A former Minister of State for Works, Mr. Chris Ogiemwonyi, 26 Palace Chiefs in Benin Kingdom and over 2,500 others yesterday decamped from the Peoples Democratic party into the All Progressives Congress.
Benin City literarily stood still as supporters of the decamping former Minister and Palace Chiefs at the Urhokpota Hall held a carnival at the heart of the City.
Also, 26 Palace Chiefs under the aegis of Odolebho Chiefs Association from Edo South declared their support for the All Progressive Congress.
Speaking on the occasion, the former Minister said, “when I pitched my tent with the PDP some years ago, I was with the genuine expectation that it was a platform that will truly enable me continue my service to humanity and that it will truly return power to the people as the power depicts.
“PDP has continued the impoverishment of our people. The PDP have continued to lead us to perdition and the unreformed, anti-people and undemocratic Peoples Democratic Party has set us on the path of retrogression.
“15 years of uninterrupted PDP national administration has woefully failed to approximate the expectations, dreams and yearnings of Nigerians. After very deep retrospection and wide consultation, I have come to the inevitable conclusion that I must join hands with the purposeful leadership of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole to help consolidate in the monumental transformation in all sphere being witnessed ion Edo State.
“My supporters and I have therefore decided to publicly renounce our membership of the PDP and to formally embrace the Party that is destined to bring positive change and development to Nigeria”.
Paying glowing tribute to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Ogiewonyi said, “The signposts of development are visible for all to see. Across the 192 wards of Edo State, Solid standard school buildings with red roofs have brought resurgence to our educational system. Massive roads constructions of international standards have confounded critics.”
Receiving Ogiewonyi and his supporters into the APC fold, Governor Oshiomhole said, “I want to welcome you to our great party. You haven’t come because of your personal stomach infrastructure. You have been inspired by sheer determination to join the Progressive political machinery that is in business only for the purpose of adding value to the lives of Edo people. You are concerned about the failed past and you are inspired by the quality development of the moment and you are committed to ensuring that governance is properly delivered.
“We need to filter out those who represent the forces of darkness and the politics of share the money to those who believe in the politics of ‘develop the state’ and uplift the people. I know you will bring on board additional resourcefulness which every organisation needs to face the challenges of the future.
Taking a swipe at the PDP, Oshiomhole said: “Like the Esogban of Benin Kingdom said, the amount of reparation which PDP have to do to this generation of Edo People will take them more than a 100years to do. If anybody imagined what has happened in this state for 6 years, then you can better calculate how much they stole from the treasury of this state and how many miles they set us back in terms of where we are supposed to be.”
Oshiomhole said in spite of the massive support given to the President in the last Presidential election, Edo People have nothing to show for it. “The erosion caused by PDP at Queen Ede has destroyed the School, the Catholic Church, rendered many hopeless and killed many of our people.
“In Auchi, erosion has swept out many houses and killed several others. They shared the ecological money and gave no dime to the people of Auchi. In Esan Central and Esan West, erosion has destroyed so many houses yet PDP produced most of its leaders from Edo Central and yet they have done nothing.”
