Former Governor of Edo State, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, yesterday, reacted to the gale of defections that have hit the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in recent times and saying that the development does not worry him because defection is characteristic of the average Nigerian politician.
He, however, stated that he foresees the defectors coming back to the party or to another party that would hold sway in the nearest future.
Igbinedion spoke to journalists shortly after he led leaders of the party and others to pay a condolence visit to former Chief Whip of the Senate, Sir Rowland Owie at his residence in Benin over the death of his wife, Lady Helen Owie.
“I don’t worry so much about the defections because I know Nigerian politicians, they swing from one side to the other. If anything happens tomorrow, those people that defected, you will see them coming back to the PDP.
“There was a time when the PDP had the highest number of governors in this country and we saw PDP both in the south and in the north and now it is APC’s turn, they will be deflated sooner or later and whether it is going to be PDP or a new party, only God knows”, he said.
Commenting on the move for a coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in 2027, Igbinedion said: “I have always been in the PDP since 1998 and I am not contemplating leaving PDP but one thing for sure is that I believe in equity and that equity means that it is the turn of the southerner to be president. So, if any other southerner comes tomorrow from the PDP, of course, I will support the Southerner. After that, in 2031, it will then be the turn of the North, I will also look at the possible candidate for that job.”
Accompanied by the Edo State chairman of the party, Dr. Tony Aziegbemi, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chief Tom Ikimi, former Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Stephen Idehenre and others, Igbinedion said they were in Owie’s house to commiserate with him as an ally.
“We have known for many decades and he is somebody who is full of life and, I also admire him a lot because to be married for fifty years is not a joke and to lose a life partner can be very saddening and we came to condole with him and wish him continuous God’s strength, God knows best and we came to give the necessary support to carry on without her.”
Earlier while speaking on behalf of the delegation, Aziegbemi told Owie that despite the pain of death, his wife living to be 71 years was a consolation since the Bible records 70 as an acceptable time to die.
“We share in your grief but we tell you that your wife is in heaven and as they say, there is no right time for anybody to die but the time destined for the person to die. We are here on a temporary basis, heaven is our permanent home,” he said.
On his part, Owie said he met his late wife 51 years ago and that she made him a better person and a good family man.
“She came to my life 51 years ago. When a man does not have a good home, he is not happy going home. She came into my life and from going home at 4 am, it went into going home at 2am, then at 10 pm and at a point, you see no need not to be at home,” he disclosed.
Lady Helen Owie died on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at the age of 71 in Abuja after a brief illness.
From Tony Osauzo, Benin @TheSUN
