Former governor of Cross River State, Prof Ben Ayade, has lamented that the All Progressives Congress, APC, has not treated him fairly despite being the first governor from the South-South to lead his state into the ruling party.
Ayade, who spoke in a media interview, said he sacrificed heavily to align Cross River with the APC at a time when it was politically risky to do so, stressing that he bears “scars” from that battle which have yet to heal.
“I am carrying the scars of the battle for the sovereignty of the state,” he said. “That scar has not healed. But I know President Bola Tinubu understands this very well. He knows Ayade very well.”
He said his relationship with President Tinubu predates the latter’s presidency, describing him as “a smart leader” who knows the value of loyalty and will “surprise the country positively.”
Ayade explained that his decision to defect from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC in 2021 was guided by foresight and political analysis. “I could see tomorrow,” he declared. “It was clear that Nigeria was heading towards a phase where the opposition would have little space. The crystal ball was clear.”
According to him, the decision to “socket to the center” was not impulsive but a strategic move to position Cross River for relevance and federal attention. “It required a dialectical analysis of the situation,” he said. “I knew what to do to connect properly to the center.”
The former governor recalled that upon joining the APC, he was the first to publicly endorse Senator Bola Tinubu as presidential candidate, long before the party’s primaries. “I did that openly, even on international platforms like the BBC,” he said. “I said if Tinubu could fix Lagos, he could fix Nigeria.”
Ayade said he devoted his time and energy to Tinubu’s campaign during the 2023 general elections, often sidelining his own political interests. “Sometimes I even forgot that I had my own election,” he admitted. “I was just talking about Bola Tinubu everywhere.”
Despite his loyalty, Ayade expressed disappointment that his contributions to the party and its success in the South-South have not been adequately acknowledged. “The APC has not treated me fairly,” he said. “But I remain hopeful that justice will come, and President Tinubu will recognize those who stood with him when it mattered.”
He concluded by reaffirming his faith in the president’s capacity to lead the country. “I believe, in spite of all the stories, President Tinubu will surprise this nation,” Ayade stated. “He knows those who stood by him, and he will act wisely.”
