Metuh added that the president had, on several occasions in the past, urged him to join the APC, but he declined.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Former National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Olisa Metuh, has claimed he decided to join the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after President Bola Tinubu appealed to him.
He made this known recently in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) while addressing newsmen.
Metuh announced his defection to the APC on Sunday during a thanksgiving service to mark his 60th birthday in Abuja, claiming the PDP abandoned him.
The event drew several prominent political figures, including Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma; former Senate President Anyim Pius Anyim; and former governors of Abia, Ebonyi, and Imo states: Okezie Ikpeazu, Sam Egwu, and Ikedi Ohakim. Senators Victor Umeh and Tony Nwoye were also in attendance.
However, while justifying his decision to join the APC in his latest media parley, Metuh recalled that Tinubu had sent his Chief of Staff, Femi Gbajabiamila (then Speaker of the House of Representatives), to convince him to “jump ship.”
He added that the president had, on several occasions in the past, urged him to join the APC and work for him, but he had turned him down.
He said: “In the middle of my problem, he sent the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, to come and see me. He reached out to me; he comforted me.
“It took me a long time to get involved in politics. I’ve been called several times. The president wanted to work with me. Even in 2015, when we lost the election, I didn’t bother. He reached out to me again.
“When I left politics in 2022, he called me to come into his party. I refused. After he won the election, I went to see him. He called me to enter the party that he needed me. I refused because I stopped politics.”
Metuh was tried and jailed over his involvement in the alleged diversion of funds meant to fight Boko Haram insurgents in 2015.
He was accused of receiving N400 million from the Office of the then National Security Adviser (ONSA), led by Sambo Dasuki.
