By Mumini Abdulkareem
It was a rousing welcome for the Deputy Speaker of the Kwara State House of Assembly, Hon Matthew Okedare on Friday as no fewer than three hundred supporters dumped the opposition for the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Jebba, Moro Local Government of Kwara State.
The defection, which took place during a grand reception held in honour of the Deputy Speaker, who is representing Lanwa/Ejidongari constituency, involved decampees from three major political associations in the ward.
They cited various reasons for joining the ruling party, chief among which is the uncommon representation of Okedare since assumption of office.
The Coordinator, Jebba Youth Vanguard, Comrade Olanrewaju Jamiu, lamented that inspite of being active members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the past in Moro, none of them could point a finger to any benefit derived from APC individually or collectively.
Jamiu regretted that none of the series of electioneering campaign promises by the APC in 2015 have been fulfilled but the situation has reached a worrisome level on daily basis.
Similarly, the Leader, APC Labour Camp in Jebba, Mr. Godwin Pius said despite being in the opposition for over three years, Okedare has been a rallying point in the local government and never discriminate against them.
He pledged their unflinching support and maximum cooperation to the PDP towards achieving success both at the State and national levels in the 2019 general elections.
Receiving the decampees, the Deputy Speaker, while welcoming them to the party, noted that they have taken a wise decision by joining the PDP. He promised they would never regret their decisions.
The legislator, who promised to carry the decampees along in their programmes and political activities said that they would never be discriminated nor treated as second class members in the party.
He thanked the Constituents for their support and maximum cooperation over the years, adding it would spur him to further achieve more success for the people.
The Special Assistant Political to the Governor, Alhaji Toyin Olokoba also promised to carry them along in the scheme of things.
In his remark, Kwara North Senatorial chairman, Alhaji Isiaka Oniwa said the Deputy Speaker had distinguish himself among past and present representatives from Kwara North and called on others yet to do so to join the train. The Jebba PDP ward chairman, Muideen Bakare said the Deputy Speaker has done very well for the party and asked others to emulate him. The decampees, who showed their permanent voters card burnt their former party symbol, the broom.
