TheNewsGuru

Tag: Ayade

  • Ayade relaxes curfew imposed during #EndSARS protest in Calabar

    Ayade relaxes curfew imposed during #EndSARS protest in Calabar

    Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has slighly relaxed the curfew hours in Calabar that was between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. to now last from 12 midnight to 6 a.m.

    This is contained in a statement by Mr Christian Ita, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, which was made available to newsmen on Monday in Calabar.

    “Following a review of the security situation in the state, Gov. Ben Ayade has ordered an immediate relaxation of the 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. curfew in the state.

    “Consequently, restriction of movement is now between the hours of 12 midnight and 6a.m., with effect from Aug. 2, 2021.

    “Members of the public can therefore go about their normal and lawful businesses between 6a.m. and 12 mid night,’’ he said.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG recalls that the governor in October last year imposed the curfew, following the destruction of property in Calabar by hoodlums who hijacked the #ENDSARS protest.

  • [TNG NASS Snippets] Reps expose how Ayade as PDP Governor co-sponsored Gbajabiamila’s Speakership ambition in 2019

    [TNG NASS Snippets] Reps expose how Ayade as PDP Governor co-sponsored Gbajabiamila’s Speakership ambition in 2019

    By Emman Ovuakporie
    This week’s TheNewsGuru.com, (TNG) snippets will focus on how Cross River Governor Senator Ben Ayade co-sponsored Femi Gbajabiamila speakership ambition while in Peoples Democratic Party PDP in 2019. Other issues of the week:
    • Stop giving states monthly feeding bottle, embrace true federalism, Rep Chinda tells FG
    • Gbajabiamila’s Bill seeking to compulsorily recruit disabled persons scales second reading
    • The battle ahead as Senators consider Electoral Act Amendment Bill without electronic transmission of results.
    Reps expose how Ayade as a PDP Governor co-sponsored Gbajabiamila speakership ambition in 2019
    …. insist two defected Cross River lawmakers were never with us since 2015
    …they were PDP only at daylight by midnight they were active APC reps
    It was revelations galore on Tuesday as two PDP members defected to APC leading to the exposure of the roles both lawmakers and their governor played during the 2019 Reps speakership race.
    This came to fore after two Cross River lawmakers defected from PDP to APC last Tuesday as other PDP reps even celebrated their defection as they were both known to be midnight members of APC.
    Some of the PDP Reps who spoke to TNG under the condition of anonymity said unlike when other colleagues defected there was reaction but in their case there was relief that their Midnight’s colleagues had finally pitched their tents with APC.
    One of the lawmakers from the north ce ntral geo-political zone said”we knew from 2015 that they were not part of us that was why we celebrated their exit.
    “In 2015 they both voted against PDP candidate in the person of Yakubu Dogara and in 2019 they voted against the party’s candidate.
    “You must have noticed that when their defection was announced we just ignored them because they were never part of us.
    Another lawmaker from the north east geo-political zone spoke in the same vein declaring that”we have no regrets they were obviously moles since 2015.
    “In the 2019 speakership race one of them took Gbajabiamila to Ayade and Ayade as a PDP Governor co-sponsored the current speaker.
    “We are even celebrating their departure, we wish them the very best with their governor in APC.
    TNG recalls that Femi Gbajabiamila, on Tuesday announced the defection of Lego Idagbo, who represents Beckwara/Obudu/Obanliku Federal Constituency and Michael Etaba of Obubra/ Etung Federal Constituency.

    The two lawmakers, in separate letters read by Gnajabiamila, cited the crisis in the PDP as the reason for the defection

    Also, Ayade had defected to the ruling APC barely three months ago.

    Stop giving feeding bottle to states monthly, embrace true federalism Rep Chinda tells FG
    The House of Representatives caucus leader of the PDP, Rep Kingsley Chinda has advised the Federal Government to stop giving feeding bottle to states as embracing true federalism will make governors stand on their own.
    Chinda said”the way we run this federation is like a feeding bottle approach by the Federal Government as states on a monthly basis are fed like babies.

    He ecplay that “For me that is one thing I also say. I have heard the president passionately talking about local government autonomy, in fact instructing council chairmen to either use their money or go to jail if they release it to their governors, I don’t know whether he said so but I read it on the social media. Wonderful, beautiful, in fact that is the content of our constitution.

