Baraje, Saraki Hail Defection Of 37 PDP Reps To APC

A former acting National Chairman of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, Alhaji Kawu Baraje, and Senate Committee Chairman on Ecology and Environment, Dr. Abubakar Saraki Thursday hailed the defection of 37 members of the House of Representatives from the PDP to the All Progressives Congress, APC, as a commendable move that will motivate other members to follow suit.

Baraje and Saraki, who had earlier defected to the APC, added that the defection was good for democracy and would ensure the enthronement of good governance in the country.

They spoke during the constituency empowerment programme of a member representing Ilorin East and South in the House of Representatives, Dr. Ali Ahmad.

Baraje, who was chairman of the now rested ‘new PDP, urged Nigerians to remain law abiding and avoid taking laws into their hands, saying more members of the ruling party would still defect to APC.

“I am happy with the defection of some members of the House of Representatives from the People Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress.  More members of the PDP and the Reps will also defect to the APC”, he said.

Saraki, who was former governor of Kwara State, noted that Rep members from the state played crucial roles in the defection of the lawmakers and commended them for representing their constituency well in the National Assembly.

Ahmad, who is also the Chairman, House Committee on Justice and one of the defectors, said it was very important to address unemployment in the country.

According to him, over N100m had been invested in the empowerment programme with no fewer than 15,000 people, including about 10,000 youths as wells as traders, artisans and people in other economic sectors benefitting both directly and indirectly from the empowerment programme.

Ahmad gave a breakdown of the empowerment programme thus: “I am giving out 10 cars which cost N1.5m each. We have 50 deep freezers, 50 motor bikes and other empowerment tools. There is also the information and communication centre. So I am investing close to N100m in this empowerment”.