By Admin
The National Vice Chairman (South-South) of the National Youth Council of Nigeria (NYCN) and Special Adviser on Youth Mobilization to the Governor of Cross River State, Dan Obo, has accused the Chairman of the Cross River State chapter of the NYCN, Emmanuel Olayi, of allegedly misappropriating ₦5 million from funds approved for the Council.
Obo made the allegations during a media interaction with Primetime News in Calabar on Monday.
He claimed that upon assuming office as NYCN Chairman, Olayi received ₦10 million in funding via a Globus Bank account but only accounted for half of the sum.
“The approval for ₦10 million came during my term as chairman,” Obo said. “At the time, someone told me to leave ₦5 million behind, but I refused. I believe in accountability. When Olayi took over, the full ₦10 million was paid to the Youth Council’s Globus Bank account, but we only saw ₦5 million spent. The remaining ₦5 million is unaccounted for.”
Obo added that efforts to get clarification on the alleged missing funds have been met with hostility.
“When you ask questions, you’re in trouble,” he said, stressing that the entire youth community in the state deserves transparency regarding funds allocated for its welfare.
He also took aim at Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, representing Cross River Central Senatorial District, accusing him of poor representation and failing to meet the expectations of his constituents.
“There’s nothing to pretend about. Cross River Central has a history of distinguished senators — people like John Owan-Enoh, Victor Ndoma-Egba, and Sandy Onor.
“But this is the first time we have a senator who is asked to sit down when he attempts to speak in the Senate chambers. The standard has dropped significantly,” Obo said.
He criticized the senator for lacking meaningful empowerment initiatives and visibility in the constituency, drawing a comparison with past lawmakers, particularly Governor Prince Bassey Otu, whom he praised for setting a benchmark in senatorial performance.
“We cannot support a senator whose impact is limited to exercise boots, pens, and streetlights,” Obo declared. “Our expectations are higher. There must be a level of panache and effective representation.”
Obo also expressed dissatisfaction over the exclusion of his local government area from overseas scholarship programs, alleging a lack of fairness in the selection process.
He claimed that while beneficiaries from Yakurr and Obubra local government areas were sent abroad, none from Mkpani received such opportunities.
In closing, Obo called on youths across the state to rally behind Governor Otu’s administration, emphasizing the importance of unity and civic responsibility.
“We must come together to support the governor’s policies. This is the time for youth to take responsibility and ensure we uphold standards in leadership,” he concluded.
