Ayade joins presidential race — but says he’ll step aside ‘if APC presents Jonathan’

Ben Ayade, governor of Cross River, says he has informed President Muhammadu Buhari of his intention to contest the presidency on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

He said this on Tuesday while speaking with state house correspondents after a meeting with Buhari.

According to him, the president advised him to make further consultations on his ambition.

Ayade said he will replicate what he has done in Cross River, adding that should the APC zone the presidential ticket to the south, he has what it takes to continue from where Buhari will stop.

Speaking on speculations on if former President Goodluck Jonathan may be chosen as the party’s candidate, the Cross River governor said he would be willing to step down his ambition and support Jonathan.

“I have great respect for former President Jonathan and so I have no challenges whatsoever. I believe that the party leadership will decide on the appropriate candidate that will take our party to victory,” he said.

“And so, if you heard me well, I am just part of the family, absolutely loyal to the president, seeking to run for the president. And I am running.

“But at any point in time that the political leadership of my party, the APC, feels that former President Jonathan is the appropriate candidate that will actually take us take us to victory, I will turn my support for him.

“I am never, ever going to fight the establishment, the institution, the aristocracy, the spiritual vortex of which God has placed a leader of a country. I will never question the powers of the leader of a country. I have never played politics of antagonism or fight.

“If you know how I became governor, I came governor by offering to support whoever the governor wants and by stroke of luck, I became the candidate. By the same token, I am only here to support the president’s candidate and by a stroke of luck, he said ‘you too, go there and join the race and let me see’.”