The Deputy Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, George Ibezimako Ozodinobi, has condemned the defection of four Labour Party (LP) lawmakers to the All Progressives Congress (APC), calling it a betrayal of loyalty.
Speaking after the speaker announced the defections during Thursday’s plenary, Ozodinobi criticized the defectors—Esosa Iyawe (Edo), Tochukwu Okere (Imo), Donatus Matthew (Kaduna), and Bassey Akiba (Cross River)—for abandoning their commitment to the Labour Party.
He warned, “I am telling those who have defected that they will continue weeping for themselves because where you have crossed over to, you don’t have a future.”
The defectors, along with Erhiatake Ibori-Suenu (Delta), who left the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for the APC, cited internal divisions within their former parties as their reason for leaving.
However, Ozodinobi expressed disappointment, urging politicians to remain loyal to their chosen platforms.
He referenced the Bible to underline his point, saying, “When Jesus was carrying the cross to Calvary, the woman, Veronica, was weeping. And he looked back and said, ‘Women of Israel, don’t weep for me; weep for yourself.’”
He emphasized that loyalty and perseverance bring long-term rewards, while betrayal leads to regret.
