Crisis: ‘I Saw the collapse of PDP in 2021 that’s why I left to APC – Ex Gov, Ayade

From Ene Asuquo,Calabar 

The  former governor of Cross River State, Ben Ayade, has said that he saw the collapse and the crisis coming into the Peoples Democratic party, PDP, in 2021.

He emphasized that that was why he dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2021.

Ayade noted that the move was strategic and predicated on a clear foresight of Nigeria’s political future.

The former Cross River governor, who ruled the State from 2015 to 2023, made this known, shortly on arrival at the Margaret Ekpo International Airport, Calabar the state capital, where he was welcomed home by party members 

He stated that  his controversial shift from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was informed by his ability to predict the nation’s political trajectory.

“The real truth was that I could see tomorrow. “The crystal ball was clear,” the immediate past governor stated.

 He explained that as the nation appeared to be “gradually descending into the level of caution” it became imperative to align with the ruling party.

“It was obvious that I saw tomorrow and I knew that the right thing for us to do at that point in time was actually to cross to the ruling party,” he added.

This move, he said, led to the creation of his widely discussed political principle. “And that’s why I came up with the principle of socketing to the center,” he stated.

 Ayade elaborated that achieving this socketing required careful planning, “to do so, “it required us to understand and do a dialectical analysis of the situation with a proper surgery of what I need to do to be able to socket properly to the center.” He maintained.

This move, he said, led to the creation of his widely discussed political principle. “And that’s why I came up with the principle of socketing to the center,” he stated. 

He elaborated that achieving that required careful planning, according to Ayade, “to do so, it required us to understand and do a dialectical analysis of the situation with a proper surgery of what I need to do to be able to socket properly to the center.”

Reflecting on the ensuing political battles and consequences, the former governor acknowledged the toll the decision took.

 He noted that he is currently “carrying these scars, the scars of the battle for the sovereignty of the state.”

However, Ayade expressed unwavering confidence in President Tinubu, highlighting their long-standing relationship.

 “My relationship with him predates his days as president. So he knows who I am. He knows my word,” he said, concluding that “I believe in spite of all the stories, he will surprise this country”, Ayade maintained.