By Terna Chikpa, Jalingo
A former member of the Taraba State House of Assembly, Kenan Kaigama, on Saturday said the Peoples Democratic Party is a representation of true democracy, a broader political platform to work for.
The ex-lawmaker also described the opposition parties in Taraba state as docile.
Kaigama stated this in Garba Chede, Bali Local Government while commissioning the Kaigama ward party office. He revealed why he went back to the PDP, a party he once abandoned for the the Social Democratic Party.
According to the former lawmaker, he returned because the PDP represents a broader platform and the opposition in the state is “docile.”
“It’s a bigger platform and a vibrant party. So I’m back, first of all, to continue to serve the party and contribute my quota to the progress and victory of the PDP at all levels. As I returned to this party, Bali LGA is now 100 percent PDP.
“My return to the PDP has given the Kaigama ward a new lease of life, considering the number and caliber of persons that came out to received us.
“The docile nature of the opposition parties in the state has forced many of their members to defect to PDP. Despite touting itself as the ruling party at the center, the APC has lost its bearing as the major opposition party in Taraba” He stated.
Mr Kaigama who contested the House of Representatives seat under the platform of SDP, to represent Gassol/Bali constituency in the last election said, “Since the APC and other political parties lost in the last election, they became irrelevant in the state, without leadership.
“The APC in Taraba does not understand the role of the opposition and has since been struggling to survive amidst leadership crisis. Being the party ruling at the center, is supposed to lead a formidable opposition structure in the state to engage the government in constructive criticism.
“Yes, the PDP have been ruling the state since the inception of democracy in 1999, that doesn’t mean that the other political parties should not speak when things are not right. People should not wait to showcase themselves as opposition only during elections. Checking and engaging government with objective criticisms is also part of opposition.
“The silent of the APC and other political parties in the state is causing them a lot, they are losing membership, public support and sympathy
“Since the opposition is not serious in the state, I felt their is the need for me as a young man to return to my former party, and see how we can assist the governor in bringing development to the state, instead of staying outside with politicians that are not serious in the development of Taraba but only in fighting for power during elections.
“I’m back, first of all, to continue to serve the party and contribute my quota to the progress and success of the PDP administration at all levels.
“My decision to return to the party has started yielding results, as you can see, I just donated an office accommodation for the PDP youth vanguard in my ward
“My coming to PDP will bring me closer to my people because they have lost faith in the opposition,” Kaigama expressed.
