Dan Atori, Minna
NIGER State Governor
, Babangida Muazu Aliyu, on Thursday disclosed that the idea of the G7 formation was to reform the party and not to defect to the opposition as his colleagues have done.
Aliyu said when the International Federation of Women Lawyers, led by its Country Vice President, Hauwa Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Minna that he will remain in the party.
He said: “Let me seize this opportunity because I kept on reading a few things in the national dailies and for the benefit of those who may not understand that I led the so-called G7 as a result of a reform that we are looking in our party. The idea was not to leave our party but to reform it.
“Along the line, some people find it more expedient to leave the party, that is their choice and I respect that. Those of us who feel that, if you want a reform and you want to do it within, I think our views should be respected. People must not go and play politics in whatever form where it creates more problems.
“For us in Niger State, we welcomed the development of two-party system rather than having so many parties that will end up creating political prostitute, but you have two parties, at least. You know how it is complete. And I am seizing this opportunity because there are lots of misinformation out there”.
Speaking on the reason behind the formation of the G7 Governors, Aliyu said: “The idea was that we saw some actions that were happening and some people were taking the success of the PDP that have been elected since 1999 for granted.
“There was need to make people understand that you can not take people’s support for granted. And you need really to reinvigorate it so that it comes back to be properly accepted by the people.
“Anybody who fails to remember, I have always said that my intention was not to leave the PDP, but to reform it. I said it is not a one-man show or not about me, not about my ambition, it is about the people. And I said, there is no way I will take any decision without coming back to my people, and majority of my people prefer that we stay in PDP and we will stay and make it work.”
Speaking earlier, Hauwa Shekarau lamented the increasing level of violence against women and children in the country.
She said: “We at FIDA will continually join the global train on the eradication of violence against women”.
She, however, solicited for appropriate laws to be put in place, adding that “there is the need to ensure peace reigns in our society”.
