Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has disclosed the reason behind quitting his membership of the People’s Democratic Party.
Ayade had earlier on Thursday officially announced his defection from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Cross River State Executive Council Chamber, during a two-hour meeting with seven APC governors in Governor’s Office, Calabar. The delegation was led by the party’s interim Chairman and Governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.
On why he joined the APC, Ayade said the exemplary and remarkable character of President Muhammadu Buhari was what enamored him to the ruling party.
He averred that joining APC became imperative because there was a need for Cross River to be in tandem with the center, He disclosed that the State had been in economic doldrums after losing its oil wells, noting that joining the ruling party would help revive the economy of the State and put it on a strong pedestal.
“Having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point, we needed to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of,” Ayade said
Ayade said further that party affiliation was inconsequential, noting that what mattered was a willingness to build a nation that worked for all.
He added that the governors must come together and work with the president to address the myriad of challenges bedeviling the Nation.
“We need all governors to recognize that it is not the party that matters. It is character, it is honor, it is commitment to the vision of this great Nation. We all need to as a team, work ahead of the President by working towards building a prosperous country that the succession worries of 2023 will come without the fears and the worries the international community has for us.
“I believe that if every one of us as governor joins hands with Mr. President, I think we can sit on the same dining table and fashion out a way to govern this country.”
Speaking on the development, an elated Buni said he and his team were in the state to formally welcome Governor Ayade to the APC.
His words: “I am here on behalf of the APC family to welcome His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State formally to the APC. As from today, he is the leader of the party in the state.”
