Undeshi David Mayor, an aide to Martin Orim, Chief of Staff, COS, to Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, has informed www.calitown.com that “in the midst of all attempts by faceless persons working to give the COS a bad name, he has nothing to hide and is only committed to discharging his functions to his principal to the best of his abilities”.
Mayor who spoke on the heels of online and print news reports in the last couple of days allegedly linking the COS to the recent arrest of three persons in a Calabar hotel by the Department of State Security, DSS, for alleged impersonation, faces up to the situation in this words, “…the dragging of the COS’ person into the matter is an attempt by self-seeking persons who seemingly are eyeing his position but are and can never be favoured by providence to occupy this position. See, look at it like this, so if I have a friend and he allegedly commits a crime without my knowledge, because I am COS, I must be dragged into the matter ? It doesn’t make any sense and just brings to public glare the desperation of these people”.
Pressed for information, he confirmed to www.calitown.com that the said Peter Akpanke is a friend of the COS “…but he is an adult who does not take instructions from the COS and can be held for his actions or inactions, like every adult. What however cannot happen is for us to all sit back and let the evil machinations of a few persons take centre stage”. He further reacted to a news item carried by us [ See http://www.calitown.com/gov-ayade-under-pressure-to-drop-his-chief-of-staff/] that Gov. Ayade is under no pressure to ease his COS out but rather “believes in the strong capacity and character of the COS”.
Orim responded to www.calitown.com enquiries in these words, “I am not distracted, I have work to do and will continue to pray that God helps me focus on the onerous responsibility of being Gov. Ayade’s COS”.
