The National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party, Prof. Wale Oladipo, has said the visit of the former Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, to former Interim Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, Chief Bisi Akande, has no political undertone.
Oladipo, who said this in a telephone interview with our correspondent in Osogbo on Wednesday, said Ribadu was not defecting from the PDP to the ruling party.
He said, “Ribadu has always been like a son to Baba Akande. I read about the visit and I am sure he is not defecting to the APC.
“The visit did not have any political meaning. He just simply visited him in Ila-Orangun. He has always been close to Baba and that does not mean he is leaving.”
He said there was nothing wrong in politicians having friends among those who were not members of their political parties.
The former EFCC boss had visited Akande at the latter’s residence in Ila-Orangun on Sunday and both of them said the visit had nothing to do with defection.
However, the Director of Publicity and Strategy of the Peoples Democratic Party in Osun State, Mr. Diran Odeyemi, had berated Ribadu for visiting Akande, who is a former governor of the state.
Odeyemi said, “I was told he visited Ila-Orangun but is Ila his local government where he is supposed to announce his defection?
“Ribadu has never proved to be a loyal party man. He joined the PDP from the ACN and he is going back now. He is not somebody to be depended upon when it comes to politics.”
Meanwhile, the first civilian Governor of Osun State, Senator Isiaka Adeleke, has assured Nigerians of the Senate’s determination to support the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
The former governor said this in a New Year message that the upper legislative chamber was ready to work with the executive arm of government to ensure that the nation was repositioned for greatness.
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