2023 Polls: Ayade Berates Opposition Over Power Rotation
BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – The Governor of Cross River, Professor Ben Ayade says the inordinate and selfish ambition of opposition politicians and their parties to truncate the power rotation arrangement in the state is an ill wind that will blow no one any good.
The governor, who expressed disappointment over attempts by some opposition elements to derail the existing arrangement, said the State cannot afford to go the path of divisiveness and avoidable tension due to betrayal by those within the political class
In a chat with newsmen shortly after flagging off the dry run for the 2022 Calabar Annual Carnival and Festival, Governor Ayade said it is inconceivable that those who hugely benefited from the power rotation policy in the past would now want to jettison it purely to achieve their selfish ends to the detriment of the general interest of the state.
He said as a beneficiary of the power rotation policy, everything thing would be done legally and within acceptable electoral norms to ensure such a laudable unifying political initiative does not end with his tenure.
The governor challenged Cross Riverians to rally around the All Progressive Congress (APC) in the State being the only party that has kept faith in the electoral logic of power rotation, adding that it is emotionally painful observing the antics of a few self-seeking individuals as the electoral campaigns hot up.
According to him, it is unfortunate that these politicians are seeking the people’s mandate, yet by their actions, they appear to be distancing themselves from the yearnings of the very people they pretend they are out to serve.
Rhetorically, Governor Ayade queried; “Why is it so difficult for those who pretend to have the interest of the State at heart to understand the common logic of power rotation to the southern senatorial district of the state in the coming dispensation?”
Going forward, Professor Ayade expressed the hope the incoming governor would stand firm without shifting ancient boundaries so that posterity would accord him and his team befitting honour as those who came with a broad mind of serving the people against the selfish and myopic interest of others masquerading as the so-called “peoples’ candidates” but have without shame continued to voice their skewed understanding of zoning in the state since 1999.
