Several members of the main opposition party in Nigeria - PDP have cross-carpeted to the ruling All Progressives Congress in Yobe State in admiration of the works of the governor.
Governor Ibrahim Geidam addressing the decampees
Scores of Yobe State People's Democratic Party leaders who decamped and were received within the folds of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state in a ceremony in Damaturu yesterday have cited the progress being made by the Gaidam administration in roads development, healthcare, education, etc. as some of the reasons why they decided to join the APC and the governor to move the state forward.
"The achievements of Gov. Gaidam are enormous and we want to be part of his genuine effort to move our state forward. Look at the chain of roads we now have in the state. Anyone who knew what it used to be to drive from Gashu'a to Yusufari or from Nguru to Machina would appreciate the roads that Governor Gaidam has built in those areas. It wasn't easy or fun to drive in those sandy terrains but thanks to the governor, things have now changed for the better. The establishment of a Teaching Hospital in Damaturu is also another success story we want to be part of" Jibir Maigari, a former federal minister and one of the PDP leaders who decamped to the APC said.
Arc. Mohammed Saleh, a stalwart of the PDP and former housing commissioner in the state spoke in similar vein. He cited progress in healthcare and education as well as Yobe's remarkable performance in salary payments at a time that other states were failing to pay their workers as things every patriotic Yobe citizen should be proud of.
“We have no reason to be in opposition. Our interest is the progress of our state. Governor Gaidam is championing that progress. It’s always a thing of joy and pride to us that the stands out in terms of regular payment of salaries, gratuities, and pensions. He is doing remarkably well in education and healthcare. Therefore, we join him to deliver more to the people", he said.
Governor Gaidam, who described the large turn out of people at the event as ‘clear indication’ that the APC is ‘waxing stronger’ in the state, said the policies, programmes and manifesto of the party and its performance at the state and federal level “has endeared our party to the hearts of many people”.
He said the decision of the Yobe PDP leaders to decamp to the APC is a wise one, “a homecoming and a journey to where they rightly belong”.