Current Politicians representing Cross River in Abuja are incompetent — ex-presidential aide

A former Presidential aide to ex-President Muhammadu Buhari, Okoi Obono-Obla, has launched a scathing critique of the current political leadership representing Cross River State in Abuja, calling them incompetent and ill-suited to serve the state’s interests.

In a Facebook post, Obono-Obla expressed dissatisfaction over what he described as the lack of federal patronage for Cross River State, a situation that has sparked growing debate and criticism within the state. However, he emphasized that the blame should not fall solely on the governor of Cross River State, noting that the core issue lies in the selection of the state’s representatives in the National Assembly.

Obono-Obla stated, “The lack of patronage for Cross River State at the federal level has sparked intense debate and criticism. However, it’s essential to recognize that the governor should not bear the brunt of the blame. The issue lies with those responsible for selecting representatives, who prioritized patronage over merit.”

According to Obono-Obla, the current political representatives from Cross River State in Abuja were chosen for reasons other than their competence. He criticized the selection process for failing to prioritize skill, expertise, and the overall ability to serve the state effectively.

The former aide argued that this lack of merit-based selection had led to what he called “misrepresentation,” a situation that could have long-term negative consequences for the state.

He further explained, “The current team representing Cross River State in Abuja appears to lack the necessary skills and expertise, having been chosen for reasons other than competence. This is a clear case of misrepresentation, which can have far-reaching consequences for the state.”

Obono-Obla also reminded the public that, under the principles of federalism, state governors have no role in the operations of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. He emphasized that the responsibility for representing Cross River State at the federal level rests solely with the members of the National Assembly who are elected to serve in Abuja.

“The onus lies with the members of the National Assembly representing Cross River State, who are expected to play a vital role in the Federal Government,” he said.

The former Presidential aide concluded by reiterating the need for a more transparent and merit-based selection process when it comes to choosing representatives for the state.

He stressed that it was crucial for the people of Cross River State to ensure that their representatives in Abuja were selected based on competence, rather than political patronage, to serve the best interests of the state.