2023: Obaseki’s former commissioner joins APC as Oshiomhole calls for better representation

The former Commissioner for Energy and the Director of Obaseki Campaign Organisation in Akoko-Edo local government area during the 2020 governorship election, Akin Agbaje has defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC) where he pledged to support the party to win elections in 2023.

He and his supporters where received in Igarra by the former National Chairman of the APC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole who said the Edo state government had received N16b from the federal government because of the federal government roads that his administration constructed.

He said she such money ought to be used to construct more roads for the people.

Agbaje said he sees his return “and that of many others who are with him as coming back home to roost and we will join hands with other leaders to comb Akoko Edo for victory in next year general election.”

Receiving the defectors, Oshiomhole said “We have gotten to a point that all Nigerian leaders that are in politics and in business must recognise that we must build and rebuild a country worthy for all. It is very dangerous to be the only man who can feed in your community and it is more dangerous for a country where only few look unto tomorrow with hope.

“We aren’t relying on what statisticians tell us, if they say our economy is growing at 20% per week, we must ask the question, is the pieces of meat on our table increasing by 20% every month? If it isn’t, something is wrong.

“At this age, I have a duty to my country to identify others to rebuild the ladder which made it possible for me as the son of a farmer in a village that was not on the map to go to school without fees and grow to become the governor of this state.

“Parliament isn’t about buying two motorbikes called constituency projects given to two youths out of about 4000 youths. It isn’t about buying small 20 grinding machines to give to about 20000 women.

“I warned against what I called celebration and institutionalisation of poverty.

“In the senate, we must ensure that in making appropriation, we do it for the benefits of the people. If we make that road that crosses Akoko-Edo that I built when I was a governor and many other too which of course I am aware that the FG has refunded the money to my successor worth about N16b, such can be further used to making more roads for our people. We must rebuild that road which was destroyed because of the failure of FG roads. That will not be a favour but pending duty. That is why your senator should sit on the floor of the senate and insist that the agenda of the Edo North cannot be downplayed.