More details are emerging from the defection of Governor Ben Ayade from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the All Progressives Congress (APC) last week thursday.
Details emerging now show that Mr. Ayade may have also been ambushed in the same manner his defection shocked some of his aides and political allies, THE WHISPERER has learnt.
According to Cross River Watch, Mr. Ayade had met with Governor Hope Uzodinma and some other APC bigwigs Wednesday night and is said to have placed on the table the need to consult with his followers on the best way to move.
“He requested for a few months to be able to move with more people but that put some of the bigwigs off as he had played the same card before,” a source (name withheld upon request) close to the Governor told this reporter.
But, he did not see the next move coming as the National Caretaker Committee Chairman of the APC and Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni is said to have placed a call to President Muhammadu Buhari who insisted that if Mr. Ayade was moving, it must be that morning.
This shocked Mr. Ayade who upon arrival at the Executive Council Chambers of the Governor’s office called federal lawmaker, Legor Idagbo and ally, Dr. Stephen Odey and told them that he had to announce his defection that morning.
This left the duo and those who were close shocked even though it was expected.
According to another source, the relationship between Governor Ayade and Buni grew soured as he felt railroaded. “Did you notice that after shaking hands with Governors Hope (Uzodinma) and (Kayode) Fayemi, he did not want to hug Governor Buni because of that,” the source who pleaded anonymity, added.
Who’s Right? Who’s Left?
But, all did not go smoothly as not everyone accepted to follow the Governor.
The first crack was in the composition of the new caretaker committee of the PDP in the State which was announced on Friday by the party’s National Working Committee.
Two commissioners appointed by Governor Ayade, Rita Ayim and Mike Usibe were listed as Publicity Secretary and member of the committee, a release signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Olagbodiyan read.
“The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), on behalf of the National Executive Committee (NEC), has approved the dissolution of the State Caretaker Committee for the Cross River state chapter of the party. The decision is in pursuant to the powers conferred on the NWC by the PDP Constitution,” read the statement by Olagbodiyan.
“Consequently, the NWC has constituted a new State Caretaker Committee to pilot the affairs of the chapter of the party at the state level. The members of the new State Caretaker Committee for Cross River state are as follows:
Barr. Efiok Cobham (Chairman)
Barr. Attah Ochinke
Dr. Uke Enun
Prof. Walter Mboto
Hon. Rita Ayim (Publicity Secretary)
Hon. Mike Usibe
Hon. Christopher Ekpo
Mr. Victor Effiom Okon
Prince K.J. Agba
Hon. Eko Atu (Secretary)
“All other structures of the party at the local government and ward levels in the state remain intact.”
And, a former Chairman of Calabar Municipal and Commissioner, Mr. Donatus Etim also resigned from Mr. Ayade’s cabinet.
At the National Assembly, Cross River has three senate and eight House of Representatives seats. Only one Representative, Alex Egbonna (Yakurr/Abi) was in the APC. And, following his defection, the members representing Obubra/Etung as well as that of Obudu/Obanliku/Bekwarra federal constituencies, Mike Etaba and Legor Idagbo respectively have since announced their defections.
While announcing his defection at his Apiapum ward in Obubra Local Government Area, Mr. Etaba took to his Facebook page to announce that: “We Have Left The Umbrella.”
He averred that: “we need to be in the mainstream of national politics viz-a-vis the ruling party at the centre, to bring home more of the desired democratic dividends to our people. Because of the exigencies of the situation, there was little or no time to properly communicate this position to the good people of Obubra/Etung Federal Constituency.
Federal lawmaker, Mike Etaba shortly after his defection at Apiapum, Obubra Local Government Area
“However, sooner than later, we shall convene a Town Hall Meeting to properly inform all constituents of our new situation. Until then, I implore all our supporters who showed so much loyalty and love to us while we were in our former party, the Peoples Democratic Party, to heed His Excellency’s directive to return to our various wards and register with the APC.”
The other five House of Representatives members and senators remained in the PDP.
Also, in the House of Assembly, the number of those who have refused to announce their defection are nine in number out of the 25 seats in the Assembly.
Furthermore, five who have defected are said to have secretly met with PDP members to plead that they be allowed to be APC members in the Assembly and PDP members in soul.
Among those who have defected or are planning to, are the Speaker, Eteng Jones (Yakurr 2), Akamkpa 1 and 2, Odukpani, Calabar South 1 and 2, Bakassi, Biase, Etung, Ikom 2, Obanliku, Obudu, Bekwarra, Yala 1 and Ogoja State constituencies.
Cross River Watch.