    Now when we are talking about restructuring, is the federal government to also do the same when it comes to her relationship with states, not just the states and the local government.

    So if the president is the champion for local government autonomy, the president should also be the champion for state autonomy which is the whole essence of restructuring.

    This is a federation, Nigerian portends to be the federal republic of Nigeria, not unitary republic of Nigeria. So Mr President should act that way.

    The constitution has made it clear when it comes to the powers of the federation, all we are saying is that there are things that we see as unnecessary baggage on the shoulders of the federal government, that federal government should shelve and allow states to run these issues.

    We take things like education, federal government has no business in education. Now go back to history, the west today you see them as people who are advanced in education and the north appears to be slightly backward in education why the allowed education for the regions. If we had the system we have today, the west would not have enjoyed that advantage.

    You know, if these things are moved out of the shoulders of the federal government, the north might even overtake the west when it comes to education.

    The entire society is moving, life itself is dynamic, we cannot continue with this feeding bottle system, states running to Abuja for allocation and then thereafter you go back; and federal government frittering away monies because of projects that they cannot even monitor.

    So let us begin to run a federation that is the essence, that is the entire thing about restructuring. The things that we think are not necessary for the federal government to overburden itself shelve it for states to handle. The ones that local governments can handle, let local governments handle under the constitution.

    We take things like security, we have been battling with insecurity in Nigeria. The structure of our constitution does not help us. The police man in your village will take instruction from the commissioner of police who will take instructions from the IG who will take instructions from the commander I chief and so before those instructions come down, the situation is beyond control.

    All we are saying, things like security let the states that can afford have their own state police. Local governments that can afford should have their own local government police and all of them will have different functions.

    There are crimes that will go to federal police, there are crimes that state police can handle, there are crimes that local government police can handle. There is no way there cannot be improvement in the security system.

    You come to the health sector; states should be allowed to manage that sector. The federal government cannot be investing in everything and that is why you have duplication of agencies, functions everywhere because it is so much and so it is not thorough.

    So when we talk of restructuring, perhaps people look at monies and all that, we are talking about states managing their resources. Perhaps the south or Niger Delta that produces oil will now have the whole of the oil money and I think that is the pain, it brings us back to the issue of let us look at Nigeria as a state, as our state and let the interest of the country be uppermost in our minds.

    It will even challenge states if you say look, you get what you generate and pay tax to the federal government; every state will begin to generate resources. Little did we know that we have so much gold in Zamfara, so why won’t that be made a formal thing, let the state get a formal resources from that wealth and pay tax to the government. Every state in this country is blessed but we are only being lazy by the system of government that we practice.

    Gbajabiamila’s Bill seeking compulsory employment for disabled Nigerians scales second reading

    Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila’s Bill seeking an insertion into the constitution to provide employment for physically challenged Nigerians passed second reading.

    The speaker since he emerged has a passion for the physically challenged and this was displayed as he personally promoted a Bill to provide for the disabled.

    Although the percentage was not expressly stated in the Bill but it was passed though Hon Uzoma Nkem-Abonta had requested that it ought to have been stated.

    Electoral Act Amendment: Senators set to consider Bill without electronic transfer of results

    The Senate is set to consider and adopt the controversial Electoral Act Amendment Bill without electronic transfer of election results.

    TNG feelers point to the fact that just like the PIB that didn’t get any major apposition during consideration last week, this Bill that suddenly appeared without electronic transfer of election results may just fly like other executive Bills.

  • PDP receives Ayade’s ex-aides who refused decamping to APC

    PDP receives Ayade’s ex-aides who refused decamping to APC

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), on Monday received some former appointees of Gov Ben Ayade of Cross River state who refused to decamp to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that the Governor Ayade had on May 20 officially decamped to the APC alongside some of his aides.
    Speaking at the occasion, the National Chairman of PDP, Mr Uche Secondus, described the PDP as the party to take Nigeria to greater heights.
    He assured party members of level playing ground for all.
    Speaking, Mr Goodwin Etta, former Commissioner for Water Resources said he could not follow Ayade to the APC because “there was no reason for that.”
    “I am tired of food on the table, and that is why I chose to remain with my people,” Etta said.
    Mr Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra described Cross River as ‘100 per cent PDP state’.
    Obi, who was the Vice Presidential Candidate of PDP in the 2019 general elections, said Cross River was Nigeria’s destination under Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke.
    “But today all Cross River stood for have gone. Before, you can sleep with your eyes closed but today you can no longer sleep with your eyes closed,” he said.
    The former governor, Donald Duke used the opportunity to officially announce his formal return to the PDP.
    “I am back, ” he said.
    The Chairman of PDP governor’s forum, Gov. Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto said the party was ready to take over the Federal Government in 2023.
    “When we take over the government in 2023, we will start the restructuring of the country,” he said.
    The chairman also formally inaugurated the new Secretariat Annex of the State chapter and inaugurated the new interim State Executive of the the party.
  • PDP ‘ll receive Ayade if he returns – Imoke

