Cross River State Governor in south-south Nigeria, Professor Ben Ayade has defected from the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC.
Governor Ayade defected to the APC alongside his executive council members and legislators after a closed door meeting with seven Governors of the APC led by Mai Bala Buni the Caretaker Committee Chairman.
Others on the entourage were Governors Hope Uzodima of Imo State, Mohammed Badaru of Jigawa State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Abubakar Bagudu of Kebbi State and Simon Lalong of Plateau State.
Three serving members of the National Assembly, one from the Senate, Senator David Odey representing Cross River northern senatorial district and one from the House of Representatives, Legor Idagbor representing Bekwara/Obudu/Obanliku federal constituency and Mike Etaba representing Obubra/Etung federal constituency as well as Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum, Timipriye Silver were amongst those present at the occasion.
Other political stakeholders at the event included former Senator representing Cross River southern senatorial district and Special Adviser to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Princess Florence Ita-Giwa; Chairman of Five Alive group, High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong and former speaker of the Cross River State House of Assembly, Gabriel Edi.
In a brief remark, Governor Ayade said that his defection to the APC was in support of the Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari.
Ayade noted that Cross River State, which is one of the State with the least allocation cannot afford to be far from the centre.
He stated, “obviously as society begins to grow and prosper, as the younger generation begins to show so much excitement and intention to take over, it is our responsibility as elders and those in government to find ways and means to reduce the tension.
“In the course of this, having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has put to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point we need to join hands with him to build a Nigeria we would be proud of.
“It is important for every governor to recognize that it is character, it is integrity, it is honour, it is commitment to the vision of this great nation that we want to as a team work with the President to build a prosperous country.
“Having seen the sincerity and commitment of Mr. President, having seen the asserted tension occasioned by the increasing social media manipulation to create a level of hysteria, having recognized the challenges of our youths and the issues of unemployment and the associated challenges therefore, it is my responsibility as the leader of the party in Cross River State and people from the political perspective to do all I can to assist Mr. President succeed.
“It is this process and recognizing the role of Cross River State, a state that has been reduced to want in body, spirit and soul, a state whose revenue and resources have been taken, a state whose territorial boundaries are been interfered with, it is my responsibility to re-socket Cross River State to the centre.
“So, on behalf of the entire people of Cross River State to the extent that believe in the philosophy and idea of peace and unity that Cross River State is today formally declared as an APC State,” Ayade announced.
The gesture elicited cheers and chants of the ‘APC change’ slogan by the executive council, members of the Cross River Elders forum and leadership of the Cross River State legislature led by the Speaker, Eteng Jonas Williams in the executive council chambers.
Responding, the leader of the delegation and Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC, Governor Mai Bala Buni of Yobe State said he was in Calabar to formally welcome the governor alongside over six thousand appointees to the family.
Buni said, “I am here on behalf of the APC family to welcome the governor, Professor Ben Ayade formally into the APC. As from today, he is the leader of the party, APC in Cross River State.”
Cross River State party politics
Since the beginning of the political dispensation in 1999, PDP has been at the helm of affairs in Cross River State.
In fact, the governor’s action has taken many PDP stakeholders aback.
It is left to be seen the response of key political stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.
Emmanuel Ukoh
