Kwara APC welcomes defectors from PDP, SDP, ADC, others

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2 years ago

Ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara state on Thursday welcomed defectors from opposition political parties in Ilorin, the state capital.

The defectors were led by erstwhile stalwarts in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Social Democratic Party, NNPP, and African Democratic Congress, among others.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary CPS to the governor, Rafiu Ajakaye, said that the defectors attested to the performance of the APC administration in education, healthcare, workers’ welfare, rural-urban infrastructural development, women and youth empowerment, and safety nets for the poor and the vulnerable.

The statement also said that the defectors were drawn from the north, south and central districts of Kwara state.

“They were received by Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq alongside several top government officials and party chieftains such as Kwara APC chairman, Sunday Fagbemi; and Director General of the APC Campaign, Alhaji Yahaya Seriki; among others.

“Among the defectors included former Deputy Speaker Kwara State House of Assembly under PDP Hon. Mathew Okedare; former Commissioner for Tertiary Education under PDP Barrister Abdullahi Alikinla; former Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology Engr Musa Yeketi; Personal Assistant to the former Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Political (PAPOL) Alhaji Hassan Gegele;
PDP Women Leader in Ifelodun LG Adenike Ayilara; former Special Assistant to Senator Bukola Saraki on Domestic Hon. Bolakale Ajanaku;
Otunba Olabode Oyedepo popularly called Bode Deway; SDP House of Assembly aspirant from Offa Mr Ahmed Akorede; PDP House of Rep aspirant for Asa/Ilorin West Hon. Ahmed Bayero; YPP Vice Chairman in Asa Hamzat Dolapo; Abu Jimoh Plumber; Bola Afolayan from Ekiti LG; and Alhaji Abdullahi Sarumi, among others.

Officially welcoming the defectors, Abdulrazaq congratulated the new members of APC for their decision and assured the decampees 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,” he said.

“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. 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 administrator 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 mentioned some of his administration’s scorecards across sectors and enjoined the participants to remain resolute to deliver the State for APC at the polls.

Fagbemi, for his part, 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 the PDP was evil and targeted at denying the citizens what they are already enjoying under AbdulRazaq, restating the government’s scorecards across sectors.

Director General of Kwara APC Campaign Council Alhaji Yahaya 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 the 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.

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