    PDP ‘ll receive Ayade if he returns – Imoke

    As political events continue to unfold in Cross River, a former Governor in the state, Sen. Liyel Imoke, says PDP will receive defected Gov. Ben Ayade back to PDP if he decides to return to the party.

    Ayade, who was elected governor on the platform of the PDP six years ago, surprised political pundits when he defected to the ruling APC, raising the political stakes in the as the countdown to the 2023 general elections commences nationwide.

    Analysts have always seen Cross River as “a traditional PDP state’’ with political watchers in the state viewing Ayade’s departure as intriguing at a time when another former governor of the state, Mr Donald Duke, returned to the PDP to join forces with his former allies.

    “I will welcome him. I will definitely welcome him. Ben and I don’t have personal differences, maybe political differences and that’s why I said that his decision to quit PDP may be personal to him,’’ Imoke, a chieftain of the PDP announced in a statement to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday.

    “Yes, it’s a game of power which should be played fairly and everybody has a right to take whatever decision that they choose and we should not hold it against them in eternity.

    “So, certainly for anyone that wants to work to see the growth and development of Cross River State, we are willing to work with them at any time.

    According to Imoke, “if Ayade gets to the APC and it doesn’t look as good as he thought, then we’ll be glad to welcome him back as one of us, it’s a game of numbers so the more the merrier,’’ Imoke responded to a question whether Ayade would be able to hold a broom, the symbol of the APC.

    “It is very interesting that I haven’t seen Gov. Ayade hold a broom, but I have always imagined in my head that Ben would look at the broom once or twice before he holds it.

    “In all honesty, even that is alien to him. So to the people of Cross River State, I say stand firm, we are PDP. We are committed, we are resolute, we are a grassroots party and we are sufficiently strong.

    “I want to commend the strength and the will of the people who said listen, we are not going. PDP is our party. We will remain here,’’ Imoke said.

    The former minister of power and steel development also expressed optimism that the PDP would continue to dominate the politics of Cross River in spite of the defection of the current governor.

    “The introduction of a new party will translate into a bit of confusion for the people and it will take a long time for them to even understand either the reasoning behind the defection or the concept of the new party.

    “The second point is that the young people who are going to be part of this process have grown up with an understanding of the party and I believe that this is a time for us to move power to a new generation of young people, just like we benefitted by the actions that we took and it provided us with the opportunity to serve.’’

    Imoke said that Ayade would never have become governor if not for the support given to him by chieftains of the PDP who forged a consensus and took him to the electorate to solicit support.

    “We believed that Ayade was the right man for the job at that time and I think he came out and appealed to Cross Riverians across the 18 local government areas. It wasn’t a pronouncement. It wasn’t a dictatorial imposition.

    “He emerged through a rigorous state-wide internal party caucus selection process throughout the 18 local government areas. We believed that the people had made their choice.

    The former governor said that he did not expect any other party including the APC to win the governorship election in the state, describing the PDP as the dominant party in the state.

    Imoke said that the action of Donald Duke in re-joining the PDP had spoken volumes about the PDP in the state, adding that the PDP remained the party to beat anytime, including the upcoming general elections.

    On the future of tourism, the pillar of the state’s economy, Imoke said that the sector was not likely to thrive in an atmosphere of insecurity currently plaguing Cross River and other states in the federation.

    He said that he staged the Calabar Carnival back-to-back for eight years during his tenure, lamenting that the carnival had lost its steam, a development that had made the state to lose tourists and investors.

  • Photo: Ayade pays first official visit to Buhari as APC governor

    Photo: Ayade pays first official visit to Buhari as APC governor

    Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade has paid his first official visit to President Muhammadu Buhari as an All Progressives Congress (APC) member at the State House in Abuja.

