There was a mild drama in Cross River State on Monday as Freeman Godwin, one of the Special Assistants of the state Governor, Ben Ayade, threatened to commit suicide over unpaid salaries.
In a viral video on Tuesday, Godwin said he was appointed in November last year and since then the governor has refused to pay him and other appointees employed.
Godwin threatened suicide at work in the Office of the Auditor-General but was immediately prevailed upon by his colleagues.
He claimed that he got a loan to process documentation of his appointment but lamented that he has been unable to service it because of non-payment of his salaries.
Godwin said: “When the time reaches for work, they will use you and dump you. Now they throw you here and there as if you are nobody. I will die for this government. They play me up and down, sending me here and there. I am ready to die.
”I am ready to die in this office. I have chosen by myself to take my life.
I lost everything. I was there living my life and they called me to take appointment. They asked me to borrow money to do clearance.
“At the end of the day they selected some people and pay N100, 000. Telling me Ben Ayade said, Ben Ayade said. So I should go and get a letter from Ben Ayade.
“Please don’t touch me. I will die for them. …I sold everything to pay that young man.
I borrowed money, came here and did documentation hoping that when I am paid, I will pay back the loan.
“See, my wife gave birth through CS. A baby girl, I just said let me see what I can do but nothing…”
The Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Christian Ita, confirmed the incident to newsmen but refused to speak on the allegation leveled against the governor.
“His matter, just like few others, are being looked into. He did not need to attempt suicide,” he said.
Watch the video below:
Governor Ayade’s aide threatens to commit suicide over non-payment of salary pic.twitter.com/JHKB8itmHs
— Naija (@Naija_PR) February 23, 2021