A former governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in Cross River State, Dr Effiong Nyong, has condemned the recent purchase of two additional aircraft by Governor Bassey Otu’s administration, describing it as a “terrible misplacement of priorities” and “sheer wastage” of public funds.
Nyong, who is the ADC’s Deputy National Publicity Secretary, told journalists on the sidelines of the party’s second stakeholders’ conference in Calabar on Friday evening that the funds should have been channelled into rehabilitating the state’s dilapidated roads, which would benefit far more citizens, especially those who may never board an aircraft in their lives.
“The purchase of the two aircrafts by Otu is a terrible act of disservice and a glaring misplacement of priority,” Nyong said.
“ValueJet started operations with just two aircraft, but Cross River now has four, plus the one reportedly bought under former governor, Senator Liyel Imoke, making five in total.
“If the state is trying to compete with Akwa Ibom, it is yet another misplacement of focus. Cross River can never compete with Akwa Ibom in aviation. Civilisation started in Calabar, but look at where we are now despite all the opportunities we have had.”
Nyong questioned how much revenue has been recovered from the first two aircraft currently managed by another airline, recalling that Imoke’s administration bought an aircraft whose whereabouts remain unclear.
He also criticised the timing and scale of the expenditure, alleging that the government spent “millions of dollars — running into billions of naira — to acquire the refurbished aircraft of uncertain condition” while public transport and rural access roads remain in dire condition.
“This is happening in a state where there are no public buses and no motorable roads to move farm produce from rural areas to city markets at affordable rates,” he said.
“One of those aircrafts cost enough to fix many bad roads and buy several buses for the greater good of the people.”
Nyong, a veteran broadcaster, recalled that under previous administrations the state operated an intercity and interstate bus service, Crossline, which offered affordable fares on well-maintained roads.
“Most people cannot afford to fly in those aircrafts, which again are to be managed by another airline, but they could easily board buses if the money had been used to buy them,” he added.
“This government is giving more consideration to the rich, contrary to its so-called ‘People First’ mantra.”
