By Our Reporter
Ogoja (Converseer) – High Chief Higgins Peters, the revered natural leader of Cross River North has categorically stated that Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade wanting to go back to the Senate is being unfair to Governor Bassey Otu and wanting to paint a picture of the Governor not reciprocating the favour he did him.
This is a follow-up to his speech in Ukelle at the reception for Rt. Hon. (Dr) Ogana Lukpata, the Deputy Chairman of All Progressives Congress, (APC), recently.
“Truth is, a Governor handing over the baton of Governorship to the next is not a favour but a mandate. Donald did handover to Liyel, Liyel sent Ayade to the Senate and again handed over to him. Yet, walked away without any demands, so I am wondering why that of Governor Ayade has to be a debt and an emotional blackmail of gratitude.
“Sen. Prof. Ben Ayade is a lucky man and has achieved everything in business and in politics and is only fit now as an elder statesman than going to run for Senate election with people that were his boys. At his level and achievements, he shouldn’t put himself into an arena where he would be demystified anymore.
“Assuming he was given the ticket and won, how does he go to seat in the Senate and call Sen. Eteng Jones and Sen. Asuqo Ekpenyong, who are his boys, his colleagues? I say this with concern for his integrity and self-respect because, I know for sure that the sentiments that were responsible for him losing the election in 2023 have grown worse in the North. I owe him a duty to tell him the truth without reservation because I count him not only a friend but a brother.
“Meanwhile, I am putting this on public record in the event his enemies continue to push him to run because I have told him this privately.
“The people of the North through their leaders will appeal to the Governor and the party to give them the opportunity to decide who represents the North either by consensus or primaries, not favours.
“By extension, if former Governor Ayade insists he wants to run for Senate, ignoring my candid advice to him, he should be ready to face the people of the North in the primaries or consensus as the case may be.
“If Ayade chooses the path of honour and does not succumb to his enemies and sycophants that are out to drain him in money and image, he would become the godfather of the North forever.
“Ayade, is still young, smart, extremely intelligent, very connected, so I believe in my heart that there are better and bigger opportunities for him in the future than going into a race that is not necessary.
“God bless the good people of Cross River North,” Chief Peters said.
