In a carnival-like event on Sunday in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, political loyalists of late Senator Buruji Kashamu and former gubernatorial aspirant of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in Ogun state, Otunba Jimi Lawal, dumped the party and it’s gubernatorial candidate, Ladi Adebutu, and endorsed the second term ambition of the governor of the state, Prince Dapo Abiodun.
The groups said that they pulled out of the PDP to support the second term bid of Governor Abiodun due to the intra-party crisis rocking the PDP, which has led to over 160 litigations in court.
Leading the defectors, drawn from the 236 wards in the state, to the All Progressives Congress, APC, on Sunday, Hon. Ola Kukoyi, otherwise known as ‘Kosigiri,’ after the fallout of the PDP governorship primary which produced Hon. Adebutu as the party’s governorship candidate.
Speaking at Itoko, in Abeokuta South Local Government Area, Kukoyi noted that the group, with a strength running into thousands across the state, was determined to ensure that Abiodun’s second term ambition became a reality.
Stressing that Jimi Lawal remains the most qualified aspirant to lead the party, but was rigged out by some bad eggs in the PDP, Kukoyi said that the group no longer saw a future with the PDP in the state, with over 160 unresolved court cases, adding that they can all see for themselves that Governor Abiodun remained the best candidate that the state would need for continued prosperity.
The PDP chieftain, who also commended the governor for embarking on the infrastructural development of the state, acknowledged his contributions towards the construction of an airport in the state.
He said, “When our leader died, we decided we couldn’t be looking, we searched for a candidate that is presentable for the state, we picked Jimi Adebisi Lawal, we all know what is happening both from the national to the state level of the PDP.
“The party is filled with legal matters, we have over 160 cases in court and that can’t take us anywhere, we’ve been out of government for over 16 years now, and we are all seeing the good things you’ve been doing.
“We can all see that since the state was created, the plane has not landed here before, and just last week, we saw two planes landing here in Ogun State, well done, sir.
“We now decided to stand behind a person who means well for our state and therefore, we decided that the Joshua of our time, who will lead us to the Promised Land is Prince Dapo Abiodun.”
Responding, Governor Abiodun, while welcoming his endorsement by the PDP factions, noted that he would look out for their success.
He assured them that they would be duly recognized and accepted by the APC in the state when they eventually defect, adding that they would not regret their decision.
Urging them to talk to their people on the need to come out and vote him for the continued prosperity of the state, Abiodun noted that his second term would continue to ensure the development of the state.
Notable among the detectors are: Alhaji Fasiu Ajadi, Chief Kola Adeyemi, former state Women Leader of PDP, Barr. Bimbo Balogun, Hon. Kazeem Akorede Daodu from Ado-Odo-Ota, Alhaji Moruf Olajide, PDP Chairman, Abeokuta South, Chief Muyiwa Ojebiyi, PDP Chairman, Obafemi Owode Local Government, among others.
In a related development, a House of Representatives aspirant in Abeokuta South, Akeem Amosun, and his teeming supporters have unanimously endorsed Governor Abiodun for second term in office.
Speaking at an event in Idi-Aba area of Abeokuta, where he and his supporters met with the governor, Amosun said his supporters are made up of mainly traders, artisans and civil servants, who are not politicians, promising to deliver 50,000 votes to the governor in the governorship election.
Governor Abiodun, in his response, lauded them for the trust reposed in him, calling on them to impress it on their friends, family members, and colleagues to vote the APC on March 11.
