By Akpeji Charles
When the former Minister of Labour and
productivity, Senator Joel Danlami, who came to
limelight on the platform of the Peoples’
Democratic Party (PDP) and the former Social
Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate
in the last general elections, Chief David Sabo
Kente, signified their interest to dumped their
political parties for the All Progressives Congress
(APC), people never take them serious.
Reality has however began to dawn on their
former parties as the duos recently made their
dream of aligning forces with “the progressives ”
party came true as they have not only
decamped but went as far as pulling with them
their teaming supporters from the
aforementioned political parties to the APC.
Their massive exodus which heralded the
presence of APC top shots from the nooks and
crannies of the state as witness by
Naija247News recently brought to a standstill
business activities in the ancient city of Wukari
the administrative headquarters of the Jukun
kingdom.
The duo who road in a motorcade from the
nearby state of Benue into Wukari were not only
received by top notches of the APC from the
three geo-political zones of the state but also by
their core admirers from the PDP some of them
who brought to memory the triumphant entry of
our Lord Jesus Christ, could not help but wept
and spread on the main roads their cloths for the
duos to tread upon.
Among such dignitaries that stormed Wukari to
receive and witness the massive movement of
PDP and SDP faithful to APC which was made
possible by Ikenya includes the former Deputy
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Babangida Ngoroge, the former deputy governor
of the state, Alhaji Uba Maigeri, General (Rtd)
Ishaya Bauka, Engineer Ahmed Yusuf.
Others include the representatives of both the
Minister for Women and social Development,
Senator Aisha Jumai Alhassan, and Special
Adviser to the Senate President on Legal
Matters, El-Sudi Tukur Ibrahim to mention just a
few”
Speaking, the defected politicians agreed that the
lukewarm attitudes of the incumbent leadership
of the state was the reason behind their massive
defection from the party that brought them to
limelight to the APC.
Ikenya whom before his defection was a force to
reckoned with in PDP at both state and national
level, said his exist from PDP has become
relevant in order to join forces with “the
progressives”to rescue Taraba ” from the shackle
of slavery.”
Citing the ongoing snail speed of development in
the state in spite of the huge monthly revenue
being accrue from the federal government, the
need for the state to toy the path of change in
the next political dispensation, he believed can
no longer be overwhelmed.
The former Minister under former President
Goodluck Jonathan how observed with dismay
the abject poverty confronting the people of the
state, believed that had the incumbent governor
has the interest of the people at heart, the untold
hardship in the state would have been a thing of
the past.
Noting that primary school teachers, pensioners
among others have being going cap in hand
seeking for a facelift from the government, for
such ugly situation not to repeat itself, the need
for the people to rise up and halt PDP from
forming the next government, he believed have
become necessary”
Also speaking, Kente, who also was a former
chieftain of the PDP, felt sad that the people of
the state are still been relegated to the
background in spite of the available human and
natural resources which according to him ” the
government has failed to harness.
Both Ikenya and Kente, it could be recall jostle
for the number one position of the state in the
last election but for the intervention of General
T.Y Danjuma, the aspirants especially Ikenya,
who was at the verge of making it to the number
one position of the state, were left with no other
option than to heed to word of the elder
statesman (T. Y Danjuma).
Commenting, the former Deputy Govenor, Uba
Maigeri, who was visibly elated by the
development was visibly elated by the
development was optimistic that the presence of
both Ikenya and Kente in the party, the end of
the road has come for the PDP.
He admonished the people to eschew politics of
religion and ethnic sentiments stating that ” all
what we are after in APC is the rapid
development of our dear state.”
Maigeri who noted that PDP under the
“leadership of this governor has failed us
woefully” said the people of the state would
tread all legitimate paths to toy the change
mantra going on in all parts of the country.
Citing the neighboring states of Adamawa,
Benue, And Plateau that are currently being
governor by the APC, Taraba, he is optimistic
would as well join the league of state presently
being govern by APC soon come next political
dispensation.
Other dignitaries who made their mind known
said the ongoing massive defection in PDP is an
indication that the people of the state no longer
have confidence in the governor because of his
unfulfilled election promises.
When reached for comment, the PDP Public
Relation Officer, Alhaji Inuwa Bakari, said the
party is not intimidated by the defection
drumming that with the long list of projects
presently being execute by the governor, the
party will again emerge victorious in the next
poll.
Also commenting on the ongoing political
development ahead the 2019 poll, the former
governor of Taraba state whom many described
as the political godfather of the state, Rev. Jolly
T. Nyame, said “It is very pathetic. When you
have top PDP members defecting to the now
ruling APC, then it calls for stock taking.”
Looking disturbed, he said “It is even more
worrisome that some people still seat in their
offices as party officials and government
functionaries and just wave this as nothing. It is
a very bad thing for the party I can tell you that.
I am most touched by the recent defection of the
immediate past minister of labor Senator Joel
Ikyena because I worked with him and I know
what political weight he is. He is someone that
has his way politically.
He is a force you can always count on for
results. You know he came from the very bottom
of the ladder to the top and that makes him a
core grassroots politician. So for him to defect to
the APC and you have people in position try to
make it look as if nothing happening, it is
pitiable.”
Nyame who believed that the party (PDP) can
still put it house in order advised that “I think
the PDP needs to move out of her cocoon take
post mortem of the developments leading to the
last general election. If that is not done, I can
assure you that there is no future for the PDP
anywhere.”
For this to be achieved the party as suggested
by him should endeavour to ” allow internal
democracy to prevail. I however believe that the
party would put its head together and correct.”

Source: Naija247 News