Efio-Ita Nyok|26 January 2016|8:00am
There seem to be some problems brewing in the Cross River State House of Assembly(CRSHA). The problem seem to exist between the leadership of the legislative chamber, especially the office of Speaker, and some members of the House.
Yesterday 25 January, the Honourable Member representing Boki 1 constituency in the CRSHA, Hon. Hillary Bisong, took to his Facebook time line to vent his perception of the character of the apex leadership of the legislative body.
He seemed to perceive that some deceptive intrigues were perpetuating themselves among the leadership especially as it relates to the relationship between the leadership of the House and the membership. According to Hon. Bisong, 'Leadership coated in lies will soon evaporate… Watch out'. This was the first clause, the ever vocal and former aide to erstwhile Governor Liyel Imoke, dropped.
His second post suggest very strongly that this trend of deception had been ongoing for quite some time now unabated as some observant Honourable members had decided to shut their mouth. But this time, Bisong could no more hold it. This may explain why in his second post he was seen to be saying: 'Na Over skills dey kill monkey…'
The corollary to this second post, 'One about to be gun down'(if you remember, Bisong had initially prophesied that a deceptive leadership is about to' evaporate'), indicates that a disciplinary action common to and typical of legislative bodies was in the offing: maybe an impeachment proceeding. Probably, the Honourable Speaker in the person of Rt. Hon. John Gaul Lebo had finally played into the hands of his not-smiling colleagues.
This obvious threats from the no-nonsense Honourable Bisong may have infuriated Speaker John Gaul as the latter was compelled to react through his ally, the President of Cross River Democracy Club and Youth Parliament, Emmanuel Etim, who responded immediately in the following words: 'The leadership that is in place in Cross River State is here to stay; no chance for evaporation. We full ground gidigba'.
Etim's reaction, though deliberately veiled, reveals another dimension to the ongoing saga between dissenting legislators and its leadership. First, it affirms that there is a threat to impeachment or whatsoever. But, secondly, it suggests that Honourable Hillary Bisong may be at loggerhead with both Rt. Hon. John Gaul and Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade, the Executive Governor of Cross River.
The introduction of Ayade into the ongoing drama further introduces Gov. Ayade's sibling, Frank Ayade, who is referred to by critics as the defacto governor. Frank is said to pull the shot in the entire government of Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade: he singlehandedly installed the present Chief of Staff to the Governor and controls everything in that office, even the Wife to the Governor, Linda Ayade, is reportedly not too comfortable with her in law, Frank. Besides, the tentacles of influence of Frank reaches even to the Office of the Deputy Governor, Prof. Ivara Esu. Everything thing and everybody in Ayade's government from Deputy Governor, Chief of Staff, Speaker, Commissioners, S.As, Directors of Agencies, etc are all answerable to defacto governor Frank Ayade! Ifere Paul links Frank to a voodoo pot from where his influence is brandished. Hmmmmm…
If you recall, an influential critic and whistle blower in the person of Ifere Paul, had noted on his social media time line recently that Speaker Gaul reports CRSHA official and non official proceedings to Ayade's sibling, Frank. Gaul is understood to be tabling everything in the House to defacto Governor Frank Ayade from who said what and who didn't say what – something of a gossip. After leaving the Assembly complex, the next port of call is Frank's residence.
So, the contention maybe that some Honourable members are not quite comfortable with the manner with which Speaker Gaul is interfacing with Governor Ayade's sibling, the defacto governor Frank Ayade, especially on official matters that border on the House. That is to say, the ongoing saga is aimed at managing the all mighty Frank's influence on Honourable Members courtesy of Speaker John Gaul Lebo. Negroid Haven is poised to giving updates on the ongoing saga as they play out. Don't touch the dial, please.
Efio-Ita Nyok
Is a Blogger & the Editor of Negroid Haven effioitanyok@gmail.com
