From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin
The immediate past Governor of Kwara State and a leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kwara State, Senator Bukola Saraki has said that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot decide the direction of the politics of the state ahead of the 2015 general elections.
The former governor of the state, who stated this when he received scores of members of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP) who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Charity House (Ile-Arugbo) of the late strong man of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki during the weekend, said only the people of Nigeria would decide their leaders in 2015 general election.
Saraki said it is only kwarans and those rooted in the local politics of the state that can decide Kwara in 2015,”Kwara will be decided by Kwarans, Jonathan cannot decide for Kwara, Jonathan will go to Bayeslsa to vote”, he said.
Saraki who hailed the defectors for taking a decision to be part of the “APC’s struggle for change”, said that he left the PDP because the party had no agenda for the people, particularly the youth who are leaders of tomorrow.
“I have challenged them many times to tell us what they have done in Kwara State. I can’t remain in a party that will not cater for our people, those who remain in the PDP today are in the party because of their personal interests”, said the chairman Senate committee on Environment and Ecology.
The defectors, who were from six different groups within the PDP, openly tore their PDP membership cards and were presented with APC flags by the leader of the party.
The groups included PDP-(Okere) group, Mohammed Dele Belgore Solidarity group, Mega Party, Golden Youth of Agabji , Ode Alawusa Majeobaje Group and Okeleru Future Group.
Leaders of the various groups who had earlier spoke one after another, said their decision to dump the PDP was hinged on fact that APC had provided quality leadership and demonstrated that the party had a promising future for the youth.
In his speech, leader of the Okere group, Alhaji Baba Jimoh, recalled the humanitarian services rendered by the late strong man of Kwara politics, Dr. Olusolka Saraki which he said must be reciprocated by Kwarans by supporting the current leader of the APC.
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