By Anjola Folajimi, Abuja
A member of Peoples Democratic Party, (PDP) and former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly Hon.Friday Sani has dumped the main opposition party for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.
Sani who was a strong political antagonist of Governor Yahaya Bello on the floor of the State Parliament defected to the governing party at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
”I was still the member of the PDP up till 2 hours ago (4:30pm) when the membership card of the PDP was actually torn and I actually changed my party to the All Progressives Congress, (APC) and I didn’t do this alone. I did in full consultation with my people I have very large followership, the discussion for my defection that took place today started two to three weeks ago and ever since then I was consulting with my people and today history is made as I decided to change my political party to the All Progressiverogressive Congress.”
When asked why he left the PDP, Sani said, “My reasons are very obvious, I’m a believer in people, I’m a believer of developments, I am a believer of the safety of my people and that is why I have been able to check the variables, the options.
“The options available politically right now and I decided that the best option for me in the circumstance that I find myself and to be able to stand for my people is the All Progressive Congress and I’ve so changed my political party.”
Asked if he would be able to cope in his new political platform since he has never been in the good book of Governor Bello politically, Sani was quick to attribute his new found love with the governor to the reconciliatory efforts of Yobe State Governor and Chairman of the party Caretaker/Extra-Ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC).
“Well, I think that is a thing of the past, I had it very rough with my governor in the past and the intervention of the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress has cemented a new relationship between myself and the governor. As I speak to you now, we are now brothers. I can assure you that with the current intermediary role by the National Chairman of APC I am very sure that rough road will not come between me and him anymore.
On the Presidential ambition of Gov. Yahaya Bello, the decampee along with his loyalists offered their support of the speculated ambition of the governor.
“Well, I said it without fear or favour here that any moment from now you may not have a political party in my local government where I come from because of the kind of overwhelming followership that I have.
”I’m beyond my local government, I assure you that several members of the People Democratic Party both at the state level and the local government level will collapse the structures for my sake and for moving to the APC again let me press it on the record that’s as far as I’m concerned and those who believe in me the ambition of governor Yahaya Bello for president is totally endorsed by me. Why did I say this? Yahaya Bello has created history in our state in Kogi state.
“This is the first time a Kogite built up the courage to say I want to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with this history I have no alternative than to go with him, after all, I don’t have an Igala man who has the same ambition so if a Kogi man will become president why not? All I needed is what belongs to me and if what belongs to me is given to me my people the Igala people I don’t have any problem with the Presidential ambition of presidential Yahaya Bello.”
End.
