By: EBEN ENASCO KINGSLEY (BENIN)
The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP has suffered another major setback as President Goodluck Jonathan’s Campaign Security Chief in Edo State, Mr. Fred Ikhuebor, led over 3,000 people to the All Progressive Congress, APC in Edo State.
Other former PDP stalwarts, who decamped with their teeming supporters to the All Progressives Congress, APC, at a rally held in Benin City, Sunday, include Chief Sunny Erhengbo, Dr. Friday Omokaro, former PDP House of Representative Aspirant for Ikpoba Okha/Egor Federal Constituency, Dr.John Ogbomo and Mr. Lucky Akalede, among others.
Mr Ikhuebor, also known as “ceiling fan” who until his defection was head of security of the Goodluck to Goodluck Campaign Organization in Edo state, said, the “All Progressive Congress, APC is the only party in Nigeria practicing what is obtained in advanced countries.
He said, “The Peoples Democratic Party is a party of liars. There is no truth in them. We will join forces with you sir to deliver Edo State for APC in the Presidential elections and all the other elections.”
While apologizing to the Governor for his ignoble role in the Edo State House of Assembly saga of 2014 and the activities within the court premises during the election tribunal sittings in Benin City in 2012, Ikhuebor said, “I now know the truth and I have decided to come back home, join the APC and play genuine politics.”
He pledged on behalf of his supporters their unalloyed loyalty to the Comrade Governor and the APC hierarchy in the state.
Others who spoke at the ceremony included the former PDP House of Representative aspirant for Egor/Ikpoba Okha Federal Constituency, Dr. Friday Omokaro, Chief Sunny Erhengbo, Dr. John Ogbomo and Mr. Lucky Akalede amongst others.
On his part, Dr. Omokaro extolled the leadership qualities of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole and his developmental strides in the state.
He said, “PDP can no longer lead the country as the party has crumbled the socio-economy of the nation. You need to know the number of accounts that most of the party leaders in PDP are operating in various parts of the country and beyond. I am a professional; we will expose them very soon. All we need now is to join the comrade governor and effect the desired change in all parts of the country”.
In his remarks, Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole expressed gratitude to all those who have come to join the moving train.
He said, “With the re-injection of these men of timber and calibre, there is no question that APC is now waxing stronger. Let me assure you that Edo State Government will continue to work for the people of this great state even if the cost of crude oil in the world market becomes 1 dollar because as the saying goes, if there is a will, there is a way.
“Today, Federal Government cannot pay salary but Edo State Government is paying salaries because how you manage your home is a question of the heart. So that is why Edo is growing and we will continue to make progress”.
He said, “When we started building roads, PDP said the roads were not economical. Right now, they have resorted to another strategy saying if we built school, the money is from the federal government. Now I ask PDP, if PDP in Edo State could not use their power to bring federal government PDP to build roads and if it required APC to carry the money and build roads, schools, plant flowers, the more reason we must keep PDP out of our lives because they can no longer deny the truth.
“We are using our resources. In the budgetary system of Nigeria, certain things are due for the states. What makes the difference is that some people put their resources in their pocket while others take theirs to work and that is what we are doing in APC, to get the money and use it to better the lot of the people”, he said.
He assured the PDP defectors of equal treatment in the APC family. According to him, “I am aware of your rich political history, your ruggedness, doggedness, consistency and your huge political mobilization and today is a sad day for the PDP, absolutely sad day and we will do everything to integrate you to the political structure even as we work closer every passing day”, he said
