Defection: President Buhari is happy with calibre of new APC members 

Former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole and former Ogun state governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, were Monday presented to President Muhammadu Buhari following their recent defection to the Progressive Congress (APC).

Bankole dumped his African Democratic Party (ADP) while Daniel left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) where he was Governor for two terms.

The Chairman of the APC National Caretaker Committee/National Convention Planning Committee and Yobe state Governor, Mai Mala Buni, led them to the president’s office at the presidential villa, Abuja.

Speaking to State House Correspondents after the meeting, Buni said they came to present the new party members to the President who expressed delight at the calibre of the defectors.

He said: “We came to present new members of our party, Daniel and Bankole. Mr President is impressed and happy that leaders of such calibre are joining our party at this time we are registering new members, because registering and validating our membership, and indeed this is the right time for them to join us. And that’s exactly what Mr. president is very happy. He’s pleased is impressed.”

Bankole said in his remarks that he joined the APC to give support to the effort the President was making, adding, “there are issues we need to solve and any reasonable human being should support at this moment. 

“From Borno to Lagos, Bayelsa to Sokoto. These are critical times and we shouldn’t be found wanting. 

“This is the time to step up and support so that these decisions can be taken, executed and owned by us as a nation. Because 10 years from now, 20 years from now, people ask who stood up when these things were happening? It’s every citizen’s, right and all we’ve done is exercise it today.  But actions from now will speak for us. 

Also speaking, former Ondo State Governor and former Director-General Atiku Campaign Organization, while explaining why he joined the governing party, stressed the need to de-emphasize the party in the affairs of the country, saying, “Why APC? There are too many options in the party. 

 “One thing is sure that we are going through health and economic challenges, we must do less of political contestations and give support.”

Daniel added: “One thing that is for sure, is that the entire world is going through challenges that are global challenges, economic challenges, health challenges. And when you are in a situation like this, as I usually opined, we should do less of partisan contestation, all of us must come together to support whoever is in power. 

 “And what we have decided to do is to come and give our support to the President so that jointly, we can continuously navigate the country that is what is relevant.”

He dismissed suggestions that the APC was trying to create a one-party state by fishing for members of other political parties as he noted that where there is a majority party, there should also be a minority party.

He pointed out that the PDP was once in the same position in the country as the then ruling party.

Zainab Sa’id