From Musa Muhammad Kutama, Calabar
An All Progressives Congress (APC) stalwart, in Cross River State, Dr. Peter Inyali, has said that President Bola Tinubu-led administration’s actions and decisions against Cross River State have further marginalized and divided state.
Dr. Inyali has said in a chart with our reporter in Calabar that only six indigenes of the state were among 555 Nigerians appointed as governing council chairmen and members of federal tertiary institutions.
He added that the said neglect was disheartening even though the state was an APC controlled one and had massively voted for Tinubu during the last year’s presidential election.
“Honestly, it is unbelievably disheartening and deeply disappointing at the way President Tinubu’s administration has treated Cross River State in terms of federal appointments.
“Despite the state’s unwavering support for the President and the APC, with a significant number of votes cast in their favour at all levels in the last election, the state has been met with utter disregard and disrespect,” Dr Inyali said.
Further more he said: “Unfortunately, the President’s actions have only served to further divide and marginalise our state.
“For a state that proudly claims to be the only APC controlled state in the South-South region, what’s happening under this administration is frustrating.”
Inyali argued that it was inconceivable to suggest that there were no suitable Cross Riverians to hold chairmanship positions in tertiary institutions whereas the state boosts of high human capital.
According to him, during the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, despite being in opposition then, the state had three governing council chairmen heading tertiary institutions.
“This is a glaring injustice, especially when considering that some states have secured over 20 slots,” said he.
He said there should have been an inclusive approach to the appointments where more representative selection would have come from each state to ensure a more balanced distribution of positions.
“For instance, if the President had taken just 10 names from each state including the Federal Capital Territory where each is allowed to produce at least one chairman, that would have accounted for 370 appointments, leaving him with 185 to prioritize his preferred states,” he stated.