12th November, 2014
Abiodun Onafuye/Abeokuta
Residents of Ogun state, Southwest, Nigeria have been reacting to the decision of some lawmakers in the state who defected from one party to another.
Eight lawmakers had yesterday officially announced their defection from their party to other political parties.
Three lawmakers from the Peoples Party of Nigeria, PPN dumped the party and joined the Peoples Democratic Party,PDP.
The lawmakers are Joseph Adegbesan (Ijebu North 2), Salmon Adeleke (Imeko Afon) and John Obafemi (Remo North).
Another two from the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, Hon. Pastor Remmy Hazzan (Odogbolu) and Femi Olowo-Oloja representing Ijebu East Constituency have moved to the PDP making the number of those that defected to PDP.
The remaining three are those that switched from APC to newly founded Social Democratic Party,SDP.
They are the Chairman, House Committee on Youths, Sports and Employment Generation, who is also a Board member of the Nigeria Hockey Federation, Hon.Wilfred Olufemi Allen-Taylor (Abeokuta South 2); Hon. (Arch.) Oludaisi Elemide (Odeda) and the second female lawmaker in the House, Elizabeth Anifowose, who is representing Obafemi-Owode constituency.
In all, the APC still has the highest number of members in the House with 13 members, followed closely by the PDP with 10 members and SDP with three members, totalling 26.
Reacting to the development, an aspirant on the platform of the APC for the State House of Assembly seat, Ifo 2, Yeye Sobra Omowunmi Sogbamimu disclosed that the defection will have no effect on the victory of the governor in 2015.
She is optimistic that the achievements of the governor in the last three and half years where he and his team have turned the state to an industrial hub of the nation will earn him victory at the polls. She noted that the infrasructural development going on in all three Senatorial District of the state will be enough for the governor and the party to win again convincingly in the next general elections.
“I don’t see the defection as having any negative effects on the governor’s victory and the party’s success in 2015. We should all remember that Amosun’s victory in 2015 will surprise many people and that has been perfcted and sealed by the Most High.
“We are in the era of cross-carpeting by politicians to achieve their political thirst but my belief is that a gold fish has no hiding place. I understand that we are still in the majority in the House and by God’s grace, come 29 May 2015, Governor Ibikunle Amosun will be sworn-in for the second term and I alongside other victorious 25 lawmakers from the APC will also be sworn-in to support the rebuilding mission of the governor,” Sobra popularly called ‘Action Woman’ said.
Another politician from Yewa South local government area who pleaded anonymity opined that the development is a set back for the party as it is preparing for the 2015 elections.
He however expressed fear about the coming general elections, noting that, APC will have to redouble its efforts, if it will win the governorship seat and also have highest number of members in the House in 2015.
According to the APC chieftain, “this is rather unfortunate and it is a bad signal at this time of our political future. For those who understand politics very well, especially Ogun state politics, you will agree with me that, no divided house wins easy. We have been praying not to get to where we are now but we have found ourselves there. I don’t want to belief that we will find it easy as we did in 2011, except for God’s intervention.
“Elections is just about three months from now and people in the state are confused already with the internal crisis rocking our party. They thought everything will be settled until the faction led by Baba Olusegun Osoba finally moved out of the party. Are you now telling me that such movement will not affect the party in 2015? Would some of our supporters not dump the party and settle for another party? You need to understand that politics is a game of numbers. I pray that things don’t get spoilt beyond this,” the politician prayed.
Cross sections of the residents are of the opinion that with the giant stride of the governor and his infrastructural development across the state, he will be returned to the Oke Mosan, seat of power in the state.
But political analysts fear that Governor Ibikunle Amosun will lose if PDP and SDP reach an agreement to work together at the polls.