Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, has stated that the recent wave of defections from opposition parties to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) is an expression of patriotism and confidence in President Bola Tinubu’s leadership.
Naijaonpoint reports that Akpabio stated this on Wednesday night after leading Senator representing Cross River North, Agom Jarigbe, and Senator Kaila Samaila of Bauchi North, to a meeting with Tinubu at the State House, Abuja.
Both lawmakers recently defected from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to the APC.
Speaking to State House correspondents after the meeting, Akpabio said the lawmakers’ decision to join the APC was inspired by President Tinubu’s economic reforms and commitment to national development.
He said, “They (Jarigbe and Samaila) are Mr President’s children, and they are his supporters. The president is the father of the nation and the father of all political parties.
“But interestingly, they joined the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on different political platforms, but as a result of Mr President’s policies that have turned things around economically and particularly in terms of revenue generation for the nation, they found it expedient to come and join to build Nigeria.
“There’s nothing but patriotism. They are not interested in which political party is in power, but they are interested in who can run Nigeria, who can improve Nigeria, and who can put food on the tables of Nigerians.”
Also speaking, Jarigbe said his defection was driven by his conviction that Tinubu is performing creditably.
According to the lawmaker, teaming up with Tinubu and the APC is a clear demonstration of his support for the President and his policies that are repositioning the country.
He stated, “I joined the APC because the president is really doing well, and I want to come in and support him in delivering the dividends of democracy to our people.”
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