Follow Us on Google
From Aniekan Aniekan, Calabar
A chieftain of the African Democratic Congressand former governorship candidate in Cross River State, Effiong Nyong, has challenged the ruling All Progressives Congress to face criminals rather than negotiating with them.
Nyong made the call in Calabar over the weekend during the formal unveiling of the ADC Coalition in the state as well as the commissioning of its State Secretariat.
According to him, “Stop negotiating with criminals, face them and partner with any help you can get. An ADC government will not pamper terrorists,” he said.
He insisted that the first duty of government at any level is to secure its citizens but what is happening presently in the country is a nightmare.
“We need to reset and cover our ungoverned spaces across Nigeria and in Cross River State,” he said.
On Cross River State, he said the ADC is out to reset the state because the state is not faring better despite its early exposure to democracy.
He faulted the local government system in the state, saying council funds are being managed by the State Government to the detriment of the councils.
He also decried the poor infrastructure in the state, particularly the roads and the insecure waterway, saying it deters potential visitors to the state.
Also speaking, Effiom Okoi, the chairman of the ADC Elders Advisory Council, said governance at both the state and national levels has been bedevilled by maladministration, insecurity, corruption and gross impunity.
He said while public transportation in the state is a nightmare, businesses relocating, gratuities unpaid, the government has been clapping for itself without doing anything.
The ADC, he emphasised, is on a rescue mission to correct these ills and tasked members to play their part to actualise this mission.
