A former Minister of State for Defence, Sen.Musiliu Obanikoro, on Saturday in Lagos finally dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Obanikoro’s defection at his Lagos Island constituency ended months of speculations approximately the popularity of his political allegiance. There have been earlier reviews that he had settled his differences with the national leader of APC, Chief Bola Ahmed Tinubu, as a step to becoming a member of the ruling party.
Though Obanikoro acknowledged reconciliation with Tinubu, he had neither denied nor showed plans to sign up for his political mentor in APC. He, but, ultimately gave the trace of his defection during a television interview on Thursday.
Obanikoro defected to the APC at the side of other PDP bigwigs within the kingdom, inclusive of a former aide of former president Good good fortune Jonathan, Mrs. Modupe Sasore.
Others are a countrywide officer of the PDP, Mr. Jide Damazio, and some other PDP chieftain, Chief Kola Balogun. They have been received through chieftains of APC, together with the state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; Alhaji Kashim Imam, Chief James Odunbaku in addition to the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem who represented Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode.
Past and serving members of the National Assembly which include Sen. Ganiyu Solomon, Sen. Gbenga Ashafa, and Rep. Jide Jimoh were among APC bigwigs present. Presenting the APC flag to Obanikoro and others, Ajomale said the coming of the former minister and others supposed the opposition become absolutely dead inside the kingdom.
He defined Obanikoro as politically skilled and sagacious and said his becoming a member of the birthday party might no doubt upload to the electoral fortune of the birthday party in the kingdom. “We are glad to get hold of Obanikoro again in our fold. He turned into with us when we commenced the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but he decided to head the opposite manner.
“Thank God he has realized his mistake and he’s back. We are indeed glad to get lower back this huge fish, at the side of others. “Obanikoro is an asset and he’ll no question add cost to our party,’’ he stated. Obanikoro, in his speech, stated he become satisfied to return to the fold of his age-lengthy political pals after his long sojourn in the PDP.
He stated he defected because he couldn’t discover achievement inside the PDP and he joined the ruling celebration because he had a task to render provider on its platform. The ex-minister stated his former party couldn’t offer him the platform for the kind of carrier he desired to render. “Today, I and others aren’t just becoming a member of the APC for becoming a member of sake, we are joining because we’re on a project.
“I had joined the PDP a few years in the past with the hope that positive things might be carried out properly to permit me to make the desired impact. That did not occur. “And now, Asiwaju Tinubu has taken management to another stage, not handiest in the state, however on the countrywide degree. “So, my becoming a member of the APC is not with the aid of accident.
It is to go back to my human beings and searching for a platform on which I can render carrier to my people, due to the fact management is set provider and coordination of capabilities to attain effects. “We have appeared anywhere, and the most effective party that gives that platform for service transport is the APC.
“For me, this is not truly a defection; it’s miles a home-coming, due to the fact in a way, that is my root. I am satisfied to go back to my human beings; no vicinity like home,” he stated. Obanikoro praised the management style of Tinubu, which he stated had ensured the development of the kingdom.
He thanked Tinubu for being magnanimous to just accept him back into the fold after years of altercations between them. “I thank Tinubu for his magnanimity. I am right here because he is beneficial and has a forgiving heart. If it were other leaders, they will say ‘God forbid’.
“He has ordinary me back notwithstanding all of the problems among us, I am thankful to him,” Obanikoro said. The former minister said he we’d do his excellent to add value to his new celebration. Also, Sasore and Balogun took turns to thank the party for permitting them into the fold.
They stated they could not find success in PDP hence, the selection to join APC. The duo promised to do their fine to make sure APC progresses inside the nation. Imam, in his remark, stated the celebration turned into glad to receive Obanikoro and others.
He stated the defection intended the party turned into the best celebration within the kingdom, as it marked the end of PDP. The National Vice-Chairman of the APC (South West), Chief Puis Akinyelure, who represented Tinubu, said the birthday party became happy with the home-coming of Obanikoro and others He said the defection intended the PDP changed into dead as Obanikoro turned into certainly one of its pillars in the nation.
A carnival-like rite of birthday celebration devoted danced and sang to get hold of Obanikoro and the others. A popular Fuji musician, Wasiu Ayinde Marshal, changed into available to delight those gifts. (NAN)