Even when he is yet to officially relinquish power, President Goodluck Jonathan has began receiving knocks from unexpected quarters. This was as his party man, Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State attributed the defeat suffered by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, in the presidential election and governorship elections in some states to President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to honour a single term pact allegedly reached by its leaders.
Disclosing this in Minna on Friday at a convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology titled: ‘The Role of Law in the Enhancement of Socio-Economic Growth of the Nation’, where he was the guest of honour, the Governor said he and some of the party’s leaders saw the defeat coming.
His words, “Many of us saw it coming,” he said. “When I reminded us (that President Goodluck Jonathan had agreed to run for one term), they nearly crucified me. When I led the G7 (group of seven aggrieved PDP governors), they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left and they did what we asked them to do.”
While gazing at the President’s political adviser, Rufai Alkali, who was also at the event, Aliyu recounted how he was nearly crucified two years ago when he spoke about the one-term agreement on a programme on Liberty Radio, Kaduna.
“I recall also that when APC (All Progressives Congress) came on board (emerged as a political party), I was the first person to say I was very happy now, we have a
strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking, ‘Are you really a member?’.
“Up until the last elections, the allegation against me had always been that I was a supporter of APC; and now, you have seen the results,” he noted.
Aliyu, who also lost the May 28 senatorial election to represent Niger East Senatorial District, admitted that there could be other reasons for PDP’s poor outing during the polls, among which was the desire by Nigerians to have a change.
“Nigerians wanted a change and Nigerians got the change,” Mr. Alkali said. “You will have many reasons. