Niger State Governor, Mu’azu Banagida Aliyu, on Tuesday refuted claims that he planned dumping the Peoples Democratic Party for the All Progressives Congress.
According to him, the main objective when he led the G-7 was to resolve leadership problems in the PDP.
Aliyu made the clarification in response to a statement credited to Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State, claiming he was privy to the G-7 decision to decamp to APC.
In a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Israel Ebije, the governor insisted it was aimed at bringing sanity to the party, adding that the objective of their action was proactive and the result was positive.
Aliyu also said he would always respect members of the G-7 for their position against impunity in the party at that trying period.
He, however, maintained that the decision to leave for the APC was not on the agenda of the group but more of individual decision of members.
The governor insisted that he has no regrets in leading a group that brought sanity to the PDP at a time the party was passing through difficulties, adding that their effort was indeed nationalistic and a reflection of the maturity of the Nigerian democracy.
Continuing, Aliyu said: “Let me state in categorical terms that I never discussed with the G-7 governors over issue of decamping to the APC. I led the group primarily to stabilize the PDP. At that time, the PDP was having challenges hinging on impunity which had to be addressed.
“Let me therefore intimate that based on principle, I never planned to abandon the PDP for another party. It is also important to note that the G-7 achieved its objective of re-positioning the PDP which was at the time passing through leadership challenge, therefore I had no reason to leave, besides our effort brought the ruling party back on its feet.”
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