Lawani, Abutu, four former PDP guber aspirants join APC in Benue

Youths from Ogbadibo Local Government Area in Benue State have regarded some of their leaders as political prostitues following their defection from the Peoples Democratic Party in Benue State to the All Progressives Congress on Saturday.

Among those who pitched their tents with the ruling APC include, immediate past deputy governor of Benue State, Chief Steve Lawani, former military governor, Chris Abutu Garuba, former guber aspirants in Benue State, Ada Chenge, Sam Ode, Jerry Agada, Mike Onoja and host of others.

DAILY POST reports that no fewer than 1,000 members of the PDP also decamped to the APC at the official flag off of Dan Onjeh’s senatorial campaign.

Speaking on behalf of the decampees, ex-senate president, Ameh Ebute said they wanted to be part of the gospel of change in the nation.

According to him, “You all could recall that we were part of the people that brought PDP to power but along the line, the party lost its focus. We don’t want to be identified with people who ruined the nation, hence our reason to join this change train.

“On behalf of my colleagues, we officially pledge our loyalty to President Muhammdu Buhari-led government,” he added.

Meanwhile, various youths and opinion leaders from Ogbadibo Local government area have clamped down on the former deputy Governor of Benue State, Steven Lawani and former Minister of State for Education.

This is even as the two major stakeholders in Ogbadibo PDP, Rt. Hon. Joe Ojobo of the Benue House of Assembly and Rt. Hon. Hassan Saleh had come out to refute the claims that they too were part of the decampees.

When the news filtered in, the youths could not hold back their anger as they registered their displeasure over what they termed “political prostitution” of the said elders.

“They are just Political Prostitutes who are decamping only for their selfish interests. Imagine Lawani looking for another juice, after all the wealth he has amassed for himself”, Jerome Idoko, a Youth Activist from Owukpa said.

A renowned Movie Director cum Producer with the Nollywood and Otukpa born social Activist, Comrade Johnson Manex had this to say, “How could an old man that brought disunity among Otukpa sons and daughters jump out of a Political party where he served as deputy Governor for 8 years? They are greedy men! Also look at Jerry Agada who served as Minister for some years without anything to show for it.”

“If APC was a party for good people, should a man like Lawani be accepted into the party”? Akola Okewu Sunday asked rhetorically.

Emmanuel Ekele James also expressed his disappointment thus: “The purpose for their defection is for their own personal aggrandisement and not for any genuine reason that could transform the common people for a better tomorrow. They only want their names to be mentioned among those calling for meetings.”

On his part, Mr. Achigili Ikwu was of the opinion that they were scared of being probed, adding that they were looking for soft landing in the APC.

Mr. Adonaid David affirmed that: “These are persons that have lost their popularity and there is no one following them again, aside their immediate family members. These are the people that contributed greatly to the chaos we are facing currently in Idoma land. They are political job seekers who lost touch with the people while they were in power.”

When contacted on phone, former Secretary of Ogbadibo PDP and SSA to Governor Gabriel Suswam, Hon. Sunday Idoko said he had no reason whatsoever to defect to APC, as he would rather stay in his party and rebuild it.

Hon. Akor Igoche, former LG Exco of the party and a grassroots mobiliser posited that the exit of Lawani and Agada from the Ogbadibo PDP was not a threat to the party but a favourable one, which would help sanitise PDP in Ogbadibo.

Another Youths Activist and grassroots mobiliser from Ogbadibo, Christian Akogwu expressed disappointment over the defection of the duo whom he described as greatest beneficiaries of the PDP led government and political magnanimity of Senator Mark.

“Both Lawani and Agada have always been losing their wards to opposition parties even when they were in power in PDP, ” Akogwu enthused.