By Ojotule Romanus
The Vice President of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, led a powerful delegation of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Chieftains, to welcome former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada and others to the party.
Shettima arrived Lokoja on Monday in company of other APC bigwigs including the National Chairman, Professor Nentawe Yilwatda, to officially welcome the defectors into the ruling party.
Other high profile politicians that defected during the ceremony include: Former Deputy Governorship candidate under the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Hon. Sam Abenemi, former Deputy Speaker, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Emmanuel Omebije, former Chairman of Ibaji Local Government Area, Hon. Abraham Uchola along with thousands of their supporters.
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The lists of decampees also includes, former representative for Dekina/Bassa Federal Constituency in Kogi State, Hon. Hassan Baiwa, current member representing Ogori/Magongo State Constituency, Kogi State House of Assembly members, Hon. Bode Ogunmola- Ogori Magongo Constituency, Bassa State Constituency, Hon. Sunday Daku and the lawmaker representing Yagba West State Constituency, Hon Ibikunle Idowu.
Alhaji Alfa Ibn Mustapha, Dr. Yakubu Ugwolawo, Hon. John Adele, Hon Abubarkar Rajaab, Hon. Atule Egbunu, and hosts of others were some of the prominent defectors at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, residents of Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, were captivated on Monday as Vice President Kashim Shettima, formally received former Governor Idris Wada and his teeming supporters into the APC at an elaborate ceremony.
The decamping ceremony was witnessed by a vibrant crowd of supporters who had trooped to the venue, Muhammed Buhari Civic Cente, in their thousands in solidarity with the APC in the state.
While welcoming the decampees, the Vice President, described the large turnout of the people as a testament to the fact that the people were in tune with the programmes of the Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo led administration.
According to the Vice President, the gail of defection being witnessed across the country was a reflection of the good leadership qualities of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who he said, has pleged to build a political hub that brings together progressive minds.
“We are here to celebrate the Confluence of progressives who have chosen unity over suspicious and stability over perpetual conflicts”.
He also used the occasion to applaud the Kogi State Governor for the numerous achievements recorded by his administration.
In his remarks, Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Odoodo, said the defection of former Governor Idris Wada and others was a strong indication that the opposition political parties have been crushed in the state emphasasing that,” this is not about winning elections but about unfolding our party’s agenda to make Nigeria a true giant”.
Governor Ododo further added that the achievements of the APC led Federal Government was already collapsing opposition at the various levels, and that Nigerians now view the ruling party as a movement for development.
He restated his administration’s commitment to providing dividends of democracy to the people of the state rather than engaging in noise on the social media. This is even as he emphasised that his government was intentional and very strategic in positioning Kogi State for national reckoning.
“My assignment is to serve sincerely and make available dividends of democracy to the people of Kogi State and not noise making. When you are working, you don’t talk. We are working and we are very busy. Those making noise on the social media are not working, it is their job to make noise and it is our job to serve our people and impact the lives of our people” he further added.
Governor Ododo highlighted the fact that just few months after assumption of office, his administration was been able to achieve a lot in terms of addressing educational, health, agriculture needs as well as provision of other basic amenities to the people.
“In terms of projects, we are 90 percent completion in the sense of our tertiary institutions. Today, across the 21 Local Government Areas and the 239 wards of the state, we are making impact. We are constructing internal roads, township road, primary health care centers and of course, the Kogi State Audit House is completed, the Kogi State Treasury House is 85 percent completion.
“These achievements are not voice note but real; Oganeinugu- Oloku road in Dekina LGA, Bagana-Abujukolo road in Omala LGA, Odenyi-Oguma-Sheria road in Bassa LGA, Olubojo- Ojogba-Abocho road, Odu Ogboyaga- Anyigba-Agala road, Idah township road, Egbe township road, Mopamuro township road and many more.
“Just recently, we commissioned over 80 Primary Health Care Centers across the state. The design for our Airport has been completed and very soon, the procurement process will commence, the President has just granted approval for our Free Trade Zone and investors are already online to collaborate with us to unlock our potentials as the way to our nation’s prosperity”.
Governor Ododo then commended President Tinubu for his reforms and policies which he said have provided more resources for the states to perform, stressing that “voting for president Tinubu remains best decision Nigerians have made”.
Earlier, former Kogi State Governor, Captain Idris Wada, who spoke on behalf of other decampees, enumerated several reasons for their defections, stressing that the APC has shown that it is a party that could lead Nigeria in the right direction.
” So on behalf of other decampees, I thank you for welcoming us, we assure you that we will merge into APC and bring progress to our communities”. Wada further assured the people.
