Crowds of politicians in Bayelsa yesterday besieged Samson Siasia Stadium in Yenagoa to witness the defection of over 70 chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party led by the State Chairman, Col. Sam Inokoba and the former Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Chief Timi Alaibe to the All Progressives Congress. At the reception, National Chairman of the APC, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun declared that with the quality of defectors into the party from the PDP in the state, the ruling party under the leadership of Governor Seriake Dickson has been decapitated.
Oyegun, who led national officials of the APC including the Deputy National Chairman and former Ekiti State governor, Chief Olusegun Oni to the stadium venue of the mega rally, said the defection of the PDP members in the state was unique and it has laid the party bare.
He said that the people of Bayelsa were making history for the South-South zone by defecting to the APC, stating that having seen the recklessness, under-performance and failure of the current government in the state, they should join Edo State by bringing Bayelsa back to the mainstream of politics.
In his speech, the leader of the APC in the state, former governor Timipre Sylva said his joy was fulfilled because the return of the defectors to the APC has reunited “brothers and sisters.
APC is complete. We have had too many divisions created by parochial people and our unity today gives evidence that we want to march forward as a team.” Sylva said that the failed administration of the PDP in the state has witnessed blood and sorrow including increased cases of political killings.
“They have blood on their hands. The creeks of Bayelsa have become impassable. Sea pirates have taken over the creeks and waterways. They claim they will provide us security, but we are only seeing the opposite.
The era of prosperity has come. Poverty will soon go away.” “The PDP has been decapitated at the national level. Development was not brought to us during their time in office. The East-West road was abandoned. If they claim we should vote for the PDP, they should show us road the built for us,” Earlier Alaibe said the defection of notable members of the PDP shows that they needed change in the state. “This is common sense revolution. It is not change for the sake of it.
We are changing from poverty to prosperity. We are changing from lies and deceit. We are changing from “Wayo,” he said. He lamented that a state as rich as Bayelsa cannot tolerate poverty.
“It is not our portion that our streets show poverty. How can one provide oil and gas and not benefit from it. Change has come to Bayelsa.” Also speaking at the occasion, Col. Sam Inokoba, said the PDP administration under the leadership of the Governor Dickson has witnessed misrule and “the Labour of our fore fathers have been rubbished. Bayelsa restoration has become retrogression. Bayelsa. PDP has become a Fuji House of Commotion.
Instead of development, we have witnessed disrespect to the elders in the state.” Reacting to the defection of the PDP Chairman, the Publicity Secretary of the party, Barr. Osom Makbere said his defection is of no effect to the party.
“It is good riddance to bad rubbish. We knew before now that he was working for the opposition party and that is why we insisted that he will not be returned as the chairman of our party. It is not a surprise to us.”
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