C-River Totally APC, No More Opposition — Ayade

• I’m backing Ayade to finish strong in 2023 — Arc Ndem
• You no longer exist here — APC chair mocks PDP

BY UBON EKANEM, CALABAR – Governor of Cross River, Professor Ben Ayade says the State belongs to the people and no single individual or group can hold it to ransom in the name of politics.

Maintaining that only God has the powers to determine the faith and destiny of the people, Ayade also boasted that the State has no opposition again following the decision of three strong members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to join forces with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the State.

Speaking when he received a PDP chieftain, Architect Bassey Ndem, and other members into the APC in Calabar on Thursday, Governor Ayade said with their movement, the PDP has become empty and the opposition completely erased in the state

According to him; “Cross River state does not belong to an individual but to the people and no group or group of persons can determine the faith and destiny of our people except God. The arrogance and sarcasm of prolonged stay in government come with its negativistic impact. There is more opposition in Cross River state. APC is in complete control.

“I come with a clinical truth. We came to a critical point where we needed to socket to the centre, anyone who thought otherwise does not mean well for our state. The three giants who have moved today have their roots in all parts of the state, with intellect, grassroots support, and more. Now, we have them in APC, PDP is empty and nothing is left there again.”

Governor Ayade further stated that; “Politics is social engineering to bring value to your people and that is exactly what we stand for. I stand for fairness, equity and by that, you know what I mean by that.”

Also speaking at the occasion, the State APC Chairman, Barrister Alphonsus Eba said the “tsunamic” movement was an unmistakable manifestation that God answered has answered their prayer noting that they prayed that He takes away all liabilities and replace them with political assets.

He told the gathering that; “When we entered office 60 days ago, we went to the mountain to pray that God should take away liabilities and desperate souls from our party and replace them with political assets. What we experiencing today is an unequivocal manifestation that our prayers have been answered by God,

“APC is on a voyage of splendour. We have given a fatal blow to oligarchy and we have sent the opposition perpetually into a state of oblivion in Cross River.”

Commenting on his decision to join the APC, the former Commissioner for Lands, Arc Bassey Ndem, said it was for two reasons of integrity and to support the governor to finish the race strong in 2023.

Bassey said; ”I am coming into the APC for two reasons; one is to for integrity, which governor Ayade has affirmed in different fora that he believes in rotation (zoning). I am not in doubt that the governor will stand by that because he is a man of proven integrity.

“Secondly, Governor Ayade needs to be supported to finish strong as it concerns all the projects and programmes. All those projects belong to the people, he must be supported, and I will give my sweat, blood, cash, and all to make sure he finishes strong,”