC has not treated me fairly despite being the first governor from the South-South to lead a state into the ruling party,” he said. “I meant well for Cross River, and every project I initiated was properly accounted for. I am carrying the scars from that battle to develop the state.”

The Coalition of Civic Societies on Accountability and Good Governance, in a statement signed by Coordinator Agaba Vincent, Secretary, Odey Odey, and spokesperson, Raymond Agabi, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to act on petitions against the former governor and audit the funding of key abandoned projects.

It also advised Governor Bassey Otu to resist pressures to honour Ayade with a civic reception, warning that such a move would amount to “rewarding failure and insensitivity to citizens still suffering from uncompleted projects.

“Former Governor Ben Ayade should face a comprehensive probe, not a civic reception,” the statement said. “Cross Riverians are still paying the price for uncompleted and non-functional projects that consumed enormous public funds,” it noted.

The coalition cited high-profile projects allegedly left incomplete despite heavy funding, including the 275-kilometre Superhighway, Bakassi Deep Seaport, Calapharm Pharmaceutical Factory, Obudu Cargo Airport, and the Rice City and Seedlings Factory, which it claimed operated briefly with rented equipment before closing down.

Others listed were the Coconut Refinery, Banana Plantation and Processing Plant, Cocoa Processing Factory in Ikom, Calachika Chicken Factory, the foreign-linked university in Obudu, and several power plant and road projects such as the Ukelle and Boki–Obudu roads, allegedly awarded to proxy firms and later abandoned.

The coalition accused Ayade’s administration of masking failures with “media fanfare,” adding that most industrial projects existed only in name. “If the former governor believes his hands are clean, he should welcome a probe to clear his name,” Agabi said.

The group urged the Cross River House of Assembly to review financial records from the Ayade era to ensure accountability. It praised Governor Otu’s transparency efforts but warned that shielding past failures could erode public trust.

According to the coalition, a full investigation would help recover wasted funds, restore confidence in governance, and set a new standard for accountability in Cross River State.