Hundreds of party members from Peoples Democratic Party PDP , Social Democratic party SDP and Action Alliance on Wednesday defected to the All Progressives Congress APC.
Akure City Hall venue of the defection was full to its beam as the 5000 capacity event venue could not accommodate all well wishers and friends of the newly defected Politicians.
The Convener of the Nigeria workstation and immediate past Publicity Secretary of the major opposition in the state ,Hon Peretei Ikantu said there is no more opposition party in ondo including his former party PDP
HIS WORDS
Let me take my reference from Harold Laswell’s universally accepted definition of politics as “who gets what, when and how”. There is a friend of mine who also defined politics simply as ” Election and Government”. If you marry these two definitions, you will come to the realisation that, if you are in politics and not in government, you are just in a social club.
I do not mean that, Nigeria should be a one party State. But when the leadership of the opposition is not deliberate, coordinated and focused on how to win election and therefore form government, then, there will be no justification for being in opposition.
It is against this background that today, those of us in the Nigeria Workstation, a Grassroots Media Advocacy, Research and Strategy Group, comprising former members of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party, SDP and Action Alliance, AA decided to join forces with the progressive family. Also in this hall are harvests of Sunshine Grassroots Network, a group whose mandate is to clean up the remnant of the opposition and align them with the APC.
Recently, some opposition figures criticized President Bola Tinubu for trying to foist a single political party on Nigerians. His reply was very straightforward and simple. “It is not my business to organize the opposition”. Is there anything to add?
Today, you have seen the faces of what was referred to as the last plank of opposition. Hence, from today, there is only one party in Ondo State, which is the APC. Perhaps from the grave yard, there may be one or two shrill sounds. Such don’t amount to much, they are mere echoes.
The people present here represent a small fraction of our numerical strength as it is impossible to mobilise all our supporters to this City Hall. But we make bold to declare that, the significance of today will be appreciated in the next round of elections in Ondo State.
We wish to specially thank Engr. Ade Adetimehin and members of the State Executive Committee of the APC for opening their doors wide to accept us.
In the build up to this ceremony Mr. Governor Dr. Lucky Aiyedatiwa was fantastic. We sincerely appreciate him. We use Ambassador Sola Iji, former Nigerian Ambassador to Togo as point of contact to appreciate APC stakeholders who have come to Grace this ceremony.Dr.Tob Loko, Honourable Commissioner for Environment, Ondo State, Ese-Odo Local Government, High Chief Ebi Molos, High Chief J.M Magi, High Chief P.M.S Olopele. There are many more who were unable to make it to this ceremony but sent support and kind words. Senior High Chief Bibopere Ajube, Chief Matthew Oyerinmade (MATO) fall into this category.We see this as an “Endorsement” which we are not taking for granted.
The Honourable Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the Star Boy of the Tinubu administration is profoundly appreciated for providing a ‘Rock of Gibraltar’ kind of support for making today a reality.
It is impossible to mention all those who have made this happen by name. To all of them we appreciate.
In his goodwill message at the well attended programme, the Hon. Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji Ojo, who was represented by Chief Muyiwa Asagunla, said the time has come for the people of Ondo State to speak with one voice in support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Tunji Ojo who facilitated the decamping specifically thanked Mr President for the ongoing dualisation of the Ore-Akure Road, the Ilesha – Akure – Benin dualisation and the Akure-Ado-Ekiti road dualisation, as well as the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway which is passing through Ondo State.
This infrastructural developments and the various reforms of Mr President, he said, must be sustained beyond 2027.
Receiving the decampees who were mainly members of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the Social Democratic Party, SDP, the State Chairman, Mr. Ade Adetimehin, on behalf of the National Chairman, Prof Nentawe Yilwatda, and the State Governor, H.E. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, welcomed them to a party he described as having room enough to accommodate all. He said the Renewed Hope agenda of President Tinubu has positively touched the people of Ondo State and there is the need to repay Mr President by giving him the needed support to continue his good work. He assured the new members that they will have equal opportunities in the party.
