By Ushang Ewa
Cross River Governor, Benedict Ayade on Friday fueled rife speculation that he may soon exit the People’s Democratic Party when his Bauchi State counterpart, Bala Mohammed visited him in Calabar.
Ayade has faced running battles with some party members over the control of the PDP in Cross River State which has seen him lose a huge percentage of the structures to a conglomerate of National Assembly members and other party stalwarts.
And, on Friday when Mr. Mohammed visited, Mr. Ayade, alongside his Deputy, Professor Ivara Esu and the Speaker of the House of Assembly, Eteng Williams (PDP Yakurr 2) received him at the airport and took him round some factories constructed by his administration.
He will then share photographs of the visit on his verified Facebook page with a caption that said Mr. Mohammed visited to “seek areas of collaboration between Cross River State and Bauchi State, particularly in the area of Agriculture, in recognition of our achievements in Agro-Industrialization.”
Today I received in my office the Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Mohammed.
Gov. Mohammed is in the State to seek…
Posted by Sir Benedict Ayade on Friday, 19 March 2021
Contrary to his Facebook post, Mr. Ayade went on a public tirade against the PDP, the second in 28 months when he received Mr. Mohammed at his office.
“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,” Mr. Ayade said, adding that; “I say it as a warning because it does appears that your party seems to celebrate people who threaten and stress them.”
In November 2018, Mr. Ayade had faulted the party’s decision making process after his friend, Chris Agara failed to clinch the party’s Cross River central senatorial district ticket as candidate for the 2019 general elections.
Describing the PDP as a party with no conscience, he had said that; “I have spent more money than any other candidate in the State. PDP is a party that is so unfair and has got no conscience. A man came ready for election and you take out his name from the ballot paper. You take out his name because you know he is too powerful. When people use God’s given opportunities to do injustice, injustice would wait for them.”
Asserting his position as the leader of the PDP, the Governor who said all elected public office holders in the State excluding one were under him, averred that: “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 innocent by external factors. But I just hope this ends today.
“And 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.”
Furthermore, he averred that; “If you take a catalytic combination of all I have said, it tells you that there is the need for a guided caution and at some persons going forward as a people, as a party.
“I think the time has come when all of us will gather and say enough is enough.”