By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Ahead of the June18, 2022 Ekiti Gubernatorial polls, a former chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hon. Bimbo Daramola has said he dumped the party for the Social Democratic Party (SDP) as a result of alleged poor treatment meted to him, in spite his sacrifice to the party for years.
Hon. Daramola, a lawmaker had represented the Ekiti North Federal Constituency 1, between 2011-2015 at the House of Representatives.
Speaking to journalists in Ward two Ire-Ekiti, shortly after he was admitted into SDP, Daramola said : “I was detained in this party in 2019 and then in 2022, some people are making it difficult for me to be able to serve my people.
“People are being selected and people are telling me not to contest and all that, I felt that my first option was to leave and to quit politics.
“But look at our mothers here, look at all of this people, how am I going to quit politics, I love my people from the bottom of my heart.
“I was a striker in this party, I supported the party with all of my life and put my life on the line and what did I get from it? Nothing.”
Daramola pointed out that he cares about his people and would not abandon them, saying the issue is not about his personality.
Daramola said, “today, it is with a large sense of pain, somewhat disappointment, that I turn my back and walk away from the house that we jointly built on strong values. What I thought was the pristine values of Ekiti people and our commitment and dedication to a society that works, held in place by pillars of the creed and ethos of pure love, justice, fairness and unity of purpose.
“When I chose to leave the comfort of a predictable and straightforward life in the organized public sector, as a geologist turned banker and PR Consultant, where the guarantees of a good life for myself and family and maybe a few others were not in doubt.
“I had assumed and living with the impression that I was pursuing a dream to contribute to building of a society and state where life could be more meaningful for a lot more people over and above few privileged fat cats or self which is what good politics promises, but no sooner than I came in that I began to see different twists and human machinations that are antithetical to the ideals that politics is meant to advance, fulfil and deliver on.”
The new SDP stalwart however, said his humble track and service records remain an open book for all to see in Ekiti and beyond.
He lamented that, ” in a party where I gave all of me and putting my life on the line severally, over the past years, it seems the environment is deliberately being made very toxic for sincerity of intentions, asyphixiating to the advancement of true service.
“I care about our people and I want to serve them and I felt at a point like this, I believe that I have a lot of things in common with Engr. Segun Oni.
“How can I be in a party people would have pre-destinatex where I go, they pick who would go to the House of Representatives, the Senate and use SMS to pick those who will go to the state assembly, so, I had to do what I had to do.
“What I am doing today, I am not making a mistake and it’s not a guess work, it’s a well thought out plan.”
Hon. Daramola added that, “politics must have meaning, it’s unfortunate that we gather people together and ride on their mandate to power only to abandon them.
“Segun Oni, is a man of honour, a true leader who served with fairness and integrity and that is why he has been able to enjoy the massive support of the people”.
Receiving Hon. Daramola to the party, the SDP in Ire-Ekiti Ward 2, Chairman, Chief Sunday Ajayi, described him as a great mobilizer and lover of his people, a true Ire-Ekiti son who has been supporting his people at all times.
He commended Hon. Daramola, for his effort to join the SDP and to work for the party in his homestead.
