THE Niger State governor and Leader of the G7 Governors, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, has refuted a newspaper publication that he (Aliyu) has dumped the new PDP to save his political career, saying that he remains the leader of the G7 and has no plan to quit the new PDP despite been declared illegal by court.
He described the publication as not the hand work of enemies but a calculated attempt by some paid politicians to cause disarray among the G7 that gain popularity and sympathy from well meaning Nigerians.
Aliyu who said this in Minna on Tuesday when he received the National President and other members of the Civil Service Union of Nigeria who where in government to pay him a courtesy call insisted that the publication was sponsored by those he described as enemies of democracy and meant to break the ranks of the G7 Governors.
He pointed out, "I woke up this morning (Tuesday morning) with a rude shock that a newspaper that can call me and confirm just because I was not in a meeting, went to town saying that I have pulled out of G7. I am the leader of G7, I regard that write-up as enemy asking for people who are interested in breaking our ranks and who are trying to input motives where there are known.
"Day before yesterday (Sunday) that we were to hold a meeting I was not feeling well, but I wanted to go because my State capital is nearest to Abuja. Usually, I did not intend to leave this town (Minna) until 2pm. When I got a call that Sokoto State Governor had requested for an excuse because he had a programme today (Tuesday) to open up the State's University, and requested that the meeting be shifted from the earlier 8pm to 2pm. I started the apology that there is no way I could catch up since I was still in Minna by 2pm.
"I talked to three of my colleagues to tender my apologies. And by the way I am not even feeling too well, but I intended to travel, when other of my colleagues are not around, I attended meetings on their behalf and I can see why my absence could just be misconstrued and more so, this is not the time to pull out.
"When out of respect for the office of the President and for the President himself we are discussing with him as Governors of G7. And we have tabled issues and we are discussing with him. We can not pull out at this moment, the time for decision to be taken will be one week concluded with the discussion with Mr President. At that time, people may decide what they want to do, the struggle for Nigeria is already in the hands of the population.
"Usually, what leaders do is really to open the gate and let people enter, people have already entered and believe me, let us not be afraid.
"The whole essence of G7 is to ensure that there is democracy in the ruling party believing that if there is no democracy in PDP, there is no democracy in the country.
"After we have finished discussing with Mr President and arriving at a conclusion, there is no way you can wake up and say no, you are going elsewhere when you are already negotiating.
"Look, the President could have decided from the onset to say that, I am not discussing with you (G7 Governors) because you have gone outside our constitution. But he accepted to discuss with us. So, who so ever is playing to the gallery, that is a different matter. As a leader and as a group we must respect Mr President, we must respect his office, we must discuss thoroughly and agree.
"And those who may be satisfied with the outcome, they will take their decisions, and those who are not satisfy with the outcome will equally take their decisions. And we will still remain as Nigerians".
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