Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State has said that they in the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were greatly shocked and embarrassed by the defection of the Cross River State Governor, Professor Ben Ayade from PDP to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Speaking to newsmen at the presidential villa, Abuja today, May 21, Governor Ishaku said: “we are greatly shocked and embarrassed that he would suddenly dump the party for APC, because all of us see PDP as alternative to APC.”
He expressed shock that Governor Ayade took such far reaching action despite that all the PDP governors, including Professor Ayade are doing very well in their respective states.
“And for him to leave to APC, I don’t know the details of that. I have not seen the reason, but be that as it may, I believe that any democratic country must have an opposition; a viable opposition and opposition in itself is good for democracy.
“If you don’t have an opposition, then the government in power can go astray and so I believe in the vibrant democracy with an opposition.”
The Taraba State Governor assured that all the governors in PDP are doing very well and have no reason to move to another political party.
Ishaku commended the efforts made by the reconciliation committee of the PDP, which visited Governor Ayade, to reconcile aggrieved party members, stressing: “they have done a good job. A very good one. But it depends on the decision of an individual and what he actually hopes to gain. You may get the best of intentions somebody may not agree with you. And so that is the point that I think is more of the governor’s decision as it affects him, and that nobody can hold brief for that.”
On the fear that other PDP governors may join the APC soon, the Governor dismissed it, saying: “I don’t see that happening and like I said, even his own (Governor Ayade) was a shock to some of us.
“I don’t see that happening. And for Nigeria, we should hope for an opposition, a vibrant opposition that will help to put and maintain the system in going.
“Democracy without an opposition is not a democracy.”
