Pulled from HUHUONLINE
Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State on Friday disclosed that the refusal of President Goodluck Jonathan to honour the single-term pact he reached with the party prior to 2011 was the reason for the wholesome defeat experienced by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2015 general election.
Aliyu, who only fell short of mentioning President Jonathan, said some members of the party, including him, saw the defeat coming and as such, it was not a surprise that it happened.
The governor was the first to publicly declare that President Jonathan signed a one-term pact with the party in 2011 and that it would be dishonourable for him to attempt a second term.
Since then, the issue became controversial as even former President Olusegun Obasanjo also accused President Jonathan of promising to relinquish power after four years, an allegation severally denied by the presidency.
Speaking as a Special Guest of Honour at the convocation lecture of Federal University of Technology, Minna, Niger State, said the what the PDP experienced at the governorship election was the ripple effect of the dismall defeat at the presidential election.
“Many of us saw it coming,” he said at the event which had Prof. Ahmed Alkali, Political Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan and Chairman of the institution’s Governing Council, in attendance. “When I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term, they nearly crucified me.
“When I led the G7, they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left and they did what we asked them to do.”
“Many of us saw the defeat coming. Even when I told some of us that we had a one-term agreement, they nearly crucified me. Now, sir, you have seen the results,” he told Professor Alkali.
“I recall also that when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy that now, we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking: ‘are you really a member?’
Governor Aliyu, a member of the seven aggrieved governors of the PDP (G7)
He said till the defeat of the partyUp, dumped the group as it moved to join the APC.
But at the convocation venue, the Governor said until the recent election, he was constantly accused of being a member of the APC by proxy.
“Nigerians wanted a change and Nigerians got the change. You will have many reasons.
“One, PDP has been around for 16 years and there is no way you will be around for 16 years and you will not make mistakes.
“So, there are many reasons that will be put together and we will be able to understand and guide people,” he said.
Aliyu appealed to Nigerians to eschew corruption and other tendencies that could destroy the country’s economy.
Alkali agreed that Nigeria was at a crossroads especially because of the 2015 general election.
He also said if Nigeria must fight corruption, the country’s citizens must be ready to check themselves at all times and in all places.
The lecture, titled: ‘The Role Of Law In The Enhancement of Socio-Economic Growth Of The Nation’ was delivered by former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Legbo Kutigi.
