From Tony Osauzo, Benin
Former Edo State Governor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, has downplayed concerns over recent defections from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), describing defection as typical of Nigerian politicians.
Speaking to reporters after leading a condolence visit to former Senate Chief Whip, Sir Rowland Owie, in Benin following the death of Owie’s wife, Lady Helen Owie, Igbinedion predicted that defectors would likely return to the PDP or join another prominent party soon.
“I don’t worry so much (about the defections) because I know Nigerian politicians, they swing from one side to the other. If anything happens tomorrow, those people that defected, you will see them coming back to the PDP,” he said. He noted that political dominance shifts, citing the PDP’s past strength and the APC’s current position.
“There was a time when the PDP had the highest number of governors in this country… and now it is APC’s turn, they will be deflated sooner or later and whether it is going to be PDP or a new party, only God knows,” he added.
On a potential coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Igbinedion said, “I have always been in the PDP since 1998 and I am not contemplating leaving PDP but one thing for sure is that I believe in equity and that equity means that it is the turn of a southerner to be president so if any other southerner comes tomorrow from the PDP of course I will support the southerner after that, in the year 2031, it will now be the turn of the north, I will also look at the possible candidate for that job.”
Accompanied by PDP Edo State Chairman Dr Tony Aziegbemi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs Chief Tom Ikimi, former Commissioner Stephen Idehenre, and others, Igbinedion described Owie as a long-time ally. “We have known for many decades and he is somebody who is full of life and, I also admire him a lot because to be married for fifty years is not a joke and to lose a life partner can be very saddening and we came to condole with him and wish him continuous God’s strength, God knows best and we came to give the necessary support to carry on without her,” he said.
Aziegbemi, speaking for the delegation, told Owie, “We share in your grief but we tell you that your wife is in heaven and as they say, there is no right time for anybody to die but the time destined for the person to die. We are here on a temporary basis, heaven is our permanent home.”
Owie shared that his wife, who died on April 9 at 71 after a brief illness in Abuja, transformed his life. “She came to my life 51 years ago, when a man does not have a good home, he is not happy going home. She came into my life and from going home at 4 am, it went into going home at 2 am then at 10 pm and at a point, you see no need not to be at home,” he disclosed.