‘Bankole, a political paperweight in Ogun’

The Ogun State Chairman, Peoples
Democratic Party, Mr. Adebayo
Dayo, has said the party will not
lose its sleep concerning the
alleged threat by the former
Speaker of the House of
Representatives, Dimeji Bankole, to
defect to the Social Democratic
Party as he described him a
political paperweight in the state.
He said this on Tuesday at the state
party secretariat in Abeokuta, after
inaugurating a 35-man campaign
committee for the state
governorship candidate of the
party, Gboyega Isiaka.
The Director-General of the
committee is one of the
governorship aspirants, and also a
former chief of staff to former
governor of the state, Otunba
Gbenga Daniel, Chief Abayomi
Mejekodunmi.
Dayo said it was a free world where
each individual had the right to
associate with any group or party.
Moreover, he added that he
(Bankole) could defect if he wished,
but it would be obvious that he
could not muster the required
votes.
He said, “Let me tell you, because I
always say the truth. I heard about
it last night and I can tell you as I
have said earlier, everybody has
the right to be associated with any
group that he wishes.
“If he (Bankole) defects to another
party, you will then know and the
people in Abuja will know who is
on ground.
“Somebody who contested for the
position of House of
Representatives in one local
government area when he was in
office as the Speaker of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and lost, let him
now contest in 20 local government
areas and let us see the outcome.
“Let him contest under any
platform and people in Abuja will
know whether he is actually on
ground or not. That is all I have to
say.”
Dayo said the party could not force
everybody to stay in PDP.
While inaugurating the 35-man
campaign committee, Dayo urged
them to work as a team and carry
along all contestants who lost out
at the party primary.