Defection to APC: We’re not against Jonathan – Ahmed

The Kwara State Governor, Dr. Abdulfatah Ahmed, has said that the movement of five governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party to the All Progressives Congress was not a fight against President Goodluck Jonathan, but against a party that has lost all traits of democratic ethos, a party that pursues personal rather than collective aspirations.
Governor Ahmed gave this explanation in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital, during a radio programme, Focal Point, on privately-owned Royal FM.
He said the PDP refused to be reinvigorated, reformed and rehabilitated, as the culture of impunity had taken toll on the party and like minds became disenchanted with developments in the party.
According to him, he and the governors of Adamawa, Kano, Rivers and Sokoto States have found the APC as an enabling platform to advance the cause of their people and other Nigerians.
He, however, gave an assurance that they remained open to collaboration with the Presidency on matters that can advance the development of the country.
Speaking further on the programme, Governor Ahmed said his administration will create additional 5,000 jobs in the first quarter of 2014 as an indication of what the forthcoming year’s budget would portend for the people of the state.
On human capital development, the governor disclosed that the International Vocational Centre, Ajasse-Ipo, under construction, will enrol its first batch of students in the second quarter of next year, while three technical colleges in Ilorin, Erin-Ile and Patigi would be rehabilitated to promote technical education in the state.
Ahmed added that his administration would also earmark N50 million on quarterly basis to assist individuals to drive small scale entrepreneurship in the state.
This, he noted, was apart of the N100 million loan scheme extended to artisans in the state.
Ahmed allayed fears that the new security outfit of the state, Operation Harmony, a collaboration between security agencies in the state, could harass the people of the state.
According to him, minimum best practices have been set to guide its operation.