The recent suspension of Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu is one too many of top federal government appointees from Cross River State origin disgracefully suspended or removed from office as a result of corruption allegations or misconduct in time past.

Recall that in 2017, Rtrd. Justice Walter Onnoghen, the then Chief Justice of the Supreme Court was suspended and later removed from office by the then President Buhari after a petition was filed by the civil rights group at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) alleging that he owns sundry accounts primarily funded through cash deposits made by himself.

Again, in 2019, the then Head of Service of the Federation (HoSF), Mrs. Winifred Oyo Ita was prematurely retired from service over corruption allegations, prosecuted along with others before a judge for money laundering involving about N570million.

Yet again, Barr. Okoi Obono-Obla, a former Senior Special Assistant to President Buhari on Prosecutions was relieved of his duties as a result of alleged certificate forgery in 2021.

The climax of these disgraceful incidents happened yesterday when the Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation Minister, Dr. Betta Edu was suspended by President Tinubu over alleged diversion of more than 585 million naira of public funds into a personal bank account.

One may begin to wonder whether these inauspicious happenings are mere coincidences or politically masterminded due to the geo-political minority status of Cross River State. However, be it as it may, stakeholders from the state should have a roundtable discussion in order to forestall future occurrences.

May Cross River State succeed!

- Edim M. Edim

Keep kwayet
He who plays with fire does not rub palm oil on the body