The former Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Sen. Smart Adeyemi, yesterday dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) for the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
Adeyemi, who had been in the PDP for 12 years, said he defected to the APC because the Kogi West Senatorial District was neglected by the successive PDP administrations in the state.
He said it was the decision of the people of Kogi West to leave the PDP for the APC.
According to him, since politics is essentially local, he has no choice than to bow to the pressure of his people to dump the PDP. He said his defection had nothing to do with survival politics.
Adeyemi said while in the Senate, he was one of those who criticized the PDP administration, especially the rising cases of corruption. He said at a briefing at his residence in Maitama District in Abuja, that Nigeria’s future is brighter under President Muhammadu Buhari.
“After due consultations with both local and national leaders across my state and the nation, we have come to the realization that we have to take a major decision for the best interest of our people. Politics is essentially local.
“Therefore, in the light of the sincerity and commitment of President Buhari, his strength of character and support of eminent personalities such as Baba Olusegun Obasanjo, the leader of men, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, and the support of the leadership of the ruling party towards the reconstruction of the socio-economic fabrics of our nation, we have decided to defect to the APC today, being April 8, 2016 by the grace of Almighty God.
“We hereby urge all our supporters and patriotic Nigerians to support the effect of a new socio-economic order of this administration.”
“While thanking the PDP for the opportunity of granting me a ticket for my two terms in office, it is soul-depressing that for the past 12 years of our support in ensuring victory of the PDP in both governorship and presidential elections, Kogi West has nothing to show towards improving the standard of living of our people by successive Kogi PDP governors.
“This neglect and poor performance of the PDP resulted in anti-party reactions, culminating in the victory of the APC in the Kogi governorship election last year,” Adeyemi said.
“Politics is all about the well-being of the people; politics must be in the interest of the people and politics is essentially local.
“As a PDP Senator, I was critical of the past administration. I spoke against corruption and exposed the extent to which corruption had destroyed this nation.”
Adeyemi pleaded with Nigerians to have faith in the administration of President Buhari.
