G-7, a group of seven governors who kick-started a revolt to form a faction in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the party’s special conference in August have insisted they have rational reasons for their alleged rebellious act which seems to be rapidly tearing the party’s big umbrella along lines of symmetry.
They basically include the following; Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano); Chibuike Amaechi (Rivers); Murtala Nyako (Adamawa); Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and AbdulFatah Ahmed (Kwara).
While still maintaining the status of their faction on the platform of the “New PDP”, they have insisted that president Goodluck Jonathan must come to terms with their demands as the claim to have been aggrieved by the leadership of the PDP.
However, meetings held so far have hit dead end as the two factions have not been able to reconcile their seemingly contradicting terms.
Governor Niger State, Dr Aliyu Babangida, however, told the Brigade Commander, 31 Field Artillery Brigade, Nigerian Army, Major-General Hassan Abayomi Salihu that external forces are fueling the crisis between them and the presidency.
He noted this when Salihu visited him in Minna, insisting that the crisis in the PDP is a matter of “democracy and morality”.
“The whole essence is about democracy and morality. Democracy may not necessarily flourish. Morality means that if you make an agreement – whether privately or publicly – we must learn to keep it”, he said
He also maintained that the G7 governors and other leaders in the Baraje group are aiming at institutionalizing a democratic culture in politicians “to the extent that their words will always be their bond”.
“The PDP has the capacity to resolve whatever differences we have; we must not allow people who are outside the party to get so enmeshed in the problem that is not their own and in the process kill that which we want to build.
“I need to draw your attention to this because I have been reading a lot of articles that they planted to create more animosity and anarchy that will make reconciliation difficult.
“What is happening is an internal affair of the PDP because I am beginning to see a sign as if some people don’t want reconciliation to take place through the type of articles they are planting in newspapers’.
“Those (G7 governors) who are involved in the crisis are mature enough to know when to hold and when to go.”
Meanwhile, at another location, the Governor of Jigawa State, Alhaji Sule Lamido said while inaugurating some projects in Sokoto that the G7 aim at ensuring that the task of rescuing the Nigerian democracy is attained.
He also said the group is focused on the need to re-organise the PDP to make the party comply with the yearnings and aspiration of ordinary members.
Lamido maintained the G7 governors would not derail but continue to fight on and would never back down, as he insist the G-7 cause is “just and pro-masses”.
“The media had referred to us as rebels. But we are not rebels at all. We are the true democrats. We are the custodians of democracy in the land. We are not for any ethnic or religious bias but fighting to make sure democracy in the nation does not die. We are fighting against the enemies of democracy and we don’t plan to give up on that struggle because what we are fighting for has not been actualized.
“I want to assure you that the group has come to stay until justice is restored in our party. I can see the banners of seven of us everywhere here in Sokoto. So we have come to stay.”
While speaking on behalf of the G-7 also, the deputy National Chairman of the Party, North West, Ambassador Ibrahim Musa Kazaure noted that there are indications that the Tukur-led PDP was not ready to come to the terms of reconciliation as presented by the seven governors.
“Anybody who tells you the differences have been settled is not saying the truth. If you call it war, I then will tell you that the war is still on because the offending group that decided to run the party against the constitution has not relented in its bid to remain lawless.
“We can only reconcile when the leadership of PDP accept that our party operates within its laws. We formed the party when most of them were not there and we won’t allow them hijack it and ruin our efforts” Kazaure said.
Kazaure also pointed out that the Tukur-led PDP embarked on sacking and suspending leaders and members arbitrarily.
“They manage the party without recourse to the rules and constitution and we said no to that. That is the cause of the problem. So we have to insist that things be done lawfully and orderly”, Kazaure complained.