Former Governor Babangida Aliyu expresses hope that defectors from PDP, will soon retrace their steps and return to the fold

Olabode Adaramola

The immeediate past  governor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu has said  that members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) who defected into  other political parties because of several reasons will soon return to the dormer ruling party.

He said on Sunday at his Minna mansion where he played host to members of the Correspondent Chapel of the Nijer State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists that he and the PDP cannot be intimidated.

According to him “in politics, there are people who enter and stick to principles; there are those who enter for food, there are those who enter so that they may be pushed for other reasons to be elsewhere.

“So, movement may not be for only one reason, sometimes it might be pressure from one’s community.

“Just recently, Andy Uba and Osita Chidoka strong members of the PDP crossed over to the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the United Progressives Part (UPP) respectively. But often times people are following their stomach too. Don’t be surprised, between now and 2019 a lot of people will cross over to the PDP,” said Aliyu .

Reacting to whether he and the PDP feels intimidated by the ruling APC, Dr. Aliyu said, he cannot be intimidated by happenings in the country’s polity, highlighting further that “anything that happens to you is from God”.

Accordingly, he said “I believe in destiny, and I believe nothing happens without God’s knowledge. Intimidation is not part of my understanding of human character.

“I see intimidation as when one is scared or frightened or that which will make sure you do nothing personally. I am not in anyway intimidated. I also believe that certain things happen to you to bring you back to your senses or to enlighten you on certain things.

Commending the two key recent Judgements delivered by the Supreme courts of both Kenya and Nigeria, Aliyu said, it has further showed that Democratic governance in the two countries will thrive saying “they have given hope and room for those who feel aggrieved to seek legal redress”.

According to him, “the Supreme Court judgement has given me much more confidence in our Democracy. I am happy that we are not ending up with one party system in our country.”

In addition to that,  he charged the PDP to put its house in order and not allow inordinate ambition to tear it apart ahead of the 2019 polls.

He however dispelled rumours that he has indicated interest in running for any elective position in the 2019 generalpolls, saying “I have not made up my mind to aspire for any elective office in 2019. Any politician who make promises should strive to keep them and if they are not too sure they should put a proviso to it”.

“As for me I don’t Know where I am going from here, I don’t know because even the Governorship, I was ambushed to do it as my dream was to become the Head of service of the Federation, “he maintained .

On the recent hosting of the two major parties by President Muahamadu Buhari, the Taliban Minna, said, “as one of those who prayed for the safe return of President Buhari, I  was impressed by the President’s invitation extended to main opposition  party in the country to the Presidebtial Villa, Abuja, in fact that, was the way to go”.