Lawmakers were paid N50m to defect - Oshiomhole

The Edo State Governor, Adams Oshiomhole is angry with some of the lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly who recently defected to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress.

He made his feelings known on Monday while addressing different groups of youths on peaceful protest to State House in Benin, where he alleged that each member was given N50m to sell their mandates. He however said his administration was unperturbed by “the defected lawmakers” actions.

He went on to describe their actions as sickening because they were “young men who should be anxious to break from the past.”

Oshiomhole said that, in spite of the efforts of Edo people, who all went round to campaign for the legislators, they decided to sell their mandate for money

He stressed that they believed they had no chance of being re-elected in February next year, either because they have already served two terms or because they have performed poorly.

They now decided to benefit from the desperation in different parts of the country by selling their mandate for N50m each. They have collected advance payment of N35m.

“When I read this in the newspapers, initially, I didn’t believe. But going round, people tell me they are buying new vehicles, others are rebuilding their hotels. Suddenly money is flowing.

My Take:

Common my Governor, as much as I am not in support of this, this is precisely the kind of politics we have in Nigeria. Politics of the highest bidder, so am a little disappointed in you for being unhappy with these young men's action. They are doing only what they have been taught, so lets cut the hypocrisy and call things as they really are.

When other party members defect to your party, you celebrate by holding rallies and having a ball, so why not just man-up and take it like a man. Congratulate them for being wise. For that amount, I can assure you, more are set to follow these ones, so get ready for "migration 2015."