Catholic Bishop Rejects Gov Ayade’s Largesse

• Gov boasts of 7 years consistency in salaries payment

Things went awry for  Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State on Sunday as the Catholic Bishop of Uyo Diocese, John Ebebe Ayah, politely ‘rejected’ the largesse offered to him by the governor during a Thanksgiving Mass held in Calabar.

It was gathered that during the Mass, held at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Cathedral, Ikot Ansa, Calabar, Bishop Ayah finely shunned the Governor’s unannounced but ‘whispered package’ to the amazement of the congregation and worshippers in the church.

The occasion was the Thanksgiving Mass organised in honour of Justice Emmanuel Agim Akomaye, recently promoted as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria (SCN).

According to reports, invited to support the Church’s 2022 harvest unveiling, Governor Ayade, who was the special guest of honour, made a donation of N25 million on behalf of the state government, his family, and the State judiciary.

“You are our pride, the pride of Cross River North, the son of the soil, Bishop John Ayah, I will whisper my package to you later”, the Governor reportedly said before taking his seat.

However, in his response, the Bishop, who sought the gathering understanding to freely express himself, said; “The governor is my brother, we are both from Cross River North. I want to appreciate the governor and tell him to package whatever he has for me, add to it, and use it to pay the salaries of the workers.”

Reports said the unexpected speech had the Bishop receiving a thunderous ovation from the congregation and it took some minutes for things to quieten down.

One parishioner, who spoke under anonymity, disclosed that it was a rattled Governor Ayade, who immediately went back to the podium to defend himself, explaining that the salaries of the workers were ready for payment.

The governor further added that his administration has been faithful, and consistent in the payment of salaries for well over seven years running.

Though the governor boasted about regular salaries payment to workers in the state, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has raised alarm over outstanding and backlog of salaries to civil servants at both state and local government levels.

With Ayade’s tenure gradually winding down, those worst hit by the ugly development are mostly pensioners and retirees that have not gotten their gratuity since the current adminstration took over in 2015.

Among dignitaries at the occasion were Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Hon. Justice Olukayode Ariwoola, Chief Judge of Cross River State, Hon Justice Akon Ikpeme, Chief Justices of Plateau and Sokoto.

Others include Justices of the Supreme Court of Nigeria, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Cross River State, Vice Chancellor, University of Calabar, and Prof Florence Obi as well as chieftains of political parties within and outside the State. – With Vanguard reports