Governor Ben Ayade of Cross River has vowed to support former President Goodluck Jonathan if the ruling All Progressive Congress nominates him as a candidate for 2023 Presidency.
Mr Ayade’s comments followed his meeting with President Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, where he announced that he had agreed to allow the president to hold talks on his bid for the presidency.
Responding to questions from reporters, Mr Ayade said he respected the former president and said that if the APC decided to replace him, it would support him.
According to him, he was at the Presidential Villa to seek guidance from Mr Buhari on how to reconcile during the 2023 election, stating that he would do whatever the president directed.
Mr Ayade said he did not feel honored to tell the office manager that someone wanted to take over his office and that was why he did not tell Mr Buhari that he wanted to join the presidential race.
However, he said the president was happy that he had not mentioned his desire to succeed him but had allowed him to discuss the matter while he (Buhari) was watching.
