Yenagoa, Bayelsa
State capital was brought to a standstill, yesterday, as thousands besieged the
Samson Siasia Stadium to witness the formal declaration of over 70 leaders of
the Peoples Democratic Party, led by the embattled state Chairman, Col Sam
Inokoba (rtd), and a former Managing
Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission NDDC, Timi Alaibe, for the
All Progressives Congress APC.
Others who dumped
the PDP include the immediate past senator representing Bayelsa West, Heneiken
Lokpobiri; former Acting Governors Nestor Binabo and Werinipre Seibarugu; Senator
John Brambaifa; Senator Clever Ikisipo; a
former House of Representatives member, Dr. Stella Dorgu; a former NDDC Chairman, Prof. Tarila Tebepah;
and a former Reps member – Christopher
Enai.
APC chairman,
John Oyegun receiving former NDDC chairman Timi Alaibe and others into the APC
yesterday in Yenagoa.
APC chairman,
John Oyegun receiving former NDDC chairman Timi Alaibe and others into the APC
yesterday in Yenagoa.
They were
received by the National Chairman of the APC,, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun at a
carnival like rally dubbed Mega Rally held at the Samson Siasia Stadium.
Oyegun declared
that with the quality of defectors into the APC, the ruling PDP, under the leadership
of Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State, had been decapitated.
The APC
Chair said the mass defection will go
down as a milestone in the state political calendar as it marked the freedom of
Bayelsans from bad governance and impunity.
While handing
over the broom symbol of the party to the decampees, he said the APC was not a
party for money sharing but “it is a party for prosperity.
Party faithful at
the defection of PDP bigwigs into the APC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
Party faithful at
the defection of PDP bigwigs into the APC in Yenagoa, Bayelsa.
In his speech,
the leader of the state APC and former Governor Timipre Sylva said his joy was
full due to the fact that the return of the decampees to the APC had reunited
brothers and sisters.
Earlier, Alaibe said the defection showed the needed change in Bayelsa.
“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’.
“A state as rich
as Bayelsa can not 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.”