The Governor of Cross River State, Professor Ben Ayade, has threatened to dump the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on which platform he is in power, stressing that he is now standing on the fence and ready to dump the party if he is not accorded his due respect and recognition.
Speaking in Calabar, the State capital yesterday, March 19 during a visit by the Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, Governor Ayade said that it is time for him to put down his foot and take a decision on the bases of what would prosper the collective well-being of the people of Cross River.
He said that because he played politics with ethics, his style was being mistaken for weakness, adding: “I cannot blind myself to the challenges of PDP and decide not to know what to do at the right time for their [Cross River people] sake. I know you are somebody that doesn’t take injustice. One single injustice they will see a new Cross River state.
“And I say it as a warning because it does appears that your party seems to celebrate people who threaten and stress them.
“All councillors [in the state are PDP, council chairmen are PDP, all House of Assembly members are PDP, all commissioners are PDP, and all the National Assembly members except one are PDP: all of them are under my leadership.”
He assured Governor Bala Mohammed that wherever he goes he would follow him because they both have the same cause of direction for the people.
“I am happy you have created an opportunity for a melodrama. So today I am seated and dancing on the fence. Indeed that’s true. And so I speak with righteous anger for the continuous annoyance and nuisance orchestrated on our innocence by external factors. But I just hope this ends today.
“So please as I leave you with some holy whispers, which will be very strong, firm and clear, it’s a harbinger of trouble. While I believe in ecclesiastics of peace, I believe in the catechism of good faith but I also believe in respect for the supremacy of an office.”
