Prince Dayo Adeyeye, former National Publicity Secretary of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Caretaker Committee has formally joined the All Progressives Congress (APC), ending his almost 12 years sojourn in the party.
Adeyeye and 13 other governorship aspirants of the defunct Action Congress) joined the PDP in 2006 after losing the governorship primaries to Dr Kayode Fayemi.
Addressing journalists at his private residence in Ado-Ekiti, the former Minister of State for Works, who said the decision to quit PDP was a difficult one, however, maintained that the task of rescuing Ekiti was greater and paramount in his heart.
Adeyeye, who is also former Publicity Secretary of pan-Yoruba sociopolitical group Afenifere, said the decision to dump the PDP was taken by leaders of his campaign team in the 16 local government areas of the state.
Some former aides of Governor Ayo Fayose were also at the event.
The former PDP Chieftain was recently defeated in the party’s Governorship Primaries won by Fayose’s Deputy, Professor Kolapo Olusola. He polled 770 against 1,191 scored by Olusola.
Adeyeye,who hinted of his desire to quit PDP, however kept the secret of his party to his chest until today.
“Leaving the PDP was not an easy decision to make. That was a party to which I have rendered invaluable service at the most trying period of its history.
“Expectedly, patriotic leaders of the party appealed to me to reconsider my decision in the light of my previous services and loyalty to the party.
“But the issue was never about me as a person. It was about the interest of the very many people who associate with me and more importantly the collective interest and future of Ekiti people.
“For me politics has always been an opportunity to serve and make contribution towards the development of my community and the nation.
“Therefore where I am compelled to make a choice between loyalty to a political party and loyalty to my community, l will readily chose my community or state.
“Political parties come and go but the community remains. I cannot change my state or hometown but I can always change my party if I feel that it can no longer serve as a vehicle for our collective good as a people.
“As a thorough bred Ekiti person with a deep love of this land and the people It is incumbent on me to resist and stop the evil agenda of one man to put our people in perpetual enslavement.
“I have said No to Fayose’s continuity of dictatorship, impunity, imposition, poverty, unprecedented looting of our common patrimony and deliberate debasement of the self esteem of our people.
“For my friends, admirers, patrons and well wishers I want to reiterate that Fayose is an impossible person to deal with. A pompous martinet with a huge ego, he is deliberately divisive and deceitful. He does not believe in reconciliation and no effort at reconciliation will work with him.
“Therefore after deep introspection and wide consultation with various stakeholders in this State, my supporters and I have decided to leave Egypt, which the Fayose administration represents and join hands with patriotic Ekiti people to board the train of the APC for the onward journey to our promised land.
“We are joining forces with eminent Ekiti sons and daughters to free our land from the vulture and predator feeding fat on our common wealth.
“We want to set our land free and never again shall we entrust our land unto the hands of unknown person with unverifiable pedigree to ride roughshod on our people.
“We have assurances of Dr. Kayode Fayemi, the APC candidate, that he has come to right the wrong of the past and not on a vengeance mission as being touted by Fayose and his cohorts.
“He is now better equipped, well focused and better prepared to move Ekiti forward. Let’s join hands with him in the collective mission to rescue our dear State from the greedy predator in this hour of our greatest need. This is a call to duty for all patriotic Ekiti sons and daughters.
“My supporters, associates, PAAM and I have finally resolved to join APC with effect from today 29th May in the celebration of democracy day that some of us fought gallantly to achieve from the military.”
