Oboro, a former Senator, was received by State Chairman of APC and executives of the party, three senatorial candidates of the party in the forthcoming polls, and party loyalists.
The leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Bayelsa State on Friday received Senator Fred Oboro, a defecting chieftain of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
Oboro, a former Senator, was received by State Chairman of APC and executives of the party, three senatorial candidates of the party in the forthcoming polls, and party loyalists.
Speaking at a news conference, Oboro, who noted that he was a founding member of PDP in Bayelsa, criticized his estranged party for lacking internal democracy.
He said that President Jonathan owed the state an apology for neglecting his home state during his six years as President.
“In 1998, we laid the foundations for PDP and nurtured the party to become the dominant party that it has become in the state, but the outcome of the recent PDP congress has destroyed the cohesion in the party.
“The people of Bayelsa have been yearning for development, and pledged that the APC presidential candidate would reverse the trend,” Oboro said.
He expressed the view that Bayelsa has fared better under presidents from the North, recalling that the state was created by General Sanni Abacha while the amnesty programme being enjoyed by the youths of the state was the handiwork of Late President Musa Yar’Adua.
He regretted that the Ijaw nation has not benefitted from Jonathan Presidency and declared that those canvassing support for him base their support on mere sentiments.
He described a vote for Jonathan as a wasted one and urged the people to collect their permanent voters card and vote in APC in the coming polls.
Also speaking at the occasion, Chief Timipre Sylva, a former governor and an APC Senate candidate in the coming polls, said that Oboro, who was a pillar in PDP, will be an asset to APC.
He asserted that insecurity, widespread poverty and epileptic power supply would be addressed if APC was elected in the coming elections.
He also said that the leadership of the APC would soon receive more credible politicians who have indicated their interest in joining the APC, adding that Bayelsa needs the rest of Nigerian society, with its diversity, to optimally exploit its abundant natural resources for the benefit of its people.
Welcoming Oboro to the party’s fold, Bayelsa APC Chairman, Chief Timipa Orunimighe also described the former PDP chieftain as an asset to the party and urged him to join forces to enhance the fortunes of the party in the polls.