The senator elected on the platform of the Oyo State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Dr Kola Balogun, has formally defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Senator Balogun, a first-time senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, took his exit from the ruling party at an event held at the state APC Secretariat, Oke-Ado, Ibadan, today.
The defection followed weeks of a silent war, following the decision of Governor Makinde, to deny the senator a ticket to return to the Senate for a second term on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Senator Balogun while addressing the APC loyalists and its leadership, and his supporters, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari; the state party chairman, Hon Isaac Omodewu, and other party executives for accepting him back to the party.
The Younger brother of Olubadan of Ibadan described his defection from the PDP to the main opposition party in the state as a journey back home, saying “I went to the PDP on sabbatical. Now I’m back home.”
Senator Balogun then berated the Engr. Seyi Makinde-led administration for the increasing spate of insecurity in the state, alleging that “hoodlums have taken over Oyo State, maiming and killing recklessly and unchecked, especially in the Ibadan metropolis.”
On the Light Up Oyo Project of Governor Makinde, Senator Balogun said using diesel to power generators to run the streetlights is fraud and a waste of resources.
“They claimed they’re lighting up Oyo State with streetlights. Ask them, whose company is selling the diesel they use to power the generator used to run the streetlight. They’re just serving their interests,” Balogun lamented.
Commenting on the Senatorial ticket given to him by the Oyo PDP in 2018, Senator Balogun said “When, in 2018, I was given the ticket I was told it was ‘fake’: the party offered Adeniran and Sarafadeen Alli but they rejected it; I received it and God favoured me. Today those who helped Seyi Makinde to win the election have left him, yet he kept saying ‘no problem, but he would soon realize that there are ‘problemsis.'”
While Welcoming Senator Kola Balogun, the chairman of the party Hon Ajiboye Omodewu said APC is lucky to have the three Senators and 11 House of Reps members in the state, which, according to him, would give the party opportunity to win the 2023 election in the state.
Also, Senator Abdulfatai Buhari said the coming of Senator Balogun into the APC will foster unity and enhance collaboration among federal lawmakers.
He, however, tasked the party members to foster unity and ensure they worked for the emergence of the party in the next election.
