Jarigbe chides Ayade, urges firm to return queried funds

By Our Reporter

Sen. Jarigbe Agom, senator representing Cross River Northern Senatorial District, has called a company allegedly owned by the family of former governor Ben Ayade to return funds queried by the Report of the Office of the State Auditor General.

Jarigbe made the call on Sunday in an address to his constituents which was made available to journalists in Calabar, the state capital.

According to the Senator, “Let Messrs Leophina, a Company owned by the Ayades return funds that were queried by the Auditor’s report.

“If he only returns the funds queried by the Audited Reports, I will not bother anymore.

“I did not carry out the audit, but it was carried out by the Office of the Auditor General of Cross River State and we have the Reports and several other evidence.

The Lawmaker also noted that he had promised the people that he would stay with the issues and not bother about going personal like the former governor is doing.

“Our people know me. I didn’t just happen, likewise Ayade, so we can’t mislead the people. We all know the families we come from and the likely tendencies, judging from our upbringing,” he said.

He advised those who think they are self-acclaimed puritans and are questioning why he should want to look into the fleecing away of the State’s resources, to know that their attempt is futile.

READ ALSO | #AFCON2023: Host Ivory Coast knock out defending champions Senegal (VIDEO)

“I am not deterred. Where were you guys when Ayade brought his Security to fire live ammunition at our people, who just came to vote in a Primary Election between two of his own brothers from the North because he wanted the seat held for himself? Our brother from Ukelle was killed and some got crippled. My promise to the victims was that I was not going to give up and I will not, while we continue to pray for the repose of the souls of the departed.

“Where were you guys when Ayade ran against me in the last election, got defeated and dragged me through all the Courts to steal the mandate the people of the North gave to me? You guys did not know we were all brothers from the North?

“Where were you guys when Ayade reduced Cross River State to a family business for 8 years? Where were you guys when Ayade’s only goal was to become the richest man in Cross River State, while our retired parents couldn’t afford their blood pressure medications, due to the non-payment of gratuities and pensions?” Senator Jarigbe queried.

He further stated that he was the one who stood up to speak and affirm the legitimacy of Dr Betta Edu on the floor of the Senate, even as a PDP Senator, when unsaintly people crafted a petition against her after her nomination was sent to the National Assembly by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

“That’s patriotism. Patriotism is not protecting a man who plundered our resources and remains incorrigible,” he added.

Senator Jarigbe called on those who have anything against him to get the right security agency informed, just as he is preparing his facts and evidence “to ask that we get our common patrimony back from Sen. Ayade and his family.”