Emmanuel Ulayi, PhD
John F. Kennedy is recorded to have said that “The rights of every man are diminished when the rights of one man are threatened.” Again, the author of the award-winning “From a Race of Masters to a Masters Race”, A.E. Samaan, once averred that “Liberty is not something a government gives you. It is a right that no government can legally take away.” The Nigerian constitution is very clear on the constitutional and fundamental human rights of citizens. It is, therefore, preposterous for anyone to begin to arrogate to himself the power to choose those who should contest for an election or not.
Former Governor Ben Ayade’s decision to throw his hat in the ring for a possible return to the Senate in 2027 has ruffled many feathers and is causing ripples all over the political firmament, not just in Cross River North but in the entire Cross River state. These discordant tunes are not unexpected because Senator Ayade is indisputably a political juggernaut and a force to reckon with by every standard. As a former two-term governor, who impacted positively on the fortunes of the people of Cross state, his imprimatur has remained indelible, and continue to light up the political atmosphere in the state.
Throwing shades at Ayade to intimidate him or frustrate him out of the contest for the Senate seat does not make any sense and will not deter the former governor from exercising his constitutional right of franchise. For the interest of the High Chief Higgins of this world, Ayade is neither an ex-convict nor an unqualified person vying for the position of Senator, but he is someone who has no skeletons in his cupboard and has been tested, tried, and confirmed fit to lead.
Just like the likes of Higgins have the right to their personal opinion, including the right to mischief, Senator Ayade has the right to seek election to the Senate to represent the wonderful people of Cross River North, a responsibility he handled very effectively and successfully before returning home to be governor for eight years. He is only seeking to return to a familiar terrain, an environment that he is very conversant with, and coming with the experience of a former chief executive of a state, to convert it to legislative governance.
Some of the naysayers today are oblivious to the fact that Ayade is a visionary and forward-thinking leader. He read the writing on the wall; the message of the progressives taking over the country, and hence he led Cross River into the mainstream national politics when no governor in the South South ever saw the democratic hurricane that would now sweep the entire region into the All Progressives Congress (APC). Ayade was the first governor in the South South to welcome the APC into the region. In other words, he opened the floodgate for progressive politics to gain roots in the South South geopolitical zone. With this, Ayade deserves to be honoured and respected.
Recall that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu stood firm and remained waivered nurturing the progressives from the South West to national consciousness, and today, he is the president. Senator George Akume brought the Action Congress (AC), which metamorphosed into the ACN and later the APC, to Benue and the North Central region. Today, the entire North Central is APC, and Senator Akume has been fully compensated as the Secretary of the Government of the Federation (SGF).
When Ayade brought the APC to the South South, he was heckled, booed, and called names. His defection to the APC was like tea in a storm. But being a fighter and someone who knows his onions, he stuck his guns and built the party it is today. So, why would someone wake up today and be preoccupied with the past time of campaigning against Senator Ayade’s return to the Senate? anytime. Is it a crime to attract good products to your people? Is it wrong for Ayade to have looked out for the APC much earlier, before his contemporaries from the region began to think of the party?
The people of Cross River North deserve nothing less, and Ayade has the requisite experience and residual knowledge about the workings of the parliament and would certainly be an asset to the state if he is reelected to the red chamber. Sentiments apart, Governor Bassey Otu needs quality lawmakers such as Ayade at the national level to attract all the attractable to the state.
Talking about the former governor meeting his ‘boys’ in the Senate, the upper legislative house is not about age; it is about experience and the right lobbying prowess. If today, ‘boys’, who were mentored and brought up by the former governor, are in the Senate, he should then be given a pat on the back for laying a fertile foundation for promising Cross River youths. He need not be crucified for helping young men to win elections to the higher chamber.
Fortunately, even those who oppose Ayade’s move cannot dismiss his political clout and the wide influence of his support base. They are aware that he is a combination of brain and brawn, and a refined political bulldozer that is people-oriented and results-oriented.
But we believe our governor, being a perfect gentleman and a leader who plays politics without bitterness, would not succumb to the cheap blackmail and the insidious agenda being set for him by Higgis and his ilk. Those seeking cheap popularity must not be energized and entertained by good leaders.
What happened in 2023 should not be allowed to repeat itself. Former Governor Ayade should be allowed to exercise his inalienable constitutional rights to vote and be voted. Let him contest and be rejected instead of frustrating him out of the race. 2027 is also a payback time for the governor, who understands the wages of loyalty.
When the history of APC is written in the state, Ayade will never be found wanting. He will occupy a vantage space in the scheme of things because he played a significant role in the arrival and sustenance of the party in Cross River and the region. Above all, Cross River needs the best eleven to present at the National Parliament. Senator Ben Ayade belongs to the first eleven and should not be tossed around like a newbie. He has paid his dues and deserves to be given a place in the annals of the political history of the state.
Those playing the politics of the spoiler should know that Ayade’s popularity and acceptance across the state have not waned. His popularity is growing in leaps and bounds and will definitely vie for the Cross River North Senatorial Seat. He will exercise his constitutionally guaranteed rights.
