Oborevwori, Okowa, others’ defection ‘ll strengthen APC in South-South – Abe

From Tony John, Port Harcourt

Chairman of National Agency for The Great Green Wall (NAGGW), Senator Magnus Abe, has said the defection of Delta State Governor, Sheriff Oborevwori, his deputy and entire cabinet as well as former Governor Ifeanyi Okowa, is a move that would strengthen and consolidate the All Progressives Congress (APC), support base in the South-South geopolitical zone, Nigeria.

Abe, in a statement signed by his spokesperson, Parry Benson, described the move as a signal that Nigeria’s democracy is actually stronger under the APC led by President Bola Tinubu.

He said democracy is strong where every citizen is allowed true freedom of association and freedom of choice.

Abe said: “Under President Tinubu, Nigerians have seen a tremendous increase in the resources available to the states, and serious minded governors have been able to utilise that advantage to the benefit of their people.

“This is the merit that Sheriff Oborevwori and his team have seen and decided to take advantage of it, to move the people of Delta State closer to the centre to accelerate development. It is a step in the right direction and I commend him.”

Abe recalled that former Vice President Atiku Abubakar dumped the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), in 2007 as a seating Vice President to contest for the presidency and therefore, Sheriff Oborevwori and Senator Okowa’s decision to defect to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is in order as it would benefit the good people of Delta State and the South South geopolitical zone in general.

To those who are insinuating that the President’s action is accentuating towards a one party state, Abe urged the PDP to put themselves together instead of playing the victims’ card as it is not the duty or responsibility of President Tinubu and the APC administration to build opposition against itself.

Abe called on Senator Omo Agege, Festus Keyamo, Chief Ayeni and other leaders of the APC in Delta State to rally round Governor Sheriff Oborevwori and his group to fast track their seamless integration into the APC as the party under Tinubu is large enough to accommodate all Nigerians.