“I dare not question his (president Tinubu’s) authority, but i challenge his conscience.
Those are part of the vituperations of an angry Professor Ben Ayade, immediate past governor of Cross River State.
Ayade was lamenting over being sidelined by the Ruling All Progressives Party (APC) generally and a presidential directive particularly, to shelve his Senatorial ambition for another.
”I dare not question his authority, but I challenge his conscience.
“According to 1 Timothy 5:18, the labourer deserves his wages. Therefore, I am worthy of a reward,” Ayade stated in a statement.
Lamenting being sidelined for about three years despite his contributions to the All Progressives Congress (APC), the former governor recalled amongst others:
- first APC governor to propose Tinubu’s 2023 presidential candidacy
- donating generously to the party’s national convention,
- providing vehicles and motorbikes, and
- currently running a free transportation scheme for Tinubu’s 2027 re-election.
- Being the originator of the mantra: “If Tinubu can fix Lagos, Tinubu can fix Nigeria.”
“For over three years, I have been sidelined without appointment,” he lamented.
“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.
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“I yield to his request even as I pour tears of ill treatment and agony,” he said.
According to him, the presidential order favours those whom he said fought against the party, whom he has also described as individuals armed with guns and machetes at collation centres during the election
The Eagle reports that Professor Ben Ayade, aside being a two-time governor in Cross River State, has also been a Senator where he occupied several positions including being vice-chairman, Senate Committee on Environment and Ecology and member, Petroleum Downstream.
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