I was nearly blown off by wind of change, says Oke

A HUGE crowd yesterday jammed the conference hall of the Ondo State All Progressives Congress(APC) secretariat in Akure the Ondo State capital.

The guests were defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and APC supporters.

The defectors were led by the 2012 PDP governorship candidate, Chief Olusola Oke. In the audience was Deputy Governor Ali Olanusi, who defected to the APC two days to the March 28 presidential election.

Oke, who is the former National Legal Adviser of the PDP, said he was nearly blown off by the APC’s wind of change when he resisted joining the party before the presidential election.

Oke said he had surrendered himself as part of the instrument to be used in transforming Nigeria.

The former PDP chieftain  was received by Olanusi, the state chairman and his deputy, Isaac Kekemeke and Mr. Ade Adetimehin, Senator Ajayi Boroffice,Prince Olu Adegboro,Mrs  Fola Olaseinde Vincent, Mr Bola Ilori,Prince Ademola Adegoroye,Prince Adewale Omojuwa and many other leaders.

Thousands of PDP members came with Oke to join APC – an indication that only Labour Party supporters who defected to PDP with Mimiko are now PDP members.

Prominent among the defectors are: Abayomi Shaba, Mrs. Oladunni Odu, former Head of Service Olajide Ajana, Senator Gbenga Ogunniya, Mr. Ayo Fayefunmi, former Head of service, Alaba Isijola and House of Representatives member, Hon. Albert Akintoye.

Others are Chief Olufemi Omosanya, Femi Bello, Febi Adeyemi, Segun Odidi, Folashade Gbajobi, Folake Omogoroye, Eniola Akinditure, Mrs. Yinka Ogunbabero, Chris Ayebutuwa, Sunday Kekereowo, Dare Adeniyi, Tayo Akinjo, Gbenga Opetusi, Dupe Ogundimeniha, Sule Oderinde and Nichola Akinbiola

The rest are: Eniola Ogunga Hon. Tayo Fawehinmi, Mrs. Jedo, Hon. Olumoyegun,  Gbenga Princess, Dupe Adetuwo, Samuel Akinmade, Alhaji Sule Oderinde and Ibukun Omotehinse.

Oke noted that he did not join the APC just because President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election, but because he wanted the wind of change blowing around to also change the present administration in Ondo State.

He said: “I have passionately resisted to be part of this change, I resisted the wind of change that was blowing until it almost blew me out. Now, I have surrendered, I can’t resist no more.

“I have come over not because PDP lost election, but I have come over because the wind of change blowing across Nigeria must blow over Ondo State. Let me commend you leaders for your courage, boldness in bringing about this change.

“ In Ondo State, I know what you people have gone through because the forces of darkness that want the status quo to remain but everything in life is constant but change is permanent.

“We have come to add value; we are not here to change. In 2012, when I took the courage to challenge the status quo, I titled my campaign ‘rescue mission’. That rescue mission that I cannot accomplish, the APC has promised a platform for that rescue of Ondo State.

“No power of darkness will stop change from coming to Ondo State. Ondo State is the poorest state in the Southwest and we have no reason to be poor, because we have everything …, but our problem is lack of good leadership, lack of vision by those who are the privileged to preside over our affairs.

“They changed a good government and replaced it with bad government and today there is penury in the land; deceit, unemployment. No industry, no employment, no job, no contract are being awarded and what we have are broken promises, deception and corruption at its peak.

“Olokola that was supposed to be the desire, change to the state was killed. The last time I met Baba Obasanjo in Abeokuta, Baba said his priority is for the revival of Olokola in Ondo State. Mr. Chairman, we have come to join you so that this can be accomplished.”

Oke went on: “Our belief is that for Ondo State to grow, you must open up the coastal resources and the forest resources. Today, what we have is replacement of priority. What is the meaning of mega primary school? It has no useful purpose. I called it mega nonsense and they were querelling with me and today, I call it mega wastage. What we see in Ondo State, debts; no project is going on and our money is being taken to Abuja on weekly basis to be a good boy in Abuja. I am happy that the priority of Mr. President-elect is to fight against corruption.”

The three-term senator representing Ondo Central, who is a kinsman of Governor Olusegun Mimiko,Chief Gbenga Ogunniya, described his defection to the APC as the formalisation of a process which he started since September 2014.

According to him, he stopped attending PDP functions, rallies and meetings, even as he was relating with APC leadership and strategising with them since then.

Olanusi urged the party members and the new memebers to work hard and ensure they repeat on Sunday the feat recorded during the presidential  elections.

Kekemeke said he believed that their coming together was to rescue the state from one man who believed he is smarter than others.

“The Igbotako Accord is that we must all come together to put an end to the looting. Today, we have another accord, which is Great Ondo Accord – that all political parties coming together to deal with the governor. Ondo State is bigger.His ambition is to be the handsome, the richest, best fighter that everything that comes to the state must pass through him.

“Today, he is shedding crocodile tears and we must not be deceived. He piloted the state as if there was no Assembly. We must quickly make sure we put an end to that.

“We are expecting nothing less than 25 per cent to the additional strength of the party from our new members. We must come together against one man who believes he’s the best in all things.”