Ayade laments 3-year sidelining by Tinubu, order to abandon senatorial ambition
Ayade Criticizes Three-Year Exclusion from Tinubu’s Administration
By Ike Uchechukwu, CALABAR
The former governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, expressed his frustration over being omitted from appointments by President Bola Tinubu’s administration for the past three years. Ayade, who previously switched his allegiance from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC), shared his grievances in a statement responding to a presidential directive that asked him to drop his senatorial aspirations for the Cross River North district.
“I dare not question his authority, but I challenge his conscience,” Ayade remarked, referencing his belief that he deserves recognition for his contributions to the party. He cited 1 Timothy 5:18, stating, “The labourer deserves his wages. Therefore, I am worthy of a reward.”
Ayade highlighted his role as the first APC governor in South-South Nigeria, noting his financial contributions to the party’s national convention and his ongoing free transportation scheme in support of Tinubu’s 2027 re-election campaign. He further claimed to be the first APC governor to propose Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate in 2023, promoting the idea that “If Tinubu can fix Lagos, Tinubu can fix Nigeria.”
Despite these contributions, Ayade lamented that he has been sidelined without a governmental role for over three years. Regarding the senatorial race, he alleged that the directive from the president benefits individuals who had previously opposed the party and cited police records of violence at election collation centers.
“Mr. President may not be aware that the beneficiaries of his order are people armed against us; yielding a ticket to a newcomer from the opposition just under five months is a spiritual murder,” he declared. Ayade concluded, “I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony.”
Reports indicate that the presidential directive is part of broader efforts to address disputes arising from APC primary elections ahead of the 2027 polls.
