A former member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abiodun Akinlade, on Thursday, disclosed he dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the All Progressives Congress (APC), to reunite with the progressives and work for the emergence of an Ogun West indigene as governor in 2019.
He added he was left with no choice but to reconcile with Governor Ibikunle Amosun since the governor had promised to support the zone to produce his successor.
Akinlade, who represented Yewa South/Ipokia Federal Constituency between 2003 and 2015, further pointed out that the zone’s hope to produce the next governor was dashed by the PDP when it declared it had zoned the governorship slot to Ogun East, hence, his resolve to settle his differences with Amosun.
The lawmaker made these known when he, along with his supporters, defected to APC in Oke Odan town, during the local government assessment tour by the party, to Ipokia West Local Council Development Area, Idiroko Local Council Development Area and Oke-Odan Local Council Development Area.
They were formally received by the APC Acting Chairman, Alhaji Tajudeen Lemboye, and other chieftains of the party.
The state governor’s elder brother, Alhaji Abidoye Amosun, however, handed over Akinlade to the party executive and called for continued mobilization for APC ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking further, Akinlade, who is also a governorship hopeful from the Ogun West Senatorial District, commended Amosun for publicly endorsing the zone to produce his successor in 2019.
The former lawmaker noted that the governor had chosen to follow the path of justice and equity by supporting the quest of Yewa-Awori people to produce a governor since the state was created 41 years ago.
“APC is my home and I have returned home. I am reuniting with the progressives to move our dear state forward. As a stakeholder in our state, I want to commend our governor for daring the odds to publicly identify with the Ogun West people in our quest for governorship in the state.
“Posterity will not forget him and we believe that the zone will succeed him in 2019. I want to urge our people to put their house in order and eschew the practice of the past that debarred us from reaching the Promised Land.
“All Yewa sons and daughters should rally behind the governor. He deserves our support much more than before. We believe that in 2019 he will finish well and hand over to a worthy successor from our area”. He stated.