Ifere Paul|11 January 2016|8:40am
Nicknamed the de facto governor, Dr Frank Ayade is the younger brother of Governor Ben Ayade. Frank Ayade is the man behind the smokescreen.
Considered to be the "main man" in the government house, Frank Ayade leads and controls everything from visitors who came to see the governor to who gets what appointment, when, and how.
Frank controls the government with a tight grip on his elder brother, Ben Ayade the governor. Seen, respected and treated as the de facto governor, Ayade Jr has pushed our grandpa, the deputy governor aside. In fact, at one point, the deputy governor depended on Frank for certain approvals of deputy governor's official decisions. As if the office of the deputy governor is not enough, Frank Ayade has added the office of the first lady of Cross River State to his portfolios. Little wonder the Lady herself is never comfortable staying around to play her role as a governor's wife. My advice to Frank is to start playing bedroom roles that should be played by Mrs Linda Ayade.
The office of the Chief of Staff to the Governor has also been passively hijacked by Frank. Mr Martin Orim who is the Chief of Staff was nominated for appointment by Frank. Martin Orim however, does not yield the influence needed as the Chief of Staff to the governor, as he is often seen or heard being shouted at by Frank Ayade over discrepancies in receipts and account balancing. Inside Martin Orim's office is the Clerical Assistant to the CoS. The clerk is Ben Ayade elder brother's daughter from a different father. This lady clerk was planted in the CoS's office to checkmate Martin Orim. She is in fact the one keeping taps of all expenses done by the CoS. And she of course reports to her boss…Frank Ayade.
With over 30 appointments of commissioners nominated, and over 600 of the other 700 appointments nominated, Frank Ayade is the most influential man in Cross River State politics. Frank has penetrated the tables of the opposition and have given out appointments to critics of the government in a bait like line and sinker relationship.
For those who have made themselves invisible, unreachable, and unrelenting, Frank Ayade consistently consults his familial pot of voodoo to silent the few determined critics unwilling to collect any form of settlement. Frank who they said inherited a pot of voodoo/juju is using the pot to serve porridge to unrepentant critics. For me, that pot of the Ayade's dynasty is just a common pot. Frank should please serve porridge from his pot to motherless babies home and give our State a break.
We don't need 2 governors.
Ifere Paul
Is a Environmental Activist & Public Policy Analyst
