By Banji Ayoola
National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bolaji Abdullahi, made a u turn on Wednesday, resigned his position and quit the party. This was barely twelve hours after reaffirming his membership.
Abdullahi, a close associate of Senate President, Dr Bukola Saraki, had on Tuesday stoutly denied leaving the APC following the step of Saraki, who had same day moved over to the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. He had dismissed reports of his decampment then as having “no iota of truth.”
But the story changed on Wednesday as he declared emphatically in a statement that he could no longer remain in a party where his loyalty is constantly being questioned and his responsibilities as spokesperson being usurped.
His words: “In the last few days, I have had to endure the flagrant usurpation of my role as the spokesman of the party in a manner that I consider unbefitting of a ruling party and inconsistent with my ethical standards.”
He said: “I have served the APC honestly and to the best of my ability and when I stood for and won my election at the last convention, it was a keen desire to continue to do so.
“However, in a situation whereby my loyalty is constantly brought into question; my subordinates deployed to subvert my office; and my views constantly second-guessed on the basis of my political affiliation, it has become imperative for me to review my position.
“In view of recent political developments in the country and within the All Progressives Congress (APC), I have decided to resign my position as the National Publicity Secretary as well as my membership of the party with effect from today.”
Abdullahi said: “I want to put it on record that I came through the front door and if I want to leave, I will leave through the front door,” he said. But not many were fooled by the denials, especially given that the PDP had already sent out a tweet welcoming Abdullahi back home.
Kwara state assembly members decamp to PDP too
Similarly, the Speaker and all the members of the Kwara State House of Assembly but one, have also decamped from APC to the PDP.
Speaking on the floor of the House on Wednesday, Speaker of the Assembly, Ali Ahmad, said they were defecting because the APC has become “factionalised”.
“All the honourable members — except one — have finally changed party to the PDP. This is permitted by the Proviso to Section 109 (1) (g) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria,” Ahmad said.
“Today, as I and other members of the Kwara State Assembly dump the APC for good, I heaved a sigh of relief.
“In 2014, I was terribly sad leaving PDP reluctantly with 36 other members of the House of Representatives.
“Today, I am the happiest leaving the APC for good. I wish I was never a member of the party.”
Kwara PDP Chairman, Oyedepo dumps party for APC
Conversely, the PDP chairman in the state, Akogun Iyiola Oyedepo, and members dumped the PDP en masse for the APC.
The Publicity Secretary of the party, Chief Rex Olawoye, made this known to the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN in Ilorin.
“I hereby officially announce the exit of our members from PDP to APC,” he said.
Olawoye, who described Senate President Bukola Saraki as an “anathema,” said PDP members in the state could not work with him.
He said with the defection, all political structures of the PDP at the ward, local government and state levels had moved to the APC.
The spokesman appealed to all party members to maintain peace and orderliness in their conduct and behaviour.
“Unity is the primary ingredient that can make those of us coming from the PDP and leftover of APC members to live in harmony,” he added.
He said Oyedepo had met with the leadership of the PDP in Abuja and explained the resolve of party members not to work with Saraki.
Olawoye also said the chairman met with the national leadership of APC, including the National Chairman, Adams Oshiomhole, Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, as well as other chieftains of the APC.
He added that the defecting PDP members were warmly welcomed into the APC by the party’s leadership.
“Saraki and his cronies have been in the saddle of leadership of the state in the past 15 years with nothing to show for it,’’ he said.
Olawoye called on all registered political parties in the state to team up with the APC to ensure the total liberation of the state.
Gbemisola, Saraki’s sister, pledges loyalty to Buhari
Meanwhile, despite the gale of defections in Kwara State, Gbemisola Ruqayyah Saraki, sister to the Senate President Bukola Saraki, has pledged unwavering support for President Muhammadu Buhari and the APC.
The female Saraki made this known through a post on her Facebook wall; saying:
“I maintain my unwavering support for President Muhammadu Buhari, now and for his re-election in 2019, and for the success of our party, the APC, in Kwara State and across the federation.
“All members of my political organisations including GRS Movement (GRSM); GRS Foundation (GRSF); GRS Friends on Facebook (GRSFOF); Paramount Women Forum (PWF) and GRS Grassroots Youth Movement (GRS-GYM) will begin to implement the first phase of our “Get-Out-The-Vote” for PMB and APC.
“Politics is a public service to the people and we ought to conduct it with dignity, peace and love for our fellow citizens.
“May Allah grant us direction, guidance and restraint in our utterances and conduct.”
The two Sarakis (Bukola and Gbemi) have always been in opposing camps since 2011 when Bukola thwarted Gbemi’s attempts to succeed him as Governor of Kwara State.
Gbemisola had served in the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003, and in the Senate from 2003 to 2011, and wanted to take over from his brother as Governor, but Bukola had other plans and “anointed” Abdulfatah Ahmed as his successor.
