Ex Ekiti Governor ,Segun Oni Leaves PDP For APC

 

Former Governor Segun Oni of Ekiti State, has finally dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), for the All Progressives Congress (APC) and has also pledged to work for the success of the APC candidate, Dr Kayode Fayemi, in the June 21 governorship election in the state.

Oni’s next political move had remained a source of speculation in the state over the weeks but on Monday, during a visit to him at his Ifaki-Ekiti home by the Fayemi campaign train, he unveiled his intention to defect to APC after rejecting to work with former Governor Ayo Fayose, the candidate of the PDP in the election.

In 2009, Oni had also refused to work with Fayose in the governorship rerun, an election which eventually led to his removal as governor by the court in 2010; and said he decided to resolve his differences with Fayemi, having considered him “the best option for Ekiti, at this critical time.”

Oni said: “Today, we are erecting a new platform to build the future for Ekiti. To us, the future is paramount in our hearts and what our children would say about us. Though, we might have a past that was rough, but we have to let the past be past. We must think of who can take the right decisions for us to build a prosperous future for Ekiti.

Some of the Oni’s loyalists, including former Commissioner for Information, Mr Taiwo Olatunbosun, who also recently defected to the APC; ex-Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Abiodun Bamiteko, former Commissioner for Lands, Mr Kayode Babade, a serving member of House of Assembly, Mrs Bunmi Oriniowo, former Majority leader, Mr Lai Oke and ex-Special Adviser on Strategy, Mr Ben Oguntuase, were among those at the interaction.

An excited Governor Fayemi said on the occasion that Oni’s intention to join the party was a lesson to the country that leadership was about the people and should not be seen from a narrow perspective, saying what fascinated him about Oni was the fact that “he could not be accused of lacking in integrity, character and respect for the people.”

Meanwhile, the PDP in reaction to the development said it was not bothered because Oni had decided to follow his conscience and that his defection is of no consequence at this level in the election.

The party, which reacted through its acting Zonal Secretary, Chief Banji Obasanmi, said “Oni’s defection is of no consequence because it can’t affect the fortunes of the party in the forthcoming governorship election whether in Ekiti or Osun states.

Obasanmi said Oni had followed his conscience in the coming dispensation and noted that no one can stop him from following his heart.

He charged the people of the state to remain “steadfast in their support for the PDP in the coming election,” saying “the PDP is the only party that can bring the desired change to Ekiti irrespective of whatever lies and propaganda that they peddle as we work towards victory.”

According to the PDP chief, “the Ekiti people had already decided their direction in the election and it is too late for any other party to latch unto lies and deceit to confuse the people.”