A lot of my supporters in Dekina / Bassa Federal Constituency have been asking why I joined the Socialist Democratic Party (SDP). Many preferred I join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or better still remain in the All Progressives Congress (APC).
For the purpose of clarity and my supporters I wish to state my reasons.
I am an ardent supporter of the Late Prince Abubakar Audu. He was a man who brought development to Igala land and Kogi state at large. Almost all, if not all the visible project in Kogi state were built by him. He was a man that was always in the opposition but nobody could deny his impact in the state. We all can remember his travails with the PDP in Kogi state especially in Dekina for you and I.
I have asked myself severally this question, that if the late Prince was to be alive and finds himself in the situation most of us are; in today’s Kogi, would he have decamped to the PDP? If he had lost the APC primaries in 2015 and he is alive to witness to the decay in the state today, would he have remained in the APC? You can answer that honestly! The Late Prince Abubakar Audu was driven with the commitment to serve the people. Even in the face of losing an election, during the days of Obasanjo with all the promises to return him as governor if he decamped to the PDP he never did. Although he lost that election to Ibrahim Idris; he is celebrated today as you all can now see the difference. The Late Prince Abubakar was a progressive. He died a Progressive. I have decided to be a Progressive hence my joining the SDP and I have no apology to give to anyone.
It was Professor Wole Soyinka who once said that A man must live or die by his true Principles.
In today’s First Class Political Parties in Kogi state there are a lot of Political Predators and God fathers who turn candidates to ATM machines when eventually elections are won under them. Many candidates cannot deliver on their mandates because of these Political Predators and Political Godfathers; the sad news is that they are still there and you know them.
I will not contest election on a platform I know would not give me the leverage to serve the people who suffer day and night to elect me. My primary aim of contesting election is to bring development to our people thus I have chosen a predator free and God fathers free party which is the SDP the people’s party.
Dekina / Bassa Federal Constituency and indeed Kogi state at large have witnessed the PDP administration. They have also witnessed the APC Administration in its ramifications. A lot of people I have consulted with are tired of the Failures of this two parties and are yearning for something new. Something Good and fresh. I personally see this opinion as the people’s mandate. Like I said earlier in this piece, I am a Progressive and not a Retrogressive. I have chosen to run on the mandate of the people like the Late Prince Abubakar Audu no matter the outcome. I have chosen to run with the SDP.
For those who are afraid of my decision, let me tell you a secret but please don’t tell anybody oh!!! There are many APC and PDP members in SDP. They will show it when the time comes. Remember you promised not to tell anyone oh!!!
On this note, I am persuaded that come 2019 you and I would be riding on a very high white horse which is the will of the people with victory as our crown and together we shall be conquering and we shall conquer.
Relax! Again I say Relax!
God bless you all.
– Sanni Idakwo Philips.
