PDP cabal held Cross River to ransome for years, Ayade alleges

The governor said he joined the All Progrezssives Congress (APC) to break out from such grip on the state.

Ayade spoke in Calabar, Thursday, during a solidarity rally organised by support groups and youths drawn from the 18 local government areas of the state.

The rally came few hours after PDP alleged that the governor was spending N2 billion to woo its members to join his new party.

The governor said, "Some people had continually held the state to ransome for many years. To them, the state should remain in their grip forever. Before I defected to APC, I had extensive consultation. I know what I am doing.

"Unlike some systems without quality programmes and direction, I decided to expand government to reduce poverty and give youths opportunities. I refused to play politics of eight special advisers and 13 commissioners of the past whereas all of us went out to campaign to deliver a party. After elections, a cabal takes over.ÔÇØ

The governor also alleged that PDP was celebrating attacks on Nigerians in the name of playing opposition, noting, "We all know the security challenges our country is facing, foreigners coming into our country and killing Nigerians, and all what they do is to sit down, criticize and say that the government has failed.

"You sit down and laugh in the name of playing opposition. Celebrate attack on Nigerians by foreigners shows you must be a very bad person and such character is negative and unproductive "

Throwing more light on why he had to leave the PDP for APC, the governor said, "I have no basis to move to APC because I am not running an election but the reality is that it is for the good of Cross River people especially youths. We cannot afford to continue to play opposition.

"A party is just a vehicle and I know the appropriate vehicle that will bring economic benefits to our people is APC. How can you, a minority with the lowest income be playing opposition and fighting the central government when you can sit together and negotiate to bring value to your state? With our least allocation, we need to link up with the centre to bring value to our state,ÔÇØ he stated.

In an interview, the organiser of the rally and Director General, Migration Control Agency, Mike Abuo, said the rally was to show solidarity and loyalty to the governor "who decamped from the failed PDPÔÇØ adding that the youths of Cross River state were solidly beging the governor who he said was bent on taking the state to another level.