by Kolapo Olapoju

A member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Bayelsa Presidential Campaign Committee, Senator Felix Oboro, has unexpectedly defected from the party to the opposition, All Progressives Congress.

Oboro, a former Ambassador of Nigeria to Venezuela, was formally welcomed into the APC on Friday, January 23, at an event which had in attendance, former Bayelsa governor, Timipreye Sylva.

According to Sylva, the PDP is on its way to inevitable collapse in Bayelsa state, while adding that the country needed someone of Buhari’s caliber to lead Nigeria.

He said: “At a time like this, we need serious men and women at the helm of national affairs. That is why we need Gen. Buhari to fix the country.”

While addressing the gathering, Oboro stated that the ruling party lacked internal democracy, following its failure to conduct its election primaries in a democratic manner.

He would also criticise the President, saying he is the cause of most of the problems bedeviling the nation, especially corruption.

Below is his speech delivered on the day he switched allegiance:

“Since Dr. Jonathan became President and leader of the PDP nationwide, there has never been any genuine congress in any part of the PDP states to elect candidates to represent the party in any election.”

“The problem of our country now is corruption, insecurity and economic downturn. Everybody’s concern is who among our political leaders particularly Gen Buhari and President Jonathan who are the flag bearers of the two major parties, has the credentials to wipe out the above vices. The answer from 90 per cent of the states is Gen Buhari.

“Under President Jonathan, even a simple thing like internal democracy in his party had been destroyed because he too ascended the governorship position through unholy harmonisation and not democracy”.

“As for corruption, insecurity and economic downturn, Jonathan’s six years as President is the cause of these problems the country is talking about. Ironically Jonathan himself agrees that these are real problems of the country, when he is still at the helm of affairs.

“I would like to appeal to my Ijaw people in Bayelsa State to understand the clear handwriting on the wall and we should all educate our people to tow the popular reasonable line.

“Our people must join the mainstream and we should not allow our state to be ostracised. Dr Jonathan has no regard for Ijaw people. He has not shown any pride of being an Ijaw man. The little dividend of democracy he had brought to the state is for his community, Otuoke.

“The only way to peaceful change now is for all Ijaw people to obtain their permanent voters card and cast their votes. We should do everything possible to avoid our youths going back to the creeks. After all, some of our leaders are not appreciating the sacrifices of our youths.

“Otherwise how can President Jonathan publicly express joy that Henry Okah- an Ijaw man from Amassoma is languishing in a South African prison because MEND attempted to “assassinate” him- an allegation no true Ijaw man will believe.

“President Jonathan made his allegation in the opening of his campaign in Lagos. If the President says MEND did not support him does he mean he became president on his personal merit?

“The blood Ijaw youths shed to attract the attention of other Nigerians to consider Dr. Jonathan from our state to be President is not appreciated by the President.

“Since he was imposed on the people of Bayelsa to be governor by persons outside the Ijaw tribe, President Jonathan’s loyalty is to the few persons that imposed him. President Jonathan does not see any reason to apologise to the people of Bayelsa State for his neglect of the state.

“Therefore any vote for him by Bayelsans is a wasted vote as he can never appreciate us, even in the unlikely event that he wins the presidential election on the 14th of February 2015.

“In view of the above reasons, I do not see any rational ground being in PDP even though I was one of those instrumental in positioning his luck from Deputy Governor to President. Therefore, I have decided to declare for the APC and work with reasonable politicians to effect a change of leadership in our country.”