The former governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade, has opened up about his frustrations with the All Progressives Congress (APC).
He said the party has not given him the recognition he expected after taking major risks to join the ruling party.
Ayade noted that he crossed from the Peoples Democratic Party to the APC at a time when the entire South-South region was firmly in the opposition.
According to him, the move came with political sacrifice and personal battles that many people do not fully understand.
He explained that he expected the party to reward his loyalty, especially because he was the first sitting governor from the South-South to align his state with the APC. But he said the treatment he has received since then has been far from encouraging.
Speaking during a media interview, the former governor said his political journey in the party left him with “scars,” adding that the wounds are still fresh and have not been properly acknowledged.
Ayade said he fought hard to ensure Cross River was connected to the ruling party. “I am carrying the scars of the battle for the sovereignty of the state,” he said.
He noted that even though the experience was painful, he still believes President Bola Tinubu understands the role he played and the risks he took.
The former Cross River Governor explained that his relationship with President Tinubu goes back many years.
He described the president as “a smart leader” who knows those who stood by him. Ayade also expressed optimism that the president will eventually “surprise the country positively.”
Ayade recalled that his move to the APC in 2021 was based on deep political calculation.
He said he saw that the opposition would soon lose relevance, so he decided to align Cross River with the federal government early. “I could see tomorrow,” he said. “The crystal ball was clear.”
He said the decision to “socket to the center” was not an emotional jump but a strategic plan to keep his state politically relevant. According to him, this required careful analysis and strong conviction.
The former governor also stated that he was one of the earliest politicians to openly endorse Bola Tinubu for president, long before the APC primaries. He said he even made the declaration during international interviews.
Ayade added that he devoted a large part of his campaign period to promoting Tinubu’s candidacy during the 2023 elections.
He admitted that he focused so much on Tinubu that he sometimes forgot he had his own election to worry about.
Despite all these, he said the party has not treated him fairly or credited him for the impact he made in the South-South.
He, however, insisted that he is still hopeful that the president will address the situation at the right time.
“I believe, in spite of all the stories, President Tinubu will surprise this nation,” he said. He maintained that the president knows those who stood with him when it was risky to do so.