Hon. Adedeji Dhikrullahi Stanley Olajide, the PDP lawmaker representing the Ibadan North-West/Ibadan South-West federal constituency of Oyo State in the National Assembly, has assured party faithful and loyalists of the People’s Democratic Party in Oyo State and across the country that the party remains steadfast in its commitment to providing a credible alternative to the disastrous 10-year reign of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Nigeria.
Olajide, a two-term federal lawmaker and chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Digital, Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity, who is a ranking member of the lower legislative chamber, gave this assurance while addressing PDP party leaders drawn from Ward 11 of the Ibadan South West local area of Oyo State at his Adeoyo residence.
According to a statement made available to the media by Tolu Mustapha, Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs to Hon. Adedeji Olajide, the lawmaker allayed the concerns of party leaders present at the meeting regarding the recent defection of a few party members from the PDP to the APC across the country.
Olajide said this defection is a tactical win for the PDP, as most of the defectors will naturally disrupt the internal workings of the APC, as many of those affected by the new entrants will likely cross over to the PDP.
Citing the example of Delta State Governor Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, Olajide said the loss of Sheriff to the APC will upturn many dynamics within their party, which will eventually lead to a mass exodus of those who will naturally be affected back to the PDP.
“This is a win-win situation for both parties. The governor’s move to the APC will naturally upstage some prominent players within that party, and a mass exodus will likely follow in the APC in Delta State.
The PDP is their natural habitat; therefore, there is no cause for alarm.
The Sheriff’s movement has upstaged a couple of gubernatorial hopefuls, and they will return to their drawing board to plan their next move, which is the PDP.
“I can guarantee that the PDP leaders are actively monitoring this situation. Keep in mind that the election period is approaching, prompting serious political manoeuvres and planning. The transfer window is actively open; hence, such moves are unexpected.”
Hon. Adedeji Olajide also assured party leaders present at the meeting that the Oyo State PDP under the leadership of Engr. Seyi Makinde remains intact and unshaken, stating that rather than lose any of its members to the opposition party, Oyo State PDP is comfortably positioned to deplete the ranks of the ailing opposition parties in the state by welcoming thousands of their members into the PDP fold.
“Oyo State is intact under the leadership of Gov. Seyi Makinde, both in the business of governance and party politics. I confidently assure you that we will not lose any of our members to the opposition; instead, we are actively preparing to welcome defecting members of the opposition political parties into the PDP. Our strength and resolve lie in the comprehensive leadership style that Gov. Seyi Makinde has established during his six years of leading Oyo State. I am pleased to tell you that, looking at the records, we have not lost any member of our party to the opposition, and this will never happen,” Olajide reiterated.
