Nasarawa State Governor, Engineer Abdullahi Sule, has assured politicians defecting from opposition parties to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), of fairness and equal treatment.
The governor stated this at a grand reception organized in honour of a member of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, Hon. John Osewu, who defected to the ruling APC, alongside 15, 000 others in Doma, on Thursday.
The visibly elated Governor assured all the decampees of level playing ground, stressing that it has become incumbent on the party to carry everyone along, without discrimination.
Engineer Sule used the opportunity to highlight some of the development strides so far achieved by his administration in the council, which include the empowerment of 500 youths as part of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agricultural programme, among others.
The Governor promised to utilize the Doma dam in order to address the issue of water scarcity in the town, vowing also to construct a road linking Idadu with Agbashi.
Engineer Sule therefore said it was not surprising, seeing the good things coming to the people of the area, that Doma people are unanimous in their decision to join the APC.
“It’s incumbent on us to be fair to all those joining our party. We will carry them along,” he stated.
The Governor however noted that since the decampees have returned home, all that is required of them is unity, in order to bring much desired development to the state.
In a goodwill message, former governor of the state, Senator Umaru Tanko Al-makura (APC, Nasarawa South), also spoke on the dividends of democracy came to Doma, under the present administration led by Engineer Abdullahi Sule.
According to Senator Al-makura, the only way the state will reap the benefits of the Governor’s sterling leadership qualities, demonstrated by his fairness, wisdom and foresight, is to unite and support the administration so that there will be peace and development.
The lawmaker used the opportunity of the event to call on the people to turnout enmasse to register as members of the APC, as that is the only way they can actively participate in activities of the party.
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Hon. John Osewu (PDP, Doma South), said he was attracted to the APC because of the giant developmental strides of the Governor so far recorded across the state.
Hon. Osewu said even though he lost his bearing with his sojourn to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), he has now found his bearing in the APC.
He however urged leaders of the APC to be fair to all those decamping to the party and not to discriminate against them.
Earlier, while accepting the decampees into the APC, State Caretaker Committee Chairman, Hon. John Mamman, welcomed the decampees back home.
Represented at the event by the Interim State Secretary of the party, Hon. Aliyu Bello, the APC chairman assured all those defecting from other opposition parties to the APC of equal treatment.
At the event, more than 15, 000 members of opposition political parties, including PDP,APGA and ZLP, moved to join the APC, mostly as a result of the leadership being provided by the Engineer Abdullahi Sule administration.
Other speakers at the event include, State Deputy Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Akabe, member Federal House of Representatives and Hon. Abubakar Nalaraba (APC, Awe/Doma/Keana), among others.
Among those who defected to the APC are, former member of House of Assembly, Hon. Anthony Obande, former protocol officer, Hon. Benjamin Ikwumokoni, retired Deputy Director National Orientation Agency Hon. Moses Adikwu, as well as leaders and teeming supporters from ZLP and APGA, both within and outside Doma LGC.
