The Managing Director, National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA), Bola Oyebamiji has received over five hundred defectors from the Peoples Democratic Party in his Irewole Local Government Area.
Receiving the new party members on Tuesday, October 1, 2024, Oyebamiji said it is a boost to the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its chairmanship candidates, in the forthcoming local government election in the state.
According to a statement e-signed by Alh. Arimiyahu Owoade, Ikire APC Chairman, Mr. Oyebamiji received the new members during the distribution of Ileri oluwa relief package, organised by Engr. Adekunle Kazeem Fadiran, in Ikire, to celebrate the Nigeria’s Independence Day.
Receiving the defectors mostly from Ward eight of the local government area, Oyebamiji, described their defection as the best independence day gift the party could ever get on an auspicious day, when the nation was marking its independence.
Oyebamiji who was supported by Engr. Fadiran, and other party leaders, stated that the party has become the beautiful pride of Osun people, due to the unsatisfactory performance recorded by the present administration under Governor Ademola Adeleke.
He affirmed that “Ikire is an APC stronghold and the empowerment programme by Mr. Fadiran, as well as our formidable team of leaders in the party, has become an attraction to well-meaning citizens and residents of the state.”
Oyebamiji urged the new members to join hands with other party faithful to harvest those remaining in their former parties to vote for APC in forthcoming elections, so as to attract the needed development to the council area.
During the event, House of Representatives aspirant, Mr. Kazeem Fadiran, donated relief funds to over 400 members of the constituency.
Fadiran, a registered member of the Council of the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria, COREN, aspires to represent Ayedaade/Irewole/Isokan federal constituency at the House of Representatives, in 2027.
He pledged his unflinching support for the less privileged in Ikire, Apomu and Ikoyi, including those in the remote areas.
Speaking at the event, Fadiran said, “This is my widow’s mite to some of the residents in my constituency. As time goes on, I will reach out to more people in my constituency. This is not the first, and it will not be the last, by God’s grace”, he said.
Apart from the cash gifts, members of his constituency also went home with food packs.
Speaking on behalf of the defectors, former PDP leaders of Ward 8, Aderogbin Wakeel, Abeeb Sheriff, Jimoh Nuru, Waidi Elubo, Fathi Adekunle, and Adeleke Kaosara described the APC as the only party that would deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Osun State at large.
They promised to deliver the ward to APC, adding that it was the only way to reward Oyebamiji for his good works and visionary leadership.
Earlier, the Akire of Ikire, HRM, Olatunde Falabi, gave royal blessings to Mr. Fadiran and his team.
He spoke highly of Fadiran, and the role he has played in the development of Ikire town.
The event was attended by Fadiran’s political associates, friends and family members.