Former Governor's Homecoming Sparks Political Firestorm
Former Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade, has broken his silence on the 2023 general elections, expressing deep dissatisfaction with what he termed unfair treatment during the polls. The former governor, who spoke to journalists at Margaret Ekpo International Airport in Calabar on Friday shortly after arriving in the state, revealed this was his first public comment on the matter since the elections concluded.
Ayade's Defense of His Political Defection
Ayade, who defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) during his tenure, defended his decision as a strategic move guided by foresight. The former governor emphasized that his defection was necessary to ensure Cross River State was not left behind politically and economically. "I saw tomorrow," Ayade declared. "The crystal ball was clear. I knew the right thing to do at that point was to align with the centre, and that was why I joined the APC."
Reflecting on the challenges that followed his political shift, Ayade emotionally stated, "I am carrying these scars — the scars of the battle for the sovereignty of the state. That scar has not healed." He maintained that interference with normal party democracy and the projection of Nigeria's political future necessitated his move to the ruling party.
Ayade also recalled being among the first political leaders to publicly endorse President Bola Tinubu as the APC's presidential candidate, praising Tinubu's record in governance. His return to Cross River State after being away since the end of his administration was marked by a grand reception from enthusiastic APC supporters who thronged the airport to welcome him.
APC Chieftains Fire Back at Former Governor
Meanwhile, two prominent APC chieftains in Cross River State have strongly criticized the former governor over his remarks about unfair treatment. In separate statements released on Saturday, Bravo Gabriel Oluohu and former presidential aide Okoi Obono-Obla dismissed Ayade's complaints as misplaced.
Oluohu described Ayade's lamentation as "self-inflicted" and argued that the former governor weakened his own standing within the APC when he chose to contest the party's 2022 presidential primary despite knowing his chances of success were slim. "APC favoured him with a senatorial ticket against all odds despite internal resistance," Oluohu stated. "But the electorate rejected him at the polls, and that defeat was not the party's fault."
The APC stalwart further alleged that Ayade withheld campaign funds during the 2023 elections, an action he claimed was reported to President Tinubu, who viewed it as an act of betrayal. "You can't eat your cake and have it," Oluohu remarked. "If there is any blame, Ayade should look inward."
Similarly, Obono-Obla criticized Ayade's repeated claim that he "socketed" Cross River State to the political centre, describing such narrative as "bunkum, balderdash and despicable revisionism." Both party leaders maintained that Ayade has only himself to blame for his political setbacks since leaving office.
The public exchange highlights ongoing tensions within the APC in Cross River State and raises questions about the party's unity ahead of future elections in the region.
