The All-Progressives Congress (APC) in Amuwo Odofin local government admitted Hon Oghene Egoh a former House of Representatives member representing Amuwo Odofin federal constituency on Peoples Democratic Party platform, and his political structure into its fold on Thursday 18th July,2024.
Lagos State APC Chairman Pastor Cornelius Ojelabi, a stalwart of the party Senator Musiliu Obanikoro and the Local Government Chairman Dr. Valentine Buraimoh were on hand to welcome the new entrants, while citing the fact that the defection was clearly an unprecedented one in the history of the council area progressive’s politics given the huge support base of Hon Egoh that moved with him that amounts to well over 2000 individuals.
Egoh in a chat with newsmen after perfecting his defection move cites what motivated him to join APC to include; President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s proactive policies and that of the Lagos State Governor Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu in their penchant for delivering good governance to majority of the populace.
“The first motivation I have which made me join APC was the Renewed Hope Agenda of Mr President. My defection was well timed because it was at the time that despite the fact that many believe the President is not doing well enough but I have examined his policies and I am convinced that his policies are good enough in turning this nation around.
“We are in a difficult time; the man came in at a time the nation was at a financial crossroad. The previous government mismanaged Nigerians fund, growth was retarded and we are not moving forward and he took some bold decisions.
“Some of them are the Orosanye report that he is bringing, the recent one he has just done to ensure that local government get their allocations directly, another one is that he has provided over a trillion naira for sourcing of food to the nation and also to ensure that import duties on food items is reduced to the minimum.
“It shows that the President is someone who cares, listens and understands that the people are suffering and he is doing things to ameliorate that and the point is if he refused to take the fiscal policies is now taking the country would have crashed.
“Look at the debts that is being owed, the foreign airlines they were being owed for over seven years with the result that cost of flight tickets became so expensive, until the current president pays it.
“He is supporting Air Peace, our private Nigerian owned airline so, what I’m saying is that the President’s policies are such that I know will grow the economy, and the best is to join and strengthen him.”
“Then coming back to Lagos, the twins project of the blue and red rail lines which Sanwo-Olu brought is going to ease and revolutionise transportation in Lagos. It is already revolutionising the way transport is done in other states and in Nigeria. Both of them have endeared me to the party.
Egoh noted that his decision to leave PDP was informed by the quarrelsome nature of leaders who vehemently refused to listen to voice of reasoning.
“Where is PDP right now, so much quarrelling in PDP at the national level that the party cannot take any decision and such a party cannot move somebody anywhere.
“The Lagos PDP is even worst, all leaders in Lagos state are quarrelling with each other the party is not settled. A party that is quarrelling with itself on a daily basis, certainly cannot win elections.
“We did a lot to salvage the situation but it didn’t go anywhere. So many people have tried, look at the national, look at Lagos state itself and also when you see a party that is dying and decaying you should know. You should not wait until it totally crumbles before leaving.”
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Some of the prominent political figures who also showed up in support of the former lawmaker’s move are former Lagos State House of Assembly member Hon Dipo Olorunrinu who spoke quite glowingly about Egoh’s political depth describing his defection as a blessing to APC.
“It gladdens my heart that Honourable Oghene who happens to be a member at the House Representatives at the time we both came in 2015, of course I defected in 2019 about five years ago.
“It is a great thing to see that the PDP has finally come down to zero structure. As you can see Hon. Oghene who happens to be a very excellent politician is now in the ruling party-APC.
“It is something that is positively revolutionary, and I must applaud this step that Hon Oghene has taken, now to those doubting Thomases. Frankly speaking APC is a progressive family, I think that anyone that actually want the progress of this country will join the progressing party.”
Mr. Anjous Babatunde the PRO of Amuwo Odofin PDP who joined Egoh in the defection move, hinted that the development was a welcomed one as those who made victory achievable in time past are now in APC.
“I decided to jettison my position just because of the prospect I have seen in the renewed hope agenda of Mr President and the governor of Lagos state.
“That is why I am taking that strong decision today and I have no regret about it. We are the people that have been making it happen for PDP to win in this local government