Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who defected to the All Progressives Congress (APC), following the latter’s victory in the recent general elections, have been described as political harlots, who do not believe in democracy and party politics.
A PDP chieftain and member of the House of Representatives, Hon. Joseph Akinlaja, who made the declaration in Lagos, implored the defecting members to return to the party to help rebuild it.
Akinlaja noted that the defeat of the party does not mean that it has collapsed. He added: “PDP is still very much alive; it is not dead. In fact, I believe the PDP will rise again. Our defeat at the recent general elections by the APC should not discourage our members. Defection is not the answer. The best thing is for us to re-strategise and fight back as a formidable political party, to challenge the APC and make the PDP a viable alternative for Nigerians.’’
Akinlaja, who represents Ondo East/Ondo West Constituency, said that the PDP will strive to become a stonger political party adding that it needs the contributions of all its members to do that. He said: “I don’t want the defectors to see politics as bread and butter affair alone. Politics is also about principle. Why should you cross carpet or defect simply because your party lost an election? Election is about losing and winning. When you win, you celebrate and when you lose, it is not the end of the world; you only need to go back to the drawing board to plan for the future. If you jump ship anytime your party loses an election, then you are a political harlot and that is not good for your image.”
The lawmaker appealed to PDP members to co-operate with President Goodluck Jonathan and other party leaders in their efforts to reposition the party, saying President Jonathan’s decision to concede defeat to his opponent, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of the APC is something worthy of emulation.