Opposition No Longer Exists In Cross River, Ayade Says

Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, has declared that the state no longer has opposition.

Ayade disclosed this on Thursday when he received Bassey Ndem, and others from PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, in Calabar.

Ayade had decamped alongside many appointees of government few months ago after acrimonious relationship with the PDP in which he was not in control of the party in the state.

Repeated cries that the party structure was taken away from him did not yield any change.

Ultimately, THE WHISTLER gathered that the governor was promised the APC presidential ticket. But reports quoting several close aides to the governor say he is unhappy at the preferential treatment being given to the APC national leader, Mr Bola Tinubu, who’s well positioned to clinch the party’s ticket.

There was rumour few days ago that Ayade alongside Ebonyi State governor, Dave Umahi, were contemplating a return to the party.

But Ayade on Thursday indirectly poured cold water on the rumour when he maintained that there was no more opposition in the state as the movement of the three giants indicates that PDP was empty and opposition completely dead in the state.

”Cross River state doesn’t belong to an individual but to the people and no group or group of persons can determine the faith and destiny of our people except God,” Ayade said.

He added that, “The arrogance and sarcasm of prolonged stay in government comes with it’s negativistic impact .There is no more opposition in Cross River State, APC is in complete control.

“I come with a clinical truth ,we came to a critical point where we needed to socket to the centre ,anyone who thought otherwise ,does not mean well for us.

“The three giants who have moved today have their roots in all parts of the state ,with intellect ,grassroots support and more ,now we have them in APC ,PDP is empty nothing is left.

“Politics is a social engineering to bring value to your people and that exactly what we stand for , I stand for fairness ,equity and by that you know what I mean by that” ,Ayade said .

Speaking at the ceremony heralding his defection, the former Commissioner for Lands, Bassey Ndem, said, “I am coming into the APC for two reasons one is for integrity,which governor Ayade has affirmed in different fora that he believes in rotation ( zoning). I am not in doubt that the governor will stand by that because he is a man of proven integrity.

“Secondly , governor Ayade needs to be supported to finish strong as it concerns all the projects and programmes ,those project belongs to the people ,he must be supported, and I will give my sweat ,blood ,cash and all to make sure he finishes strong,” Ndem said.