I Will Rather Lose Office Than My Honor – Ayade, Says There Is Political Peace Under Him

By Jonathan Ugbal: Government House Correspondent

Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has said the State has enjoyed political peace under him due to his style of politics.

Ayade stated this on Wednesday during a media parley with journalists in the State where he queried why journalists were asking questions over allegations that should not be given credence.

The Governor said his honor was more important than political office and will not hesitate to choose the former over the latter.

“Under my watch, I am sure you have seen a politically peaceful climate. You have not heard of political persecution, assassination; you have not heard of anything not worthy of my political style,” said an elated Ayade.

He continued: “If you have politics with ethics, it means you understand kinetic kantianism; that character, morality, integrity and honor go together with an elevated office.

“No matter how learned, how rich you are, if you lack the elements of morality you would have become nothing.”

He wondered why journalists had at the beginning of his administration, gave credence to corruption allegations made against him when their conscience could have told them it was clearly politics of bitterness.

He said that: “It was at the beginning of the government where somebody can go and post that Ayade was caught with NGN6 billion. Some story from the devil’s imagination and then somebody comes and cross examine me, did you really steal the goat? When you know in the first instance, Cross River doesn’t have NGN6 billion.

“There are some stories that are already, because you are so unfriendly in your mind about people go about the politics, so dirty and bitter; somebody can write a petition to EFCC and say there is some money taken, NGN6 billion for garment factory that does not exist.

“And then somebody can just come and ask you that (question) when you are already hurting enough that people can go to that extent for blackmail, for cheap politics.”

On what he values most, Mr. Ayade averred that: “Remember that this office is not more important than my father’s name, Ayade. I value the name, I will rather lose the office than lose my honor.”

He also spoke on issues concerning the failure of Tinapa, the Obudu mountain resort and funding for the education sector.

More details later…