Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River State
Cross River Gov, Ayade joins 2023 presidential race
Cross River governor, Prof Ben Ayade, has announced that he will run for President in 2023.
Governor Ayade who visited President Muhammadu Buhari at the State House in Abuja, Tuesday, also said his decision has received the blessings of the Nigerian leader.
Fielding questions by State House Correspondents after the visit, Ayade said the President had instructed him to discuss with his people on the topic while he observes.
On the possibility of former President Goodluck Jonathan joining the APC and becoming the party’s flagbearer, Governor Ayade said he respects the ex-President and that if the APC chooses to field him as its candidate, he will support him.
“I believe that the party leadership will decide the appropriate candidate that will take our party to victory; and so if you heard me well; I am just part of the family, absolutely loyal to the President, seeking to run for president and I’m running.
“At any point in time the political leadership of my party; the APC, feels that President Jonathan is the appropriate candidate that will take us to victory, I will turn my support for him.
“I am never ever going to fight the establishment, the institution, the aristocracy, the spiritual vortex of which God has placed a leader on the country. Of course, I will never question the powers of the leader of the country.
“I have never played the politics of antagonism or fights. If you know how I became governor, I became governor by offering to support whoever the governor wants. By a stroke of luck, I became the candidate. The same token… I’m only here to support the President’s candidate; by a stroke of luck he said you too go there and join the race,” Ayade said.
