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Obanikoro defects to PDP
•AD gives 30-day ultimatum for him to surrender
mandate
By Adetutu Folasade-Koyi
and Paul Mumeh, Abuja
Senator Musiliu Obanikoro on Thursday formally defected from
the Alliance for Democracy (AD) to the ruling PDP, citing factionalisation of
the party as his reason.
But, the Alliance for Democracy (AD) promptly handed down a
30-day ultimatum to him, to either surrender his mandate or face the
consequences. Obanikoro,
representing Lagos Central Senatorial District, described his decision as
“painful,” and attributed his defection to the PDP on Lagos
State’s endless confrontation and grandstanding with the federal
government on key national issues, which has denied the state the much-needed
patronage and development.
In a notice of defection to the PDP, read by Senate President,
Chief Adolphus Wabara, during Thursday's sitting, Obanikoro said: ``Giving the
endless confrontation between Lagos State and the federal government, which has
largely led to the deterioration of infrastructure and consequently put my
constituents at disadvantage, and whereby those who have contrary views and
opinions are alienated and unjustly victimised in the party, I have decided to
join the PDP. Thus, I hereby cease to be a member of the AD.”
Obanikoro said that well over 50 per cent of the state's
infrastructure were federal government’s, he said politics of confrontation on key local and national
issues would not move the state forward.He added that the party had been
divided along factional lines which not only weakened it, but glaringly contributed
to its instability.
AS soon as the letter was read, jubilant PDP members led by
Sen. Udo Udoma, Senate Leader, Sen. Dalhatu Tafida and Sen. Tawar Wada, led the
defector from the opposition ranks to the PDP section amidst boos from the
opposition members. He was then invited by Wabara for a handshake, which
instead became a warm embrace.
Briefing newsmen later, Obanikoro, who was flanked by
Minister of Works, Chief Adeseye Ogunlewe and Presidential Liaison Officer to
the National Assembly, Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa, said that his loyalty was to
Lagos state and he must ensure that the interest of the state was not
short-changed.
``The party in-charge in Lagos does not believe in
constructive engagement,'' he said, adding that the lofty ideals of the founding
fathers of the state had lost their novelty.
Also speaking, Ogunlewe, who himself defected to the PDP in
the last senate, said that almost every ethnic group in Nigeria had a stake in
Lagos. ``Where they are sharing the cake of this country, my state should be
there,'' he stated.
Sen. Ita-Giwa, described Obanikoro's defection as ``a
welcome development.''
Handing down the AD ultimatum, Senator Tokunbo Afikuyomi, in
company of House of Representative members from Lagos Central Senatorial
District said Obanikoro “has only 30 days to surrender his mandate.
Failure to do so, appropriate legal proceedings will commence against
him”.
We have always obeyed the constitution and we will not go
outside the constitution to achieve our aim.
To Senator Olorunnimbe Mamora, Obanikoro’s defection
is akin to “someone who is joining a party that is only waiting for
undertakers.”
But Afikuyomi
described Obanikoro’s move as “a man in purdah who has finally been
unveiled. Obanikoro has been a member of the party since last year and he was
sent by the PDP to spy on us at the party’s National Convention six weeks
ago. We should distinguish between political opportunism and political
reality.”
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