A former Governor of Kwara State and  chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Senator Bukola Saraki, at the weekend hailed the defection of 37 members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the House of Representatives to the APC.

Also, abourt 3,000 members of the PDP in ErinIIe town in Oyun Local Government Area of Kwara State  yesterday dumped the party for the  APC.

Saraki stated this during the empowerment programme organised by the Chairman of the House Committee on Justice and member representing Ilorin East/South Federal Constituency of Kwara State at the Lower Chamber, Hon. Ali Ahmad, where items worth about N100 million were given out to the people of his constituency.

The former governor, who represents Kwara Central senatorial district at the National Assembly, described the development as a political necessary that would usher in a new political change and good governance in the polity.

He lauded the House members from the state at the National Assembly for what he called their bold decision to formally dump the PDP for APC.

The lawmaker said: "What happened in the House of Representatives in Abuja last Thursday would not have happened without the support and cooperation of members from Kwara State. It is an indication of their acceptability and endorsement in the House.

"I congratulate them for the wonderful job they are doing in Abuja. They are truly representing the state and we are very proud of them. And just as they are doing well in Abuja and justifying the confidence the good people of Kwara State reposed in them by appointing them to represent you, they are still doing better at home. This empowerment programme by my brother, Ali Ahmad testifies to the performance of our representatives in Abuja. It shows that they have the masses in mind and that is the essence of politics. As a politician you must be able to impact on the lives of your people through empowerment like this."

Saraki, who advised politicians to constantly remember the masses who elected them, said: "As a politician, you must be able to impact on the lives of your people through empowerment like this."

About 1,000 people benefited from the empowerment programme where items including 10 cars, 50 deep freezers, 50 motor bikes and other empowerment materials were distributed.

Ahmad said the empowerment was his contribution to address the issue of unemployment.

"We have seen that the unemployment rate is so high. And if anybody wants to do something for his people, he needs to address unemployment. This is our own contribution or widow's mite to ensure that the youths are employed," he said.

Meanwhile, the member of the state House of Assembly representing Odo-Ogun state constituency in Oyun Local Government Area, Hajia Sikirat Anako, while addressing the defectors at Erin-Ile, said the defectors decided to dump the PDP for APC in view of the tremendous developmental projects in the town.

The lawmaker, who received the defectors on behalf of the political leader of the state, Saraki, said the defectors were happy with the transparent leadership being exhibited by the present administration in the state.

Anako, who is the Deputy Chief Whip in the assembly, said "the defectors action was a reciprocal to various developmental programme embarked upon by Senator Saraki in Erin-IIe, when he was the governor of the state."

Also in his remarks, the leader of the defectors and former chairman of the PDP in Oyun Local Government Area, Alhaji Jimoh Adesina, said their decision to defect to APC was borne out of the fact that they wanted to be in the majority party.

He said: "The defectors are ready to join hands with Saraki and Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed in the realisation of their objectives of joining APC."