[UPDATED] Why I Moved To APC — Gov Ayade

…says governor’s need to join hands with President Buhari to
build Nigeria

Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade Thursday decamped
from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives
Congress APC,

Ayade who formally declared for the ruling party at the Cross
River State Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office in Calabar
after a two-hour meeting with seven APC governors led by the
party’s interim chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala
Buni.

Speaking on why he left PDP for the APC, Ayade hinted that the
character attributes of President Muhammadu Buhari and the
realisation that Cross River, which has been emasculated
economically following the ceding of its oil wells, needed to be in
sync with the party at the centre, as the main reasons for
moving.

His words: 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.

“We need all governors to recognize that it is not the party
that matters. It is a character, it is an honour, it is a
commitment to the vision of this great nation.

“We all need to as teamwork 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, Buni said he and his team were in
the state to formally welcome Governor Ayade to the APC.

Buni said: “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 of today, he is the leader of the party in the
state.”

Other APC governors who witnessed the event were Hope Uzodinma
of Imo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Solomon Lalong of
Plateau State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and his Jigawa State
counterpart, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

Also present was the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief
Timipre Sylva.

Including the deputy governor, Prof Ivara Esu, Speaker of the
state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams Jones and members
of the state house of assembly.

Also, some National Assembly members, members of the Cross River
State Executive Council members, local government chairmen,
councillors and some stakeholders, including Dame Princess Florence
Ita-Giwa and High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong amongst others.

…says governor’s need to join hands with President Buhari to
build Nigeria

Cross River State Governor, Prof. Ben Ayade Thursday decamped
from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, for the All Progressives
Congress APC,

Ayade who formally declared for the ruling party at the Cross
River State Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office in Calabar
after a two-hour meeting with seven APC governors led by the
party’s interim chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala
Buni.

Speaking on why he left PDP for the APC, Ayade hinted that the
character attributes of President Muhammadu Buhari and the
realisation that Cross River, which has been emasculated
economically following the ceding of its oil wells, needed to be in
sync with the party at the centre, as the main reasons for
moving.

His words: 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.

“We need all governors to recognize that it is not the party
that matters. It is a character, it is an honour, it is a
commitment to the vision of this great nation.

“We all need to as teamwork 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, Buni said he and his team were in
the state to formally welcome Governor Ayade to the APC.

Buni said: “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 of today, he is the leader of the party in the
state.”

Other APC governors who witnessed the event were Hope Uzodinma
of Imo State, Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State, Solomon Lalong of
Plateau State, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and his Jigawa State
counterpart, Mohammed Badaru Abubakar.

Also present was the Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief
Timipre Sylva.

Including the deputy governor, Prof Ivara Esu, Speaker of the
state house of assembly, Rt. Hon. Eteng Williams Jones and members
of the state house of assembly.

Also, some National Assembly members, members of the Cross River
State Executive Council members, local government chairmen,
councillors and some stakeholders, including Dame Princess Florence
Ita-Giwa and High Chief Asuquo Ekpenyong amongst others.