A former two-time member of Kogi State House Assembly representing Igalamela Odolu, Elder Friday Sani Makama has dumped the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Announcing his defection at the APC national secretariat in Abuja on Thursday, Makama said the chairman, national caretaker committee of the party, Governor Mai Buni, reconciled him with Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
Alluding to the past frosty relationship between him and Governor Bello, Makama with Buni’s reconciliatory efforts, the Governor and himself are now brothers.
He pledged to support Governor Bello if he accept to run for the nation’s presidency in 2023.
“I am a two-time member of the Kogi State House of Assembly. I have represented the people of Igalamela Odolu for two consecutive terms, I have been in a political party known as the Peoples Democratic Party over the years consistently.
“I was still the member of the PDP up till 2 hours ago when the membership card of the PDP was actually torn and I actually changed my party to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and I didn’t do this alone. I did in full consultation with my people.
“I have very large followership, the discussion for my defection that took place today started two to three weeks ago and ever since then I was consulting with my people and today history is made as I decided to change my political party to the All Progressives Congress.
“My reasons are very obvious, I’m a believer in people, I’m a believer of developments, I am a believer of the safety of my people and that is why I have been able to check the variables, the options.
“The options available politically right now and I decided that the best option for me in the circumstance that I find myself and to be able to stand for my people is the All Progressive Congress and I’ve so changed my political party.
“I am beyond my local government. I assure you that several members of the People Democratic Party, both at the state level and the local government level, will collapse the structures for my sake and for moving to the APC.
“Again, let me place it on the record that as far as I am concerned and those who believe in me, the ambition of governor Yahaya Bello for president is totally endorsed by me. Why did I say this? Yahaya Bello has created history in our state in Kogi state. This is the first time a Kogite built up the courage to say I want to become the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with this history I have no alternative than to go with him, after all, I don’t have an Igala man who has the same ambition, so if a Kogi man will become president why not?
“All I needed is what belongs to me and if what belongs to me is given to me and my people, the Igala people, I don’t have any problem with the presidential ambition of Governor Yahaya Bello,” he said.
