Kogi: Over 2000 PDP, LP members defect to APC

Okpo, the headquarters of Olamaboro local government area of Kogi State, at the weekend, stood still for hours, as eminent political figures and supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the Labour Party (LP), numbering over 2000, ditched their parties for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Those that decamped told DAILY POST that it was a “demonstration of gratitude to the administration of Alhaji Yahaya Bello, for the unparalleled development he has brought to the council and the love he has shown to Igalaland in general”.

Led by a former Chairman of Olamaboro LG, Hon Yunusa Gabriel Olofu, the decampees said their decision to leave the PDP and other parties was informed by the tremendous accelerated infrastructural and human capital advancement the area has witnessed within the short period of the Yahaya Bello government in Kogi State.
Olofu, a former Director-General, Kogi State Liaison Office, Lagos, during the reign of Ibrahim Idris as governor of Kogi, also served as member representing Olamaboro State Constituency at the Kogi State House of Assembly between 2007 and 2011.
He said the people of the local government made the decision from across the areas that make up the council, including Okpo, Ogugu and Imane Districts, saying they had never encountered such monumental positive turnaround in their political fortunes since the creation of the state.
Hon Olofu said as far as he was concerned, the PDP was dead in the Local Government, adding that they had seen the light and decided to pitch their tent with the progressives in the APC.

On his part, the member representing the constituency at the state House of Assembly, Hon Linus Ojochenemi Enenche, welcomed the new members and commended their courage for the decision.
He promised that the party would treat them as equals, stressing that politics was about interest.
In her goodwill message, the Secretary to Kogi State Government (SSG), Dr. (Mrs) Folashade Ayoade Arike, reminded the gathering of the important role of women in politics, saying they contribute immensely towards ensuring victory for any party of their choice.
She assured them of the commitment of the Yahaya Bello government to providing all parts of the state with requisite dividends of democracy for overall development of the state.

In their separate remarks, the state APC women leader, Hajia Rabi Emere and a party stalwart, Alhaji Ibrahim Linco, praised the present administration for its commitment towards grassroots development and reiterated their commitments to the APC course in the state.
Alhaji Linco particularly justified the reason every Igala son and daughter should support the Governor, stressing that he has shown his love for the people by giving their sons opportunities at the federal level in form of ministerial and Resident Electoral Commission appointments.
“What is happening today is like an earthquake. It is a justifiable decision by our people to decamp to the APC because the Governor has shown us that he is detribalized.

“The Ministerial and Resident Electoral Commissioner positions he gave to our sons are positions he could have given to anyone, but he chose to give it to our sons, so we must support him,” he pointed out.