Chat 212 - News Summary...
- Babangida Aliyu has described the seven governors opposing the PDP as a reformers and not rebels.
- He spoke when members of the executive committee of the party in the North Central zone, led by its Chairman, Yusuf Ayetogu paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Minna yesterday.
Chat 212 - Newsmail Report...
Niger State governor,Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has described the seven governors on the platform of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, PDP, opposed to the national leadership of the party led by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur as reformers and not rebels.
Aliyu also said that he would remain committed to the course of championing reformation in the party with the aim of taking it away from the apron strings of undemocratic elements within the party.
He spoke when members of the executive committee of the party in the North Central zone, led by its Chairman, Yusuf Ayetogu paid him a courtesy visit at Government House, Minna yesterday.
He also said the G7 governors in the party should not be seen as rebels but as reformers who were out to put the PDP on the right part.
Governor Aliyu said: “What we are saying is that there is room for reform. The principle of democracy is that you cannot have it good at the top while the bottom is rotten.
“The fact that we have been in government for the past 14 years does not mean that we must be there perpetually. We are there because people have trust and confidence and believe that the party can help Nigerians to live peacefully but in a situation where autocracy is the order of the day… then some people must intervene and this is what some of us are doing.”
Governor Aliyu who made a veiled reference to the agreement some governors purportedly signed with President Goodluck Jonathan to serve for one term of four years only in office before the 2011 general elections, however, said that the issue should be for Nigerians to decide at the appropriate time, as according to him, it was only God that gives power.
He said: “Whether you agree that there is a promise or no promise; agreement or no agreement, it is okay. That is left for the people to decide.”
On the 2015 presidency, he added, “nobody can remove the President today unless God says so because he did not bring himself to power. The future is in the hands of God.’’
Responding, the Zonal Chairman of the PDP, Alhaji Yusuf Ayetogu said his team was in the state to persuade the governor on the need for him to sheathe his sword and move the party towards the path of unity.
