The Governor of Niger State, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has said that the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party has assumed a dangerous dimension and if not swiftly addressed is capable of destroying Nigeria.
The governor stated this yesterday at the PDP stakeholders meeting in Minna, the Niger State capital, where he briefed members on what transpired at the party’s Special National Convention in Abuja.
Aliyu argued that the challenges confronting the ruling party would not only affect it, but the nation as well, hence, the need to act fast.
While recalling some of the political developments and the crisis that engulfed the party’s Special National Convention that resulted in seven governors, including himself, walking out of the venue to form a splinter PDP, Aliyu faulted the situation where persons at the helm of affairs intimidate and enforce their personal opinions on the people without giving room for dialogue and negotiation.
According to Aliyu, “even though there are issues, they should be discussed and every one carried along.
“In a situation where one person wants his opinion to overrule those of others, there will be issues.
“But when you persuade them, they will see reasons and accept what you said.
“That is the only way in which democracy can thrive in the nation.
“If dialogue fails, we must give room for wounds to heal.
“This gathering is to inform you of what happened in Abuja, last Saturday, though efforts are on by elders of the party to resolve the impasse with the leaders of the PDP and as soon as they are through, we will also let you know the outcome of their meeting.”
Earlier, the state Chairman of the PDP, Dr. Abdulrahaman Enagi, had told Aliyu at the meeting, which was attended by representatives of the state in the National Assembly, that the state was solidly in support of any position taken by the governor.
Enagi said stakeholders were awaiting the outcome of the elders meeting.
Moving the motion to back the decision of the seven governors, a former member of the House of Assembly, Alhaji Yakubu Esheti, said: “I move that we are solidly behind the Chief Servant in view of the prevailing situation we are facing.”
The motion was seconded by the political head of the party in Chanchaga Local Government Area of the state and Commissioner for Water Resources, Hajia Hadiza Abdullahi.
Shortly, after the stakeholders meeting, Aliyu told journalists that the seven governors have superior argument to the position adopted by the other faction of the PDP and therefore should be given the room to marshal their argument.
He lambasted some of Presidents Goodluck Jonathan’s appointed officials for heightening tension as a result of their utterances, arguing that despite their comments, “it is not impossible to remove the National Chairman of the party, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, as some of them will want the public to believe.”
Aliyu also added that the meeting slated for yesterday could not hold due to the intervention of some elders of the party to resolve the crisis.