http://odili.net/news/source/2011/jul/10/814.html

Edo: PDP vice-chairman, ex-Speaker defect to ACN

James Azania, Benin

The national vice-chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party in Edo State and senatorial leader in Edo Central, Chief Simeon Omofuma and one-time Speaker of the state house of assembly and prominent PDP leader in Edo Central, David Iyoha, have defected to the Action Congress of Nigeria.

Others who crossed over from the PDP at a massive rally, which held at the open field of Eguare Primary School, in Ekpoma, on Friday, included a cleric, Mr. Ehigie Ehimua; son of a popular grass roots politician in Esanland and over three thousand of their supporters.

The former Speaker said he and the others decided to join the ACN to be part of the development train going on in the state.

He said, "Without any equivocation, we are being persuaded to move to the ACN because of the developmental and people-oriented strides of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole.

"There is nowhere or around the state that is not aware of the transformation going on in public schools and other areas across the state.

"Look at this school where we are, is it not a wonder? A school like this will naturally transform the intellectual capacity of any child to excel academically.

"There is no one driving or passing through Benin City that will not praise your foresight because your desire for standard is high. These roads, like those constructed by Prof. Ambrose Alli about 30 years ago, will stand the test of time.

"Your desire to better the lives of people in the rural areas is seen with the massive road construction and opening up of towns and villages in Edo State. I commend your efforts."

Omofuma, who spoke in the local Esan dialect said, "Others will still join the ACN before December."

Oshiomhole, in an address he delivered at the ground, chided the PDP for blaming their losses at the last general elections on traditional rulers, saying they lost because of the poor legacy they left behind.

He said, "It is the legacy they left behind that made the people to punish them with their votes. When you go to Ekpoma, near the market where we dug a borehole, that tank had been there for 20to25 years.

"They told us we can get no water in Ekpoma, but we told them if there is water at Nova Hotel, the God that made it possible for them to get water there could not be wicked to deny Ekpoma water.

"We struck water at 1,500ft and we installed water treatment, the first in Edo State and today, that water is clean and good. We took the same machine to Iruekpen and after drilling for 1,300ft, we struck water and we are going to install water treatment plant there."