The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) on Thursday harvested tens of thousands of defectors from opposition political parties in Kwara State, in what observers say further underlines the popularity of Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq and his administration.
The defectors were led by dozens of erstwhile generals in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party, New Nigeria Peoples Party, African Democratic Congress, among others — all attesting to the “impressive performance” of the administration in education, healthcare, workers’ welfare, rural-urban infrastructural development, women and youth empowerment, and safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable.
The Banquet Hall Ilorin, the state capital — venue of the event — and its expansive precincts were filled to the brim as the defectors drawn from north, south and central districts of the state filed to the hall in a carnivalesque atmosphere.
They were received by AbdulRazaq alongside top government officials and party chieftains such as state APC Chairman, Sunday Fagbemi; and the Director General of the APC Campaign Organisation, Alhaji Yahaya Seriki; among others.
The big fishes among the defectors included former Deputy Speaker of the state House of Assembly, Hon. Mathew Okedare; former Commissioner for Tertiary Education, Barrister Abdullahi Alikinla; former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Engr Musa Yeketi; Personal Assistant to former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Political, Alhaji Hassan Gegele; PDP Women Leader in Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA), Adenike Ayilara; former Special Assistant to Senator Bukola Saraki on Domestic Affairs, Hon. Bolakale Ajanaku; Otunba Olabode Oyedepo popularly called Bode Deway; SDP House of Assembly aspirant from Offa LGA, Mr Ahmed Akorede; PDP House of Representatives aspirant for Asa/Ilorin West, Hon. Ahmed Bayero; Young Progressives Party Vice Chairman in Asa LGA, Hamzat Dolapo; Abu Jimoh; Bola Afolayan from Ekiti LGA; and Alhaji Abdullahi Sarumi.
Officially welcoming the defectors, AbdulRazaq congratulated the new members of APC for their decision and assured them of fairness and equal treatment.
“We welcome all the decampees and appreciate you for your conviction and your trust in our party. We are going to work together to achieve success. We will treat you all fairly as members of our party. As you can see, PDP is now empty. They only deploy social media to feign popularity.
“They came up with a slogan, O Suwa (We are fed up). They are truly shameless for comparing their 16 years to our three-and-a half years in office. They boast of constructing a fly over bridge at the Post Office (Ilorin). They are liars. They never told Kwarans that the Federal Government funded the project. The same thing applies to Ilesha Baruba – Chikanda Road construction and the airport.
“We are building huge projects with our own money as an administration while delivering basic amenities to our people, including workers’ welfare. We cannot entrust the future of our state to those who once ruined a bank. They will destroy our state, if we make that mistake. Let them know that you’re not tired of good government and steady spread of infrastructure across the state”, the Governor told the mammoth crowd.
AbdulRazaq listed some of his administration’s projects across sectors and enjoined the participants to remain resolute to deliver the state for APC at the polls.
On his part, Fagbemi said Kwarans have all seen the huge gap between the past and present administrations in terms of inclusive growth and good governance, and have vowed never to allow the state to go backward.
He said the comeback bid of PDP was evil and targeted at denying the citizens what they are already enjoying under AbdulRazaq, restating the government’s scorecards across sectors.
Seriki urged members of the party to remain determined to work for the success of the party.
“This is a party for everyone. We all own Kwara together and we must reward Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq for his hard work, dedication and exemplary leadership. Kwarans are not tired of measurable progress and development they see under this government. We will all come out en masse to campaign for the victory of APC”, he said.
Decampees took turns to explain why they left their parties to embrace APC, calling AbdulRazaq an architect of a new Kwara.
Okedare said they never knew that they were in darkness under the PDP-led administration until recently, attesting that AbdulRazaq has demonstrated the capacity to lead.
Yeketi said what the present administration has achieved within three-and-a-half years are enough to prove that AbdulRazaq means well for the state.
