Niger State governor Babangida Aliyu yesterday gave an insight into the reasons for five northern governors’ wide consultations with former Nigerian leaders and President Goodluck Jonathan. He said the major issue discussed with the leaders was how to douse tension in the polity.
President Jonathan also, for the first time yesterday, came out to inform Nigerians that he is eligible to contest the 2015 presidential election.
Aliyu, fielding journalists’ questions in Minna, Niger State, disclosed that what was discussed in all the meetings was part of consultations to resolve the crisis that engulfed the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), adding that it was yielding results.
He said the move by the five governors – Babangida Aliyu ( Niger), Rabiu Kwakwanso (Kano), Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) , and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa) — was to douse the political tension in the country.
The governors had met with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Shehu Shagari, formar Vice-President Alex Ekwueme and President Goodluck Jonathan.
Aliyu said “Some of the results are that we are meeting as PDP governors as a whole and with some of our elders as a group,” he stated, adding that there was hope of resolving the crisis of the party and the Governors’ Forum.
“The president met with us to understand the issues we are talking of. So this consultation must continue not only by the five governors but by any person who feels that he can contribute to the peace, progress and development of Nigeria. The lack of communication usually is the cause of most of our problems,” Governor Aliyu said. “We discussed the issues because it is like a dialogue. It is discussion to say, look, how do we resolve for example the issues of Governors’ Forum? We are discussing so that issues do not go beyond the level they are and that is the essence.”
Asked what the new party APC portends in Nigerian politics, he declared that having two strong parties in Nigeria is a welcome development but advised the new party to play politics of issues.
Aliyu advised politicians to avoid playing politics of religion, stressing that after 100 years of Nigeria being together as one nation, development issues rather than individual differences should be on the front burner.
The governor stated that peace and development were interwoven and must be seen to be sustained at all times devoid of any primordial attachments.
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