Uncategorized
Over 1,000 PDP Supporters Defect to APC in Osun
By Alli Ibraheem
Not fewer than 1,000 supporters of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have defected to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) in Iwo, Osun State, ROYAL NEWS reports.
The PDP stalwarts publicly unveiled their defection at the multi-million empowerment program organized by Oluomo of Feesu, Iwo, Chief Diekola Ismail Adefowope (DIA) held at Iwo City Hall.
Leading his factional PDP supporters into APC, Ajao Muritala Olaleye populary called Rojae related his decision to join the party was occasioned by the impunity and lack of internal democracy associated with his former party (PDP). He pledged his unflinching support to the political dictates and ideologies of the All Progressive Congress that respect the rights of individual member.
The defection is a test of the political weight of Chief Adefowope as adjudged by many political commentators at the event.
The program recorded a huge turnout of politicians, traditional rulers, religious leaders, political groups, artisans and many serving executives and student leaders.
Iwo city hall was thrown to galore as the leaders of the Federation of Iwoland Students Union (FILSU) got a brand new Mistubushi L300 bus in the empowerment program.
The students could not hold their joy, persistently singing and chanting the eulogy of Oluomo in appreciation of the gesture.
Other materials donated across the three local governments of Iwo, Ayedire and Ola Oluwa includes: 35 grinding machines, 10 standing fans, 11 sewing machines, 2 public address system with amplifiers, 2 read made barbing chairs, 1 generator, I wheel chair, 500 pieces of torchlights among others were donated by Oluomo Feesu to the selected people of Iwo, Ayedire and Ola-Oluwa Local Governments.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Mudashiru Toogun, representing the Governor of the State of Osun, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, applauded Adefowope, saying his coming to the party is a testimony of the integrity of APC being a corrupt free political association. The governor said the major difference between APC and other political parties is corruption. He noted the Governor deliberately jettisoned meriments in order to satisfy the good people of Osun State. He therefore implored electorates to be resilient with Adefowope to get the mantle of power.
In his remarks, the chairman of the event, Ekerin of Iwo, Otunba Adebayo Aremu noted the gesture of Oluomo is a green light, saying the seat is won even before the contest. He said Diekola is God chosen to for Iwo and her people. He appealed to the governorship candidates from Iwoland to produce a consensus aspirant that can compete favourably with colleagues from other cities.
The APC chairman in Osun State, Prince Gboyega Famodun represented by Hon. Adeosun Razaq lauded Iwo constituency for a grand reception demonstrated during the last visit of Ogbeni to the constituency. He enjoined them to be more committed to the continuity of the ruling party to promote even distribution of dividends of democracy and ego as one of their certificates for membership of the ruling party.
The national president of the Jama`atul Ta`awun Islamic Organization of Nigeria, Sheik Daood Imran Molaasan, condemned the past political occurrence of people using a platform to mount power and join other party after elected. He expressed his optimism that the case of Oluomo will be different. He commended Adefowope for his rare generosity to procure and distribute relief materials of such quantity to the good people of his constituency.
Hon. Semiu Ayofe, the APC chairman in Iwo Local Government assured party loyalists that Adefowope has come to stay in the party.
Some traditional rulers at the event were the Onisara of Feesu HRM Oba Moshood Oparonke, Oloja of Agberire HRM Oba Alajide Jacob, Ologburo of Ogburo Oba Agboluaje Asimiyu and few others.
The Chief Imam of Iwo, Alhaji Fatai Olododo led other religious leaders to the event.
Adefowope, who is the Oluomo of FEESU land said the gesture was to complement the effort of Governor Rauf Aregbesola in his bid to eradicate poverty and violence occasioned by idleness.
Ninety three artisans drawn from the three local government areas that made up the Iwo Federal Constituency were also empowered with tools under the Adefowope Artisans Support Group.
The artisans that benefited from the empowerment include carpenters, bricklayers, shoemakers, welders, vulcanisers, hairdressers, barbers, painters, mechanics and tailors among others.
Adefowope who said a sum of N10 million was expended on the programme said the empowerment was also a step aimed at ensuring that people in his constituency are living a good life.
“We believe that a lot of students should be assisted with some financial support and artisans also be empowered to feed their families.
“There are some artisans who are very good at their work after finishing their apprenticeship programmes, but are handicapped financially to purchase the implements needed to actualise their goals.
He said that merit was used to choose the beneficiaries, not minding political inclinations.
However, impressed by the philanthropic gestures of Adefowope, no fewer than two hundred members from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), decamped to APC during the empowerment programme.
Led by Mr Muri Abdulrasaq Rojaye and Imam Hammed Saafin, the decampees said the decision to join APC came on the heel of the philanthropic gestures of Adefowope, adding that only APC has the interest of masses in mind in terms of social-economic development.
Mrs Idowu Olawale, a tailor who was presented a sewing machine, said: “I am highly impressed; I will use it to fend for myself and family, I thank the honourable.”
Contact: info@royalnews.com.ng