While the All Progressive Congress, APC was busy with its flag-off campaign in Otukpo for the forthcoming senatorial rerun, various youths and opinion leaders from Ogbadibo Local government area have clamped down on the former deputy Governor of Benue State, Steven Lawani and former Minister of State for Education, Jerry Agada who were reported to have crossed from PDP to the APC at the Otukpo rally.
This is even as the two major stakeholders in Ogbadibo PDP, Rt. Hon. Joe Ojobo of the Benue House of Assembly and Rt. Hon. Hassan Saleh had come out to refute the claims that they too were part of the decampees today in Otukpo.
The duo of Lawani and Agada, elders of the PDP who have greatly benefited from the party decided to abandon the umbrella party for the broom; the decision which does not go down well with the youths in Ogbadibo who believe “the elders are playing politics with our heads”
When the news filtered in this morning, the less pretentious Youths could not hold back their anger as each and everyone of them registered their displeasure over what they termed “political prostitution” of the said elders.
“They are just Political Prostitutes who are decamping only for their selfish interests. Imagine Lawani looking for another juice, after all he has amassed for himself”, Jerome Idoko, a Youth Activist from Owukpa said.
A renowned Movie Director cum Producer with the Nollywood and Otukpa born social Activist, Comrade Johnson Manex has this to say, ” How could an old man that brought disunity among Otukpa sons and daughters jump out of a Political party where he served as deputy Governor for 8 years? They are greedy men! Also look at Jerry Agada who served as Minister for some years without anything to show for it.”
“If APC was a party for good people, should a man like Lawani be accepted into the party”? Akola Okewu Sunday asked rhetorically.
Emmanuel Ekele James also expressed his disappointment, ” The purpose for their defection is for their own personal aggrandisement and not any genuine reason that could transform the common people for a better tomorrow. They only want their names to be mentioned among those calling for meetings.”
On his part, Mr. Achigili Ikwu was of the opinion that they were scared of being probed; thus, they are looking for soft landing in the APC.
Mr. Adonaid David affirmed, “These are persons that have lost their popularity and there is no one following them again, aside their immediate family members. These are the people that contributed greatly to the chaos we are facing currently in Idoma land. They are political job seekers who lost touch with the people while they were in power!
When contacted on phone, former Secretary of Ogbadibo PDP and SSA to Governor Gabriel Suswam, Hon. Sunday Idoko said he had no reason whatsoever to defect to APC as he would rather stay in his party and rebuild it.
Hon. Akor Igoche, former LG Exco of the party and a grassroots mobiliser posited that the exit of Lawani and Agada from the Ogbadibo PDP was not a threat to the party but a favourable expedition as their exit would help sanitise PDP in Ogbadibo.
Another Youths Activist and grassroots mobiliser from Ogbadibo, Christian Akogwu expressed disappointment over the defection of the duo whom he described as greatest beneficiaries of the PDP led government and political magnanimity of Senator Mark.
” Well, nothing spoil! After all, both Lawani and Agada have always been losing their wards to opposition parties even when they were in power in PDP, ” Akogwu enthused.
It could be recalled that the flag off for the Benue south senatorial rerun was held today in Otukpo by the APC where the national Chairman, John Oyegun was said to have welcomed Chief Steven Lawani and Dr. Jerry Agada into the APC.
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