Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has officially announced his defection to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
Metuh who explained why he dumped the PDP, said the party abandoned him during his travails under late president, Muhammadu Buhari.
Metuh, who announced that he had resigned from partisan politics about three years ago, declared that he would be making a comeback on the platform of the APC because its members where there for him when it mattered most.
Metuh made the declaration on Sunday at a thanksgiving service to mark his 60th birthday in Abuja.
Among those present were Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma; former Senate President, Anyim Pius Anyim; former governors of Abia, Ebonyi and Imo States, Okezie Ikpeazu, Sam Egwu and Ikedi Ohakim, as well as Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye, among several others.
Addressing journalists after the service, Metuh who said he was ready to contribute his quota to the development of the country through the APC, stressed that Nigeria needs a vibrant opposition to sustain its democracy.
He added that even with the gale of defections, he does not believe that Nigeria is going towards a one party State.
Metuh noted that Nigeria is facing some challenges, but promised to contribute his own quota to grow the nation’s democracy.
“I am trying to make sure that I assist the government at the centre, the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to deliver the goods, the dividends of democracy. I have seen the steps, I have seen the challenges, and as a patriotic Nigerian, I want to join hands in resolving those challenges.”
Speaking on his travails during his testimony before the congregation, Metuh said, “When I had problems I did not see my party; I did not see the people I suffered for.
“I was in the court with my family. But in the midst of that, somebody who I criticised so much, there is no week, because President Tinubu was the head of the opposition then, every week we must find something to criticise him with.
“In the middle of my problem he sent the speaker of the House of Representatives then, Femi Gbajabiamila to come and see me.
He reached out to me; he comforted me and he did a lot of things for me then and this was someone who was my political enemy.
“So I say today, that it is really not where you sow that you will reap, it is where God said you will reap that you will reap. I wish PDP well, I gave my life to PDP. But I have moved on, and I wish them well,” Metuh said.
On the agitation over one party State, Metuh said they are a lot of credible people in the opposition who will make sure Nigeria does not become one party state.
“There are a lot of credible citizens, Atiku Abubakar is a very credible person. Peter Obi is a very credible person. David Mark is very credible. There are a lot of people,” he said.
Metuh disclosed that he was invited several times by President Tinubu to join the ruling party but he refused.
“It took me a long time to get involved in politics. I’ve been called several times. The president wanted to work with me. Even in 2015, when we lost the election, I didn’t bother. He reached out to me again.
“When I left politics in 2022, he called me to come into his party. And I refused. After he won the election, I went to see him. He called me to enter the party that he needed me. I refused because I stopped politics.
“Now that I’m in politics, I want to help. Maybe I could be a good voice on this side. To ensure that the polity is good. Like I explained to you, we need space in our democracy. We need to grow it. We need vibrant opposition. We need people to express their views. We need to do all sorts,” he added.
