* Olamaboro has never lost election.
* Violence has no place here,
*As Deputy Governor invokes spirit of ancestors on those intending to use weapons against kinsmen–
Ahead of the November 11, election , a former Governorship aspirant on the platform of the PDP, Dr. Joseph Erico has formerly dumped the party for the All Progressives Congress APC in Olamaboro LGA of kogi state.
Also, the chairmen of LP and NRM and their teeming supporters ditched their parties for the APC in what they described as leaving darkness for the illumination of light, which the APC represent in the state.
Receiving the defectors at the civic center at Okpo , headquarters of the council on Monday, the Deputy Governor, Chief Edward Onojah, described the defection as the emptying congregation of PDP in the area.
This is as he disclosed that Olamaboro since the advent of Democracy had not lost any election to opposition parties, assuring that the November 11 election will repeat the feat the area was renown .
He warned against those who would want to engage in violence activities to desist, saying the spirit of the ancestors forbid the people to use weapons, being it matchete, cutlass, guns etc against his fellow brothers and sisters.
He advised supporters to engage electorate in a peaceful manner in order to woo them for the victory of APC.
The deputy Governor who was elated by the number of defectors, said, with Joseph Erico , in the camp of APC marks the total collapse of PDP in the area.
Onoja, noted that his efforts at convincing him to join the fold that spanned for over two years has paid off with his willingness to join the party for the benefits of the people.
He said, with Senator Attai Aidoko who had earlier pitched tent with the APC , and with the track record of the zone of being in the winning party, the November 11 election is as good as being won.
According to him” Joe Erico , who was the Director of Security of PDP campaign council in the last general election, has come with barrage of his supporters and his enormous resources to rejuvenate the winning prowell of APC , stressing that he can now go to sleep with resounding victory come November 11.
” I have been massaging him for more than two years now without success until now that he has seen the light of belonging to a ruling party.
” He is a force in the politics of Ward two in Olamaboro especially, his country home of Etutekpe Okpo. He has not lost election in his area . He has been a thorn in our flesh and now that he is in our fold we are sure of victory of our party. Politics is local and Erico represents the grassroots. With him , the consistency of Olamaboro in winning elections will be maintained.
” I Call on our compatriots to remain calm in their appeal to electorate and never to engage in acts detrimental to our collective good which is to bring development to the people. As your son, I have brought infrastructural and human development to our people and by that I expect you to reciprocate the gesture by voting enmasse for the APC for more dividend of Democracy.
* Through out the history of elections, Olamaboro has never been linked to any act of violence and I vehemently opposed to any one or groups intending to use violence against his or her brethren as we are one family
While calling on Joe Erico to nominate his candidates to join the wards and Local Government coordinators to garner support for the party, urged the members to embrace Igala agenda which is the development of the area and not the one targeted at individual aspiration.
Speaking for his supporters and fellow decampees from other political parties, Erico , reiterated his commitment to the growth of his people as a yardstick for defection and not for any other mundane consideration.
He appreciated the deputy Governor for his capacity, courage and intelligence as he remained the most valuable persons he had met in his life.
He said, he had finally made up his mind to leave the PDP , which he once nurtured to join APC because of the deputy governor who had used his position to better the lives of the entire people of the local government area and promise to add value to the winning streak of APC.
In a remark, the commissioner of commerce and industry and a one time chairman of the council, Hon . Gabriel Yunusa Olofu commended the deputy governor for providing leadership that has transformed the area which hitherto was neglected adding that his efforts saw to the construction of Ogugu road , establishment of Federal Government Science and Technical college and other lives saving projects located in the area.
He applauded Dr. Erico for heading to the carrion call of the people to join the party and assured him that his entry will be a watershed in the November 11 governorship election in the area.
In a remark, the chairman of the council, Hon.Friday Adejoh thanked the decampees for their decision and assured them that in APC all members are equal irrespective of time of joining the party.
Earlier, a former state treasurer of PDP , Alfred Bello who had decamped to APC, who hailed from Kogi West , said , he was in attendance to lend credence to Erico, who has been his close ally in the PDP.
He urged the people not to relent in their door to door campaign and not to give in to ethnic agenda , rather to support kogi agenda which will be beneficial to all in the state.
Highlights of the occasion was the presentation of brooms and flag to Erico and his supporters.
Those in attendance include, Philip Orebiyi former PDP and House of Assembly member, chairman of Ankpa Local government, Ibrahim Abagwu, state secretary of APC , Emmanuel Onoja, Local Government APC chairman, Ameh Yakubu and host of others.
