The Hausa – Fulani community in Ogoja local government area of Cross River State, Southern Nigeria has declared support for the senatorial ambition of the governor, Professor Ben Ayade.
Governor Ayade, who participated in the All Progressives Congress, APC, presidential primary that resulted to the emergence of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu settled for the northern senatorial district ticket following the resignation of the former candidate, Mr. Martins Orim.
Although Professor Ayade was in the senate between 2011 and 2015 under the cover of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, for next year’s election, the governor would be trading tackles on the APC platform against the incumbent PDP’s Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe.
Speaking during a solidarity visit to Governor Ayade at the governor’s office Calabar, the leader of the Hausa – Fulani community, Mr. Yakubu Adamu pledged bloc votes for all APC candidates for next year’s election.
Adamu, who described Ayade as a detribaliswd Nigerian said; “We are supporting you and will vote for you for the senate. You are our candidate because you see every Nigerian as one; you have particularly shown love to the Hausa – Fulani in Cross River. We will vote for you as senator and vote for all candidates of the APC next year.”
Appreciates support
Governor Ayade expressed appreciation to the community for the visit and commitment to his ambition to return to the senate in 2023.
He also appreciated the community for recognising that deliberate action was needed to involve members of the Hausa – Fulani community and other Nigerian nationalities in his administration since 2015 to show that as Nigerians we are all partners in our collective development and growth as a people.
He stated, “I thank you for your kind words and for your support as well as commitment. I also thank you for acknowledging that as governor, I have extended my hands of friendship to your community in Cross River.”
The governor also commended the community for supporting his administration’s effort to checkmate criminalities such as banditry and farmers – herders’ clashes in the state.
Lateefah Ibrahim
