Why we dumped G-5 govs – Lamido, Aliyu

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By Henry Umoru & Wole Mosadomi ABUJA – Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State and Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, yesterday, took on their Kano counterpart, Mallam Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso over his accusation that the two governors betrayed five other governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, who agreed to dump the party following their irreconcilable differences with the leadership of the party.

Governor Aliyu, Niger State

Sule Lamido

It will be recalled that Governors Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto; Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara; Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano; Babangida Aliyu of Niger; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and former Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who were members of the G-7, within the ruling party opted out to form what was known then as the new PDP. While the other five governors teamed up to form the All Progressives Congress, APC, Governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa and Babangida Aliyu of Niger returned to the PDP.

Speaking on their exit from the PDP weekend, Governor Kwankwaso said both Aliyu Babangida and Sule Lamido betrayed the other five governors by returning to the PDP.

Why I betrayed them— Lamido

Responding to the accusation while speaking to journalists in Abuja, Governor Lamido said: “I am a betrayer, confirmed. I betrayed them. I did, yes. I am aligning myself to what he said. I am aligning my answer to what he said, go and find out from him. But I did that in the interest of the nation.”

In his response, Governor Babangida, however, said there was never a time the G-7 group planned to dump their party(PDP) for another party and that there was no basis for any of the members to label him as a betrayer.

He said at the time he led the G-7 group, the objective was to resolve the leadership problem in his party and not to dump it as some of them have done.

A statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Israel Ebije in response to Governor Kwankwaso’s claim that he (Babangida) was privy to the G-7 decision to decamp to APC, Aliyu said there was never a time the issue of dumping their party for whatever reason was discussed.

He described the defection of some of them to the All Progressives Party as a personal decision which he as leader could not query and as such those of them who refused to defect with them should therefore not be seen as traitors.

Aliyu however said he has no regrets in leading a group that brought sanity to the PDP at a time the party was passing through difficulties. He said their effort was indeed nationalistic and a reflection of maturity of Nigerian democracy.

I never planned to dump PDP— Babangida Aliyu

His words: “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 repositioning 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.”

He said he will remain committed to the PDP and would work towards ensuring that the party wins all elective positions in Niger State.

Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano State while speaking in Kano, weekend, said: “Everyone knows that Governor Lamido was part of us, he was the leader of the group. He took us to a certain height before choosing otherwise and we were all surprised by his final decision.

“But, if there is anybody who would criticise our exit, it shouldn’t be Lamido and the Niger State Governor. After all, our judgment would decide the outcome of the general election. However, we know that PDP is no longer the monster it used to be, and I tell you they are ready to do anything to have someone like me who was considered as an irritant back in their fold.”

 

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Why we dumped G-5 govs – Lamido, Aliyu

Al-Makura refuse our offer to help - Kwankwaso

Kano State governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has faulted his Nasarawa State counterpart, Umaru Muktar Almakura’s type of politics, saying it was responsible for his predicament.

Tanko Al-Makura, Nasarawa State Governor

According to Kwankwaso, Almakura, currently facing impeachment launched by Nasarawa lawmakers, is too soft to be governor under President Goodluck Jonathan.

Kwankwaso told journalists in his office, yesterday, that “you cannot be a gentleman and hope to survive as governor under the present dispensation”.

He added, “A gentleman cannot be a good governor, you need to have so many faces because the game is rough and can’t accommodate a gentleman”.

The Kano governor said Almakura rebuffed intervention and expertise to assist him navigate troubled waters, adding: “He is too soft for my liking.

“On our volition, we suggested to him to allow us mobilise our foot soldiers. He refused. We also appealed to him to allow us come in physically. He refused; always distancing himself from such expertise that would assist him”.

The APC presidential hopeful lamented how Adamawa State fell like a pack of cards under impeached Governor Nyako, saying the gale of impeachment across APC controlled states was being instigated by the Presidency.

Kwankwaso opined that “the whole madness is a wicked calculations ahead of 2015”, pointing out: “It is not going to assist the PDP Federal Government retain power. We have had enough of this impunity, ruthlessness and we are closing ranks to chase them out of power by 2015; it would be too late for them to hoodwink anyone again”.

The Kano governor declared that President Jonathan was qualified for impeachment.

Al-Makura refuse our offer to help - Kwankwaso

Kano Rally: Kwakwanso has received over N255 billion as local government funds since 2011 - Jonathan

Mr. Jonathan said the Kano government under Mr. Kwakwanso has received over N255 billion as local government funds since 2011.

President Goodluck Jonathan, Tuesday, accused the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwakwanso, of improper use of the state’s local government funds since assuming office.

The president made the accusation during the rally to officially welcome Ibrahim Shekarau, a former Kano governor, to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP.

Mr. Shekarau decamped to the PDP from the All Progressives Congress, APC, in January after the incumbent joined the latter from the PDP late last year.

Speaking at the rally, Mr. Jonathan said the Kano government under Mr. Kwakwanso has received over N255 billion as local government funds since 2011. He asked the 44 council chairmen in Kano to challenge the governor on what he has done with the funds.

The president also said that contrary to Kano governor’s claim, Mr. Kwakwanso did not support him in the 2011 presidential primaries of the PDP.

The governor recently said he regretted ever supporting the president during the primaries and for the 2011 elections. He said he would not receive the president when he arrived Kano because of Mr. Jonathan’s poor performance as president.

In his reaction at the rally, Mr. Jonathan said Mr. Kwakwanso did not vote for him at the PDP presidential primaries.

He said when it became clear to everybody that Mr. Jonathan would win the primaries, held at the Eagles Square, Abuja, Mr. Kwankwaso left the venue midway to the elections.

“How can he therefore say he elected me,” Mr. Jonathan said.

The president also accused Mr. Kwakwanso of refusing to release money provided for Kano delegates’ refreshment.

Mr. Jonathan, who did not make any reference to 2011 general elections, said that Mr. Kwankwaso did not also give Kano PDP delegates monies provided for them as allowance to facilitate their movement to the venue of the primaries.

While speaking on the federal government’s plan for Kano, Mr. Jonathan said the federal government was committed to agriculture and that groundnut pyramids would soon return to the state.

In his speech, Mr. Shekarau called on President Jonathan to do something about the lingering poverty in the state.

He urged him to help the people of the state by revamping the irrigation and Fadama farming, saying, this would create employment opportunities to the residents.

Mr. Shekarau assured the president that if he does this, PDP would get massive votes from residents of the state in 2015.

 

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Kano Rally: Kwakwanso has received over N255 billion as local government funds since 2011 - Jonathan