Why I Defected To APC – Cross River Gov., Ayade

• “We need all governors to recognize that it is not party that matters. It is character, it is honor”

Cross River State Governor, Sir Ben Ayade has disclosed the reason behind quitting his membership of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP)

Ayade had earlier on Thursday officially announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Cross River State Executive Council Chamber, Governor’s Office in Calabar.

The announcement was sequel to a two-hour meeting with seven APC governors led by the party’s interim chairman and governor of Yobe State, Mai Mala Buni.

On why he joined the APC, Ayade said the exemplary and remarkable character of President Muhammadu Buhari was what enamoured him to the ruling party.

He averred that joining APC became imperative because there was need for Cross River to be in tandem with the center, He disclosed that the state had been in economic doldrums after losing its oil wells, noting that joining the ruling party would help revive the economy of the state and put it on strong pedestal.

“having seen and known the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and his commitment to this country, his nationalistic disposition and all the efforts he has made to bring Nigeria to where we are today, it is obvious that at this point, we needed to join hands with him to build a Nigeria that we can be proud of” Ayade said

“We need all governors to recognize that it is not party that matters. It is character, it is honor, it is commitment to the vision of this great nation. We all need to as a team, work ahead of the president by working towards building a prosperous country that the succession worries of 2023 will come without the fears and the worries the international community has for us.

“I believe that if everyone of us as governor joins hands with Mr President, I think we can sit on the same dining table and fashion out a way to govern this country.”

His words: “I am here on behalf of the APC family to welcome His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross River State formally to the APC. As from today he is the leader of the party in the state.”