By Jonathan Ugbal
A one-time Governor of Cross River State and former federal lawmaker, Senator Benedict Ayade says Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu “ordered” him to drop his bid to be the senatorial candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC for Cross River North district in the 2027 general election.
The former Governor stated this in a statement shared on his Facebook page on Monday, days after he failed to appear before the leadership forum of the party set up to screen aspirants in Cross River after a statement by his former deputy spokesman, and current spokesman to incumbent Governor, Senator Bassey Otu disclosed he was to meet with the President.
READ MORE: #CRDecides2027: Ayade To Miss APC Forum Screening In Ogoja Over Visit To Presidency
In his post, the former Governor said the President “may not be aware” about the abuses hauled against him following his support of the Tinubu-Shettima ticket which was dubbed “Muslim Muslim,” due to the religious disposition of President Tinubu and his Vice, Senator Kashim Shettima.
Ayade who said he became the first APC Governor in the entire South South region, wondered why he is yet to be rewarded for his effort.
Furthermore, he expressed optimism that President Tinubu will revisit his decision when it becomes clear that the Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituency has held the Senate position for only 8 years since 1999 while Ogoja/Yala has done so for 20 years.
Read the full statement below…
MR PRESIDENT ORDERS AYADE NOT TO CONTEST THE SENATE RACE
Recall I was invited to return to Abuja for a high level National consultation with the presidency
From the sequence of events that followed my return, Mr President wants me to withhold my Senate ambition. I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony.
I trust that Mr President may not be aware that the people who turned our churches against Ayade and all of us in APC over the Muslim Muslim ticket and accused us of islamisation of Cross River State are the beneficiaries of his instruction
Mr President may not be aware that the beneficiaries of his order are people armed against us with guns and machetes in the collation centres(police records available) on the day of Mr President’s election.
Mr President may recall that I was the first APC Governor in the whole of South South Nigeria that built the new APC that we enjoy today.
I worked assiduously for the party and delivered almost 40,000 votes above PDP in the Presidential election, first in the history of our State.
For over three years, I have been sidelined without appointment.
I donated generously to the National Convention, gave out vehicles and motorbikes to the party and I am currently embarked on a free transportation scheme as campaign support for the President come 2027.
Mr President may recall that when I decamped to APC, I was the first APC Governor to ask that Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu be given the right of first refusal as our 2023 presidential candidate
Mr President would recall that Ayade is the originator of the mantra that “If Tinubu Can Fix Lagos, Tinubu can Fix Nigeria”
Mr President would revisit his orders if he knows that my federal Constituency enjoyed it for only 8 years while my opponent has had it for 20 yrs.
Mr President would revisit his orders if he is aware that the beneficiary of his order has done Three Terms in the National Assembly and granting him this one more term means he is doing a fourth term in office
My beloveth supporters,
I was asked to withdraw from the Senate Race in
2007 and in 2015, I was asked to withdraw from
the Governorship Race.
Indeed, I withdrew in both instances without question but at God’s own time, I became a Senator and also a two Term Governor. I believe in destiny and the hand of God.
I won all the Local Governments of my State (100%) without losing a single Local Government in my entire 8 years as a Governor.
It is not by our might, popularity, money, strength on ground or size of cult group nor weapons. It is God that anoints.
Sometimes there is a sense of victory even in recapitulation
You cannot capture a future you did not picture. Our future is bright, prosperous and promised. Caution is king and patience is phenomenal.
Let us tarry and honour Mr President even as we still appeal for the review of his order.
Our collective heartbreak is well documented in high heavens and those who influenced the president to stop me shall one day be faced with their own karma.
The foundational role I played in establishing APC as a dominant party in Cross River State and indeed South South of Nigeria is indelible
Let Us draw our pride and sense of esteem from the fact that Our Opposition that went from church to church to turn the church against Ayade and all of us accusing us of islamisation of Cross River State has now come to join us under the same condition. For me,this is an open admission of defeat by my opponent.
To be ask to yield the ticket to the same persons that called us muslims and brandishing guns and machetes at collation centres against us is
Most traumatizing.
Yielding ticket to a newest entrant from opposition just under 5 months is a spiritual murder that cannot go unaddressed by our father in heaven.
Time would beguile
We would support all our APC candidates if the President insist to go ahead with his orders of which we know he will not as a fair and balanced father.
We would join hands with our President and Governor to deliver APC at all levels in the State if that remains the permanent position of Mr President.
To my opponent,
Using political opponents in high places to influence presidential order against me is victory in cowardice. I do not feel a sense of defeat instead I feel a sense of pity for our Nation.
As a Governor, I made sure the State Chairmanship and Deputy Governorship went to Yala and Ogoja respectively in our sister constituency 1 when they were both zoned to Cross River North even though I had the power to take them to Constituency 2.
This spirit of being your brother’s keeper is a law of nature and once broken the grace would depart from you.
Don’t take your brother’s turn even if you can.
My dear Compatriots,
Let us be lifted in our spirits and place our hope in God. Our show of restrain even in strength is not a weakness
Thank you so much for your organic support and I do not take it for granted. We are together now and forever.
Let us be patient with Mr president until our matter is resolved.
On the issue of purchase of form, I suggest that my supporters should not buy the form as I will be guilty of going against the order of Mr President. The Bible instructs believers in Romans 13:1-7 to submit to Governing authority and equally states that all authority is established by God. 1 Peter 2:13-17 urges submission to every human institution for the Lord’s Sake, including kings and Governors.
Purchase of form cannot be too late when Mr President and the National leadership is with you
It is better we err on the side of caution than to be seen to flaunt the order of Mr President. I dare not question his authority but I challenge his conscience. I genuinely worked for him and I therefore deserve a place in his administration. According to 1 Timothy 5:18, it says the labourer deserves his wages. Therefore,I am worthy of a reward
Thank you my dear supporters and compatriots
Thank you for your love, patience and understanding.
Thank you
Thank you
Thank you.
Long live constituency 1
Long live Constituency 2
Long live Cross River North
Long live Cross River State
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Sir Sen Prof Ben Ayade CON.
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