It has become a matter of paramount concern and urgent public interest that the landscape of the 10th and upcoming 11th National Assembly is no longer “business as usual.” As we approach the 2027 electoral cycle, Cross River State must, as a matter of political necessity, “make hay while the sun shines.”
There is a palpable shift in the national political barometer. Other federating units are strategically positioning their “heavyweights”—individuals with proven legislative and executive pedigree—to ensure their voices are not only heard but remain dominant in the hallowed chambers of the Senate. In the high-stakes arena of national politics, influence is often a derivative of ranking and experience. It is a historical anomaly that Cross River State has frequently failed to return its former governors to the Senate, a trend that has arguably resulted in a deficit of political capital and infrastructure at the federal level.
One cannot overlook the correlation between states represented by high-ranking former governors and the accelerated pace of their developmental dividends. To maintain competitive parity, Cross River must be deliberate in its selection.
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Precedent and Peer Alignment,
To corroborate this necessity, one need only look at the strategic “line-up” of other states seeking to entrench their influence via seasoned veterans and sitting governors projected for the red chamber:
*.Delta State,Sen. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa Former Governor & Senator.
*.Benue State, Sen. Gabriel Suswam Former Governor & Senator.
*.Kogi State,Yahaya Bello | Former Governor.
*.Nasarawa State, Abdullahi Sule Sitting Governor.
*.Gombe State,Inuwa Yahaya Sitting Governor .
*.Ogun State,Dapo Abiodun Sitting Governor.
*.Bayelsa State, Douye Diri | Sitting Governor.
*.Borno State,Babagana Zulum Sitting Governor
*.Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri Sitting Governor .
*.Imo State, Hope Uzodimma Sitting Governor .
*.Cross River,
Sen. (Prof.) Ben Ayade,Former Governor & Senator
Conclusively,
It is both germane and apposite at this critical political juncture for Cross River State to deploy its most potent legislative asset. Senator (Prof.) Ben Ayade possesses the requisite “golden” experience—having served in both the legislative and executive arms of government—to navigate the complexities of the National Assembly.
To ensure the accrual of national dividends and to fortify our state’s political influence, we must support the return of this distinguished statesman to the Senate.
Submitted,
BBIT,.Writing from Lagos State on behalf of the Collective Interests of Cross River State.
