•No going back on PDP reform, Tukur vows
By Chinwendu Nnadozie (Minna) and Rotimi Akinwumi (Abuja)
Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu
Niger State Governor and Chairman, Northern States Governors Forum (NSGF), Babangida Aliyu, has denied media reports that he has pulled out of a group of seven Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors (G-7 Governors) that form the bulk of the leadership of a breakaway faction of the party known as New PDP.
He was reacting to the report which claimed that he decided to pull out because he "was no longer comfortable with the group," saying as a leader of the G-7 Governors he cannot contemplate abandoning the group now.
Aliyu, who has been criticised for championing a North West course, said he could not have left the struggle now that the aggrieved party leaders have the listening ears of President Goodluck Jonathan.
"I, Babangida Aliyu, am still a member of the G-7. In fact, as a matter of fact, I am the leader of the G7 Governors", Aliyu said on Tuesday when he hosted National President of the Civil Service Union, Mohammed Shuaib, who led other members on a courtesy call on him at the Government House, Minna.
He, however, explained that being a member of the group does not necessarily mean that he should abandon discussions currently going on between them and President Goodluck Jonathan.
He said the struggle was based on the need for entrenchment of democracy within the PDP.
The report of his purported pulling out, he said, was sponsored to break the ranks of the G7 Governors.
He said this was not the right time for him or any member of the rebel Governors to pull out of the struggle when the President was giving them listening ears.
As a leader and once a follower, Aliyu said it was morally wrong for him to abandon the struggle, especially on-going negotiations with the President, insisting that those behind the story did so with ulterior motives not only to create more confusion among members of the New PDP but also cause setback in the negotiations with the Presidency.
"This is not even the time for me or anybody in the struggle to pull out. We are still discussing with Mr. President and until he stops discussing with us or a time that we cannot agree on anything, it's then we start thinking of the next line of action. Pulling out is definitely not an option now," the Governor said.
"I regard that report as enemy action. Because I woke up this morning with the rude shock that because I was not at a meeting reporters went to town saying I have pulled out of G-7. I am the leader of G-7.
"I regard that write up as an enemy action by people who are interested in breaking our ranks and who are trying to impute motives where there are none.
"You might have noticed when I came in that I have been coughing," Aliyu said as he cautioned those he accused of playing to the gallery over issues within the party to leave the party with its affairs alone.
"On Sunday that we were to hold meeting, I wasn't feeling well, but I wanted to go; then I got a call that the Sokoto State Governor, because he had a programme today (Tuesday) of opening the state university and had requested that the meeting be shifted from 8.00 p.m. to 2.00 p.m. and I sent an apology that I was not feeling well.
"Our issue is like that of a man with a wife or many wives, if you communicate with your wife or wives you will have peace in your home and that is what dialogue is all about. We must continue discussions to make progress in Nigeria," Aliyu said.
He said the fact that Jonathan is currently discussing with the G-7 Governors shows that there is hope for the future of all the party members.
Aliyu advised other members of the New PDP to ignore the media report disassociating him from the group.
"Mr. President could have said he is not discussing with us if he deems it fit to ignore us, but he did not say that, he chose to discuss with us because he is a leader."
He challenged members of the New PDP not to be in a hurry to scuttle on-going peace moves.
President of the civil service union, Shuaib, in his remarks, said they were visiting the Governor to intimate Aliyu who was once a trade unionist of their delegate conference taking place in his domain.
National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, also spoke on Tuesday, vowing that there is gong back on the struggle to reform the party and entrench democracy and good governance in the country.
He made the vow while playing host to some groups – Society for Defense for Democracy, Hope for New Nigeria Global Initiative and the Arewa Political Women Frontiers – during a courtesy call on him at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja.
Speaking on his struggle within the party, Tukur said there was no going back in the struggle to seek for peace, unity and reconciliation of differences among members.
"No going back in this struggle to entrench democracy and good governance in our country. No going back in seeking for peace and unity and reconciliation of our differences.
"I want all of you to understand where our family is and family always will adjust and move forward and do what is the best interest of the family.
"I can assure you in our journey to rebuild our party based on equity and justice, there is no going back. Our process of election… no selection; that is what is going to happen.
"Our philosophy of consensus, not imposition is what is going to happen.
"When you have a strong, united and peaceful political party you are sure of having a good developmental programme for the nation," Tukur said.
Earlier, National Coordinator of Society for Defence of Democracy, Mohammed Musa Bako, expressed the willingness of the group to mobilise support for the party to win the 2015 elections.
He assured that his group would mobilise 37 million people for the PDP in March 2014, adding that the mobilisation will begin from the North with 19 million people from the 19 Northern states.
Bako berated the splinter PDP group and the G-7 Governors for their constant attack on Tukur, and criticism of Jonathan.
"Why are they afraid of Bamanga Tukur, we will tell them that we are tired of their leadership in the North. Let them show us what they have done in the eight years they have been in office."
