Former Minister of State for Defence, Sen. Musiliu Obanikoro, on Saturday officially decamped from the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC.
The ex-Minister’s defection at his Lagos Island constituency ended months of speculations about the status of his political allegiance.
He defected to the APC along with other PDP bigwigs in the state, including a former aide of former president, Goodluck Jonathan, Modupe Sasore.
Others are a national officer of the PDP, Jide Damazio, and another PDP chieftain, Chief Kola Balogun.
The decampees were received by chieftains of APC, including the state chairman, Chief Henry Ajomale; Alhaji Kashim Imam, Chief James Odunbaku as well as the Attorney General of Lagos State, Adeniji Kazeem who represented the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.
Ajomale who presented the APC flag to Obanikoro and others, said the coming of the former minister and others meant the opposition was totally dead in the state.
He said, “We are happy to receive Obanikoro back in our fold. He was with us when we started the Alliance for Democracy (AD) but he decided to go the other way.
“Thank God he has realised his mistake and he is back. We are indeed happy to get back this big fish, along with others.
“Obanikoro is an asset and he will no doubt add value to our party.”
Speaking, Obanikoro pointed out that he was happy to return to the fold of his age-long political associates after his long sojourn in the PDP.
According to him, there was no fulfilment in the PDP.
He said he joined the ruling party because he had a mission to render service on its platform.
“Today, I and others are not just joining the APC for joining sake, we are joining because we are on a mission.
“I had joined the PDP a few years ago with the hope that certain things would be done right to enable me make the desired impact. That did not happen.
“And now, Asiwaju Tinubu has taken leadership to another level, not only in the state, but at the national level.
“So, my joining the APC is not by accident. It is to return to my people and seek a platform on which I can render service to my people, because leadership is about service and co-ordination of talents to achieve results.
“We have looked everywhere, and the only party that offers that platform for service delivery is the APC.
“For me, this is not really a defection; it is a home-coming, because in a way, this is my root. I am happy to return to my people; no place like home,” he said.
“I thank Tinubu for his magnanimity. I am here because he is generous and has a forgiving heart. If it were other leaders, they will say ‘God forbid.’
“He has accepted me back despite all the issues between us, I am grateful to him.”
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