Former Senator Disputes Alleged Demand Of Hefty Fee By Gov Ayade To Make Him Successor

Former Senator Bassey Edet Otu has disputed allegations Governor Ben Ayade demanded hefty sum of money from him.

The allegations have it that Governor Ayade demanded the money to make the former Senator representing Cross River Southern Senatorial district the next Governor of Cross River State.

Otu labelled the claims “maliciously false”

The former Senator’s reaction released today reads…

“My attention has been drawn to a maliciously false and completely distressing publication dated Monday, 7th February 2022 by an online news site that Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State and his brother, Dr Frank Ayade, have finally settled and zeroed in on me as their choice of a successor as he prepares to vacate office in May 2023.

“The malicious publication also opined that he has demanded a whopping N1.5 billion from me and N500,000,000 from my supposed deputy to that effect.”

“I wish to categorically dissociate myself and my political movement from the rumour and the said publication.

”The publication is an invidious and destructive handiwork of political neophytes and enemies of progress

“…..The Governor has demonstrated an uncommon capacity for hard work, integrity, innovation, patriotic zeal, political maturity and a gallant display of humaneness which has set him far above others.

“He is a man of integrity who would not stoop low to sell or bargain with anybody or group, the sacred office he has been entrusted with since 2015.”