    The governor was received by the President and they later went into a meeting alongside the Chief of Staff, Ibrahim Gambari.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Ayade had earlier in May announced that he is leaving the main opposition political party Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).

    He was received by six APC governors and some members of the National Assembly including the APC caretaker Chairman, Mai Mala Buni.

    Ayade was elected as the governor of Cross River State in 2015 under the platform of the PDP. He was reelected in 2019 under the platform of the same political party.

    He is the second sitting governor to have pitched his camp with the ruling APC, lately.

    More to follow…

  • Defection: Ayade was not appreciated in PDP, says Speaker

    Defection: Ayade was not appreciated in PDP, says Speaker

    Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly Eteng Jonah-Williams has said that Gov. Ben Ayade was not respected and honoured by the hierarchy of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before his defection to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

    Jonah-Williams, who spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Calabar, said that Ayade’s defection from the PDP to the APC was timely.

    The Speaker, who represent Yakurr II State Constiturncy in the Assembly, told NAN that out of the 25 House of Assembly members in the state, APC has 18, while the PDP has seven.

    “Before the governor took the decision, he consulted widely and majority of the people told him that he needed to move to the APC.

    “While in PDP, the governor was not respected and given the honour he deserved by the hierarchy of the PDP as the leader of the party in the state.

    “So, there was need for him to move. The Governor has also stated clearly that he needed to align the state with the happenings in the centre for the interest of the state.

    “Cross River is known for always playing politics with the centre. Since 1999, former Governors Donald Duke and Liyel Imoke all played politics from the centre.

    “Ayade is the only governor from the state who has played opposition for six years now and he feels it is time to align with the centre for the benefit of the state,” he said.

    He recalled that during the last ward and chapter congresses of PDP in the state, the PDP national had to recognise a list of executive members who did not even contest for the positions at the ward and chapter level.

    He said that such marginalisation of key stakeholders in the state by the PDP also informed their decision to defect with the governor to the APC.

    “As Speaker of Cross River House of Assembly, the ward list from my political ward that I have been winning elections with was neglected and a new list was constituted with members that I do not even know and nobody consulted me,” he said.

    According to the Speaker, the remaining two years period of Ayade will attract the needed development from the centre into the state.

    He gave assurance that APC will win all the elective positions in the state in the 2023 general elections in view of the governors defection to the ruling party.

    “The Superhighway and the Deep Seaport will now be given utmost attention by the Federal Government and other things will also fall in place as well.

    “Gov. Ayade has spent six years in office, I will advice him to consolidate on the gains of his industrial revolution in the state by completing the projects and privatising them for the future.

    “The House of Assembly wants the industries that were initiated by Gov. Ayade to live beyond this administration.

    “On road infrastructure, I want to specially commend the governor on the construction of the Mfom-Obanliku dual carriageway and the ongoing East-West road in Boki local government area,” he said.

  • Ayade fires four commissioners, five other appointees days after defecting to APC

    Ayade fires four commissioners, five other appointees days after defecting to APC

    Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade, has sacked four commissioners from his cabinet.

    Mr Christian Ita, who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, announced this in a statement on Monday in Calabar, the state capital.

    The affected commissioners are Mike Usibe (New City Development), Rita Ayim (Women Affairs), Asu Okang (Information), and Ntufam Etim (Climate Change).

    Governor Ayade also relieved five other appointees – who include Leo Inyambe, Orok Duke, Victor Okon, John Bassey, and Mbeh Agbiji – of their appointments.

    While no reason was given for the Governor’s action, he thanked the affected commissioners and appointees for their services to the state and wished them well in their future endeavours.

    They were, however, asked to return the government properties and vehicles in their possession to the Chief of Staff to the Governor.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Ayade had on May 20 defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) becoming the second governor in six months to join the party from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    He was elected as the governor of Cross Rivers State in 2015 on the platform of the PDP, and got re-elected in 2019 on same platform.

    Governor David Umahi of Ebonyi State had also announced his defection from PDP to APC on November 17, 2020.

    He alleged that the South-East region had suffered injustice in the opposition party, a claim that was swiftly denied by the PDP.

