Bankole’s defection - ‘It’s a free world, everybody has the right to be associated with any group that he wishes’ – Mr Dayo

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Ogun state has reacted to the defection of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Honourable Dimeji Bankole, to the newly formed Social Democratic Party in the state.
Fielding questions from reporters during the inauguration of the state’s 35-man Governorship Campaign Committee at the party secretariat, the Chairman of the PDP, Mr. Bayo Dayo says the party is not bothered as Bankole is a paper weight politician who poses no threat to the chances of the PDP to win the governorship poll in the state.  

Dayo accused Bankole of boycotting the party’s primaries because he was banking on support from Abuja. He opined that Bankole does not have any electoral value. 

He said: “I always say the truth. I heard it (Bankole’s defection) last night and I can tell you as I have said earlier, it’s a free world, everybody has the right to be associated with any group that he wishes. But if that is done, you will then know and the people in Abuja will know who is on the ground.

“Bankole contested the position of House of Representatives in one local government when he was in office as the Speaker of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and lost.

“Let him now contest in 20 local government areas and let us see the outcome. I challenge them to the fact that come February 14, you will all see the result of whatever arrangement that is going on. 

“Some people, when they live in glass houses, they will not know that there are other people looking at them.

“Let him contest under any platform and people in Abuja will know whether he is actually on ground or not. That is all I have to say. We cannot force everybody to stay in PDP. Our prayer is that the more people that are going out, more people that are more than them should be coming to the party. And with that, we are going to win the election come February 14 by the grace of God.  

It will be recalled that the step-mother of the former Speaker recently died after suffering from a heart-related illness.

When one drive from the mainland towards the Island through 3rd mainland bridge you can see Makoko at the Ebuta Metta diversion just below the bridge it's easy to spot the poignant plight and lack of hygiene the residents lives in which makes it uninhabitable.