A one time governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ondo State, Chief Olusola Oke today officially defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Oke, who declared officially to APC at the party Secretariat in Akure, the State Capital said he had surrendered himself as part of the instrument to be used in transforming the country.
The former PDP chieftain, who was received by the Deputy Governor of the State, Alhaji Olanusi, the State Chairman and its deputy, Isaac Kekemeke and Engr. Ade Adetimehin, Senator Ajayi Boroffice among others led over 10,000 PDP members to APC.
Prominent among the defectors were, Abayomi Shaba, Mrs. Oladunni Odu, former Head of Service, Olajide Ajana Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, Mr. Ayo Fayefunmi, former Head of service, Alaba Isijola and House of Representatives member, Hon. Albert Akintoye, among others.
Oke noted that he did not join the APC just because President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election but because he wanted the wind of change blowing around to also change the present administration in Ondo State.
He said “I have passionately resisted to be part of this change; I resisted the wind of change that was blowing until, it almost blew me out. Now, I have surrendered, I can’t resist any more.
“I have come over not because PDP lost election, but I have come over because the wind of change blowing across Nigeria must blow over Ondo State. Let me commend you leaders for your courage, boldness in bringing about this change. In Ondo State, I know what you people have gone through because the forces of darkness want the status quo to remain.
“We have come to add value, we are not here to change anything but value. In 2012, when I took the courage to challenge the status quo, I titled my campaign rescue mission. The APC has promised a platform for that rescue for Ondo State.
“No power of darkness will stop change from coming to Ondo State. Ondo State is the poorest state in the south west and we have no reason to be poor, because we have everything in Ondo State, but our problem is lack of good leadership, lack of vision by those who have the privilege to preside over our affairs.
“They changed a good government and replaced it with bad government and today there is penury in the land, deceit, unemployment. No industry, no employment, no job, no contract are being awarded and what we have is broken promises, deception and corruption at its peak.
“Olokola that was supposed to bring the desired change to the State was killed. The last time, I met Baba Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Baba said his priority is for the revival of Olokola in Ondo State. Mr. Chairman, we have come to join you so that this can be accomplished.
“Our believe is that for Ondo state to grow, you must open up the coastal resources and the forest resources. Today, what we have is replacement of priority. What is the meaning of mega primary school? It has no useful purpose. I called it Mega nonsense and they were querelling with me and today, I call it mega wastage.
“What we see in Ondo state is debts, no project is going on and our money is being taking to Abuja on weekly basis to be a good boy in Abuja. I am happy that the priority of Mr. President elect is to fight corruption”.
Responding, the Deputy Governor urged the party members and the newly defected politicians to work hard and ensure they repeat the same record they got during the presidential election.
Kekemeke said he believed that they were coming together to do one thing- “to rescue the state from one man who believes he is smarter than others”.
“The Igbotako accord is that we must all come together to put an end to the looting. Today, we have another accord which is great Ondo accord.
“Today, he is shedding crocodile tears and we must not be deceived. He runs the State as if there is no House of Assembly, this is not acceptable to us. We must quickly make sure we put an end to that.
“We are expecting nothing less than 25 percent to the additional strength of the party from our new members. We must come together against one man who believes he is the best in all things”.
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