7 OYO PDP LAWMAKERS DECAMP TO ACN

Seven members of the Oyo State House of Assembly suspended during last year's aborted move to remove the Speaker, Mr. Moroof Atilola,yesterday announced their decision to dump the ruling Peoples Democratic Party(PDP)for the Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN).

Those who formally declared for ACN were the former Deputy Speaker, Mr. Kazeem Ayilara, Majority Leader, Mr. Samuel Adejumobi, Chairman, House Parliamentary Caucus, Mr. Mohammed Inakoju and Mr. Michael Okunlade.

Others are Mr. Abiola Ayorinde, Mr. Tijani Ademola and Mr. Kayode Animashaun.

They were suspended after a violence broke out on the floor of the House following their insistence that the House must probe an alleged contract scam being investigated by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC)against the state government..

Addressing journalists on behalf of his colleagues, Adejumobi (LP), who was the running mate to the governorship candidate of Labour Party (LP),Dr. Azeez Adeduntan, before he finally declared for the ACN yesterday said their decision to join the ACN was based on careful analyses of political events in the state and after serious consideration was given to the three leading contenders in the governorship race. He said that the need to free the state from the bondage of the ruling PDP was also a consideration.

He noted that with their defection, he formally withdrew as the running mate to Dr Adeduntan, while Ayilara has also withdrawn from contesting the House of Representatives seat in Ibadan North West/South-West constituency for LP. He also disclosed that his other colleagues that are contesting Assembly seats under any other political parties other than the ACN have stepped down for ACN candidates in their constituencies.

He urged the people to come out en masse on April 26 to vote the ACN governorship candidate, Senator Abiola Ajimobi. His words:'Our suspension, maladministration and financial irresponsibility have continued unabated. That Oyo State has slipped into the abyss is no longer news to all careful observers of events in the state in recent past. Physical developments had been stalled; infrastructure have witnessed unprecedented magnitude of decay that only testifies to the degree of ineptitude and absolute lack of ideas on the part of our present rulers.

He said: 'Civil servants no longer enjoy promotions based on merit; school teachers are now promoted based on their local governments of origin; tuition fee in government-owned higher institutions were arbitrarily hiked up with no regards to the biting effect of global economic downturn on the parents.

'Traditional institutions are being desecrated with ignominy, court orders are being selectively obeyed by the people who are supposed to be the custodians of our statute books. 'Widespread insecurity of lives and property stare us in the face. Stupendous amount of money is being wasted on frivolities like social parties while our youths and young graduates remained unemployed.'

Adejumobi said that their demand that the Governor Alao-Akala becomes transparent, equitable and judicious in the way he distributes the state's resources was not only rebuffed, but also placed them on his danger list.