  • Controversy as APC takes over PDP secretariat in C’River days after Ayade’s defection

    Controversy as APC takes over PDP secretariat in C’River days after Ayade’s defection

    Days after officially declaring for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State is leaving no stone unturned to reflect his new status as the party leader in the state.

    TheNewsGuru.com, TNG reports that Ayade who became a senator, won his first and second term governorship elections on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) defected to the APC on Thursday, May 20, 2021. However, the romance with the PDP seems over for good as the PDP secretariat in the state is now about wearing the APC colours.

    On Saturday morning, security forces led by the Police were seen guarding the erstwhile PDP secretariat in the state as painters immediately began the painting and cresting of the building with APC colours, logo and flags.

    The development happened at the same time Local Government Council chairmen, a National Assembly member and many political appointees in government started registering in good numbers as APC members.

    One of the two members of the National Assembly that have decided to follow Governor Ayade, Hon. Mike Etaba, representing, Obubra/Etung Federal Consistency spoke after his registration as APC member in his local ward.

    He said, “I am an Ayade foot soldier for all seasons and i will continue to stand with Governor Ben Ayade beyond 2023.

    “We must continue to play politics with ethics devoid of violence. The decision of governor Ben Ayade to affiliate with the centre is a smart choice and we will continue to follow who know road for the generality of all Cross Riverians.”

    On the issue of the new secretariat for the APC, the local government council chairman of Calabar Municipality, Elder Effefiong Nta Eke noted that the State Governor who was the leader of the PDP decided to defect to the ruling APC for the benefit of the state.

    “So the scenario you are seeing here is that the leader has moved to a new party so every component, including the secretariat of the former, must follow the leader to the new.”

    Asked if the decision to use the former PDP secretariat for the APC will not breed conflict or violent reactions, he said no, revealing that the governor was paying the rent and when it expired for some time ago, those who claim to be founding members did not contribute a dime until Ayade came and renewed the rent.

    According to him, “Ayade is not taking anything belonging to a body. He is taking what belongs to him. He paid the rent so the rent follows him to the APC.”

    Police warn trouble makers not to disturb renovation works

    Meanwhile the police in a statement signed by DSP Irene Ugbo disclosed of an attempt by some persons to disrupt the renovation “work going on at a building at No: 142 (a ) along the Muritala Mohammed Highway Calabar.”

    The Police statement said, “For the avoidance of doubt the property is a rented property that its “Tenancy” is not in ‘Contention.

    “As a responsible Command, we will not sit back and watch any Person(s) come to disrupt the relative peace we have worked tirelessly to achieve. All are warned to maintain Peace, Law and Order.

    “The current situation is a wake-up call to Men of Character to rise and put resources together to put up a Structure that will not be contentious in future.

    “The Cross River Police Command will not hesitate to deal decisively with any unlawful action with the full weight of the law.”

    The police statement was signed by DSP Irene Ugbo, the Police Public Relations officer, Cross River State Police Command.

  • Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    Defection: APC Governors Forum officially welcome Ayade into party

    The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) representing governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has commended Cross River State Governor, Ben Ayade for joining their fold.

    Ayade dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling APC, which came as a shock to his colleagues in the opposition party.

    He contested under the PDP platform in 2015 and won. The Cross River governor also actualised his second term ambition under the opposition party in 2019.

    Reacting via a statement issued on Friday, the PGF Chairman and Kebbi State Governor, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu said Ayade’s decision to join the APC is a testament of “our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians.”

    He described the ruling party as one “that is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders.”

    “Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party.

    “With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.”

    See the full statement issued by the Progressives Governors on the defection of Governor Ben Ayade to the ruling APC below:

    The Progressive Reinforcement Continues

    Welcoming Mr. Ben Ayade to the APC

    The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) welcome His Excellency, Mr. Ben Ayade, Governor of Cross River State to the All Progressives Congress (APC). We join all leaders and members to welcome this illustrious Nigerian into our great party. The decision of Mr. Ayade to join the APC is a testament of our party’s capacity to mobilise all Nigerians consistent with the vision of the founding fathers to ensure that the APC is a platform to unite all Nigerians. The coming of Mr. Ayade into the APC further reinforces the process of membership and leadership recruitment at all levels.

