We need new Edo State — Edebiri

By Simon Ebegbulem
BENIN—OVER 1,000  members of the Hope Democratic Party, HDP, yesterday, decamped to the Peoples Progressive Party, PPP,   in Edo State, saying that they decided to move due to the ideology of the PPP.

The decampees, led by the state chairman of the HDP,  Mr Simon Orhiekese, said they were tired of the policies of other parties both in the state and at the national level, lamenting that the people of the state had suffered deprivation due to bad governance.

The National Chairman of the PPP,  Solomon Edebiri, National Secretary, Alhaji Samaila Sifawa, State Chairman, Ayo Aikhanegbe and other top party executives, who received  the decampees called for the immediate enthronement of progressive ideology in the governance  of the state.

Edebiri, who presented the party’s flag to the new members in the presence of other party leaders,  including representatives of the Congress for Progressive Change,  urged  members to  stand up for the truth, saying that the party will sweep all the seats in the state come 2011 and 2012 and that members should ensure that the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, led government, which according to him, is full of  “deceit” is thrown out of the system.

Addressing member, , Edebiri said,  “it is good that you have seen the light and I am happy that you have decamped to the PPP. That you have embraced our ideology, embraced our manifesto and have made this known publicly is commendable. I want to tell you that today you have washed away your pains. With the flag you flag away problems.

It is the honour of the people that are suffering and you have decided well. What I see here today reestablishes the hope that Edo State will be free.”