Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State has disclosed that the state was not a beneficiary of the 13% derivation from the federal government.
Speaking while receiving a coalition of support groups in Calabar on Thursday at his office, Ayade said he inherited a lot of challenges.
He said he moved to APC to make sure that the state gets so many things from the government of President Buhari, explaining it would be difficult to stay in the opposition and benefit from the federal government.
“I inherited so many challenges and I had to stretch my intelligence to accommodate youths. There is oil in Bakassi, Odukpani , Ogoja and Akamkpa and there is gas in Yala.
“We are not receiving 13 percent derivation and we are not among the NDDC states, “A party is only a vehicle and there is no way one can develop the potentials of the state without being at the center.
He restated his commitment to the All Progressives Congress (APC), saying he took the decision to move to the party in the interest of the state.
“I say this that my movement to APC is in the best interest of the state and very soon, I will discuss with the President and everybody will see reasons with me,” the governor said.
Ayade said it was wrong for anybody to criticize his decision to go to APC because he had sat down to weigh the options before moving, noting that those who criticize him will eat their words when he begins to attract the attention of the government at the center.
He urged the youths who came in their thousands to register with his new party to ensure that they benefit from his administration, promising to employ many of them from next week.
Constitutional review: Increase derivation fund to 25 percent – Wike tells NASS