    We congratulate our leader, President Muhammadu Buhari, whose sterling qualities and fair mindedness endear patriotic Nigerians to the party. Mr. President’s credentials as a fair leader who is impartial will continue to promote our party and serve as a major source of electoral advantage. As Progressive Governors, we will remain steadfast in supporting the efforts and initiatives of Mr. President to build our party, APC, as a strong and democratic political party in the country.

    Also, we salute our members of the APC National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee under the leadership of HE Mai Mala Buni for this milestone achievement of once again getting another experienced leader in the person of His Excellency Ben Ayade to join the APC. We welcome Mr. Ben Ayade for taking the courageous decision of leaving the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) to join our party, the All Progressives Congress. The movement of our compatriot to the APC is indicative of his principles, commitment and conviction to the development of Nigeria.

    Given all his achievements in Cross River State, Mr. Ayade is only coming home where he belongs. APC is indeed the party that will provide him and his people, and indeed all Nigerians the viable platform for political aspirations and negotiations. Together with Mr. Ayade and all our leaders in the APC, our party’s capacity to serve the collective interests of all Nigerians through effective representation will be strengthened and reinforced.

    Our party, APC, is open, transparent and will continue to guarantee fair contestation in politics, in line with the overarching commitment of President Muhammadu Buhari and all our founding leaders. Our National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee has worked hard to restore the political credentials of the APC as a strong institution for Nigeria’s democratic development. We will continue to support the National Caretaker Extraordinary/Convention Planning Committee in all its current initiatives to rebuild our great party. With the coming of Mr. Ayade, the capacity of our party to mobilise all patriots and other like-minded progressive Nigerians to join the APC is stronger.

    APC belongs to all Nigerians. Everyone, from every part of the country is free to aspire for any position in the party in line with provisions of our party’s constitution and the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended. The guiding philosophy as enshrined in the provisions of our manifesto is economic, social and political development of Nigeria.

    The Progressive Reinforcement of our party continues. We look forward to receiving more patriots and progressive minded Nigerians into the APC!

     

    Signed

     

    HE Abubakar Atiku Bagudu

    Chairman

    For and on Behalf of Progressive Governors

  • Ayade’s defection to APC embarrassing – Taraba Gov

    Ayade’s defection to APC embarrassing – Taraba Gov

    Taraba State governor, Arc. Darius Ishaku, has described the defection of Cross River State governor, Ben Ayade, to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as embarrassing and shocking to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

    Ishaku spoke to State House correspondents on Friday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

    According to him, governors on the platform of the PDP see themselves as an alternative to the APC.

    Ishaku specifically noted that the opposition governors were doing very well in their respective states.

    He said, “Well, I wouldn’t know precisely the governor’s thinking, because all of us are different, but we are greatly shocked and embarrassed that he will suddenly dumped the party for APC, because all of us see PDP as alternative to APC. And all the PDP governors 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.

    “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, if we have an opposition it’s good.

    “But as to the reason why our colleague in PDP will depart, I don’t know the details, and I can’t vouch for him. He has the tough one. So, but I want to assure you that all the governors in PDP are doing very well, very well in their respective states.

    “Possibly because we’re in an position and the pressure is on us and we are doing the best we can. I will invite you to my state in Taraba, to come and see the beautiful works I’m doing there in all ramifications. From education, agriculture, name it, we are doing a great job, infrastructure, etc.”

    On the failed efforts of the party’s reconciliation committee to convince Ayade to remain in the PDP, he said “Let me tell you, 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.”

    He also dismissed reports that some other PDP governors may defect to the APC soon.

    “I don’t see that happening and like I said even his own was a shock to some of us. I don’t see that happening.

    “And for Nigeria, we should hope for a an opposition, a vibrant opposition that will help to put and maintain the system in going. Democracy without an opposition is not a democracy,” he added.

    When asked if governors subscribe or support the removal of fuel subsidy, he said: “these are all issues that are ongoing, I can’t preempt anything now even including the issue of JUSUN. There are all ongoing, committees have been set up. The issues are still ongoing.”

    On the spate of insecurity in Taraba, he said: “Well, we are doing our best under the circumstances to make sure that we reduce as much as possible the casualties.

    “And in Taraba, well, we have tried to reduce it. But of recent we’re still having our own problems too. But we working on it and and we’re on top of it. Just last week, I had some problems between the herders and the farmers and we have quelled it substantially. But with a lot of losses, we’re hoping that we’ll have come to a full stop by now,” he added.