Date: 2021-05-21

A former governorship aspirant in Kwara State, Saliu Mustapha has hailed the Governor of Cross River State, Prof. Ben Ayade for joining the All Progressives Congress (APC).

The Nation reports Ayade defected to the APC on Thursday in Calabar at a ceremony at the Executive Chambers of the Governor's Office.

Ayade said his defection was to align the state with the ruling party at the centre for prosperous growth and development and to also join hands with President Muhammadu Buhari in building the nation.

Mustapha, a former Deputy National Chairman of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in a congratulatory statement said, "I welcome the decision of my brother, His Excellency the Executive Governor of Cross Rivers State, Prof. Ben Ayade, to join the All Progressives Congress.

"Ayade's decision to join the progressive fold is bold and courageous. It was the right thing to do at this auspicious time in the life of the people of Cross Rivers State, and that of our country, Nigeria.

"In the face of serious national crisis as Nigeria is presently in, there should be a legitimate desire by all political actors to pull together in offering and finding solutions to the crisis at hand."

He noted that Ayade has taken the first right step and also called on others to join the party.

"For Governor Ayade, the APC will be more than just a home. It is also going to be an ideological pathway. The APC offers him a decent and ethical platform to drive development through politics. The promise will begin to unfold in the days ahead.

"I am confident that our party will, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, support him in charting better ways forward for a greater Cross River State.

"I congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for this feat, which is no doubt a loud testimony to the growing popularity of his government in spite of the tithing security challenges that are reported in parts of the country.

"In the same vein, I congratulate the leadership of our party led by His Excellency, Governor Mai Mala Buni; Governor Kayode Fayemi and Governor Badaru Abubakar and other progressive Governors for this great feat. Posterity will be kind to them all," he added.