ODAHIEKWU OGUNDE, Yenagoa
A former Commandant of the National Defence College (NDC), Abuja, Rear Admiral Thomas Lokoson (rtd), has abandoned the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic (PDP) in Bayelsa State.
Lokoson was received on Saturday by the members and leaders of the PDP at his Ward 5 in Otuan community of the Southern Ijaw Local Government Government Area, Bayelsa Central Senatorial District.
His defection from the APC happened about three weeks after Governor Douye Diri rejected political overtures from a chieftain of the APC and former deputy governor of the state, Peremobowei Ebebi to join the APC.
Speaking at the event, Lokoson said his decision to return to the PDP was because of the performance and achievements of Diri’s administration in the state.
The ex-NDC commandant thanked the PDP for welcoming him back to the party, saying that the present administration had demonstrated sufficient enthusiasm for the overall development of the state.
Lokoson said: “I have decided to come back and I wish to thank the leadership of the party for welcoming me back and accepting me. I have studied and watched political and economic developments going on in Bayelsa.
“And I thought that as a Bayelsan with the interest of the state at heart, it is time for me to come back (to the PDP). Moreover, as I look back, I see only three people that are still behind and we will work very hard to bring them back on board also.”
Lokoson, who is also a philanthropist, promised to reintroduce his foundation’s educational scholarship scheme with the inauguration of a special committee to screen and verify the first 10 beneficiaries by September 2021.
In his remarks, the state Secretary of PDP, Gesiye Isowo, attributed the wave of defections into the party to the directive of Diri that former members should be reconciled to the party.
He welcomed Lokoson back into the party, assuring him that the umbrella was big enough to accommodate many people in the party.