By Kayode Adeoti
Last Saturday will remain indelible in the annals of democracy in Kwara state following the defection of over three thousand (3000) Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara South.
Among the defectors is notable PDP candidate for the last local government election in Oke-Ero, Asonibare Nathaniel Wale popularly known as Stone.
The Kwara South Senatorial Chairman, Alhaji Jimoh Balogun, while receiving the defectors at the council secretariat in Iloffa, reiterated that there is no opposition in the state and urged politicians to pursue common goals that will improve the lives of electorate in the state.
According to him, contrary to what the opposition will want people to believe, the APC is waxing stronger in the state adding that Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki remains the success of the party.
“What we are doing today is a symbol of democracy and one could see APC waxing stronger. We can all see the numbers of the decamped PDP members which I received on behalf of the Senate President. I’m impressed with today’s event; we have a good Senator in Kwara South who has been a pillar of progress and success for our party.
“What happened today showed that we have a structure which produced the Senate President, Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed and by God’s grace, the structure will produce someone who will succeed the incumbent. We have no opposition in the state.
Balogun however called on President Muhammad Buhari not to seek re-election in 2019 but go home and rest.
“The President should forget about 2019 but go home and rest. God has answered his prayers for this fourth time, after many attempts to win election.
“We all know the agony we went through when he was sick, in fact, some people said then that he was dead, we prayed fervently that God should revive him but I don’t think his health can take the second term.
One of the party elders in the council, Hon. Abraham Ashaolu however described the mass defection to the ruling party as a significant development that will increase numbers of APC followers in Idofin Igbana ward in the council.
“Those people were not with us before at Idofin Igbana but now that Ashonibare who hails from the area has joined us, we’ve gained the land for APC. And the process has also blocked any member decamping to PDP”, he added.
In his response, Ashonibare stressed that the need to achieve his mission for his people in the council instigated his defection and other members of the opposition party to the APC.
He said there is freedom of speech and expression and “If you cant beat them, you join them. A lot of things I want to do in Oke-Ero which I might not be able to achieve in the minority party, because, in PDP, we fight for zero goal, there is oppression. That’s why I decided to quit developing the state,” he said.
