Ekiti 2018: House Of Reps Member, Others Dump PDP For APC

A House of Representatives member from Ekiti State, Mr. Olamide Oni
and other People’s Democratic Party (PDP) chieftains have joined the All
Progressives Congress (APC).
They defected to the APC on Saturday when the campaign train of the
party’s governorship flag bearer rolled into communities in Irepodun/
Ifelodun, Ekiti West, Ekiti Southwest and Efon Local Government Areas.
Oni, who represents Ekiti Central Federal Constituency II in the Green
Chamber of the National Assembly, joined with his Personal Assistant,
Mr. Banji Filani and scores of supporters in his hometown, Efon Alaaye.
Other communities visited by Fayemi and his team include Iwaji, Ipole-
Iloro, Ikogosi, Erijiyan, Igbara-Odo, Ilawe, Igede and Iyin.
Thousands of crowds defied the rain in Ilawe to listen to Fayemi and
other APC leaders.
Ondo State Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu joined the rally at Ilawe to
the admiration of the crowd urging Ekiti people to vote Fayemi to enjoy
good governance and restoration of life-changing policies.
Others are Afolabi Olasope, a lawyer and former First Bank Secretary in
Nigeria and Overseas, who also won Ekiti Central Constituency Two
seat in the House of Representatives under UNCP. Aanu Oni, who is
former Special Adviser in PDP administration, also defected.
Others included immediate past State Women Leader of PDP, Busola Oni;
Dele Jeje, who is father of Efon Local Government Chairman, Bobby
Jeje; and Local Government Woman Leader, Olomi Adeniyi.
Oni said: “PDP leaders are always fighting for personal benefits while the
masses suffer and an example is the administration of Fayose in Ekiti.
State.
“I was always insisting that they should make the general well-being of
the people their focus, but they have always argued that they are in
politics for personal benefit.
“After discovering that this is the tradition in PDP, I had to leave for a
party that wants to work for the benefit of all as we have seen in all
development projects by APC administration of Fayemi.”
Residents complained of neglect, unemployment, sufferings among the
aged and salary payment default by the administration of Fayose, asking
Fayemi to restore their hopes again.
Fayemi promised to continue all his social service programmes, including
social security stipends for the elderly people, YCAD, volunteer scheme,
entrepreneurship scheme, rural development, road construction and
health services while workers and teachers will enjoy regular pay and
promotions.
He regretted that not a single project was added to all the projects he
executed in the communities visited, promising to complete all
abandoned projects for the benefit of the people, adding that all his
development and empowerment schemes would continue.
In particular, Fayemi promised to complete work on radio booster
station in Efon, while the abandoned water project will also be
completed.
The APC flag bearer promised good times for pensioners, assuring that
retired people will receive their entitlements regularly.
He debunked insinuations by the opposition that he would ban okada
operations and sack teachers and local government workers if he wins
the election.
He said: “I am sure that by now Ekiti people would have had enough of
Fayose’s lies. He has been going round to deceive Ekiti people that I will
sack workers to dissuade them from voting for APC so that he can
continue to inflict more pains on the people while he enjoys himself in
government.
“I will never ban okada or sack teachers and local government workers
because I am not a promoter of sufferings.
“I made salary payment my priority, including payment of teachers’ rural
posting and core subjects allowances. We shall continue to fulfill this
obligation, including looking for new ways to promote the welfare of all
categories of workers.”
At Ikogosi where scores of PDP chiefs and no fewer than 50 other
supporters defected to APC, residents lamented the closure of Ikogosi
Resort and Gossy Water that resulted in job losses.
Fayemi assured that the business concerns would be reactivated to
provide jobs for the residents.
He dismissed insinuations that he will sack teachers and local
government workers, saying his records had shown that he was never
an anti-worker governor.
Residents assured Fayemi that all the beneficiaries of his policies would
work for his success at polls.
Fayemi assured the people of adequate security before, during and after
the election.
State Chairman of APC, Chief Olajide Awe, urged supporters to mobilise
at the unit level and ensure they get their voter cards ready to vote on
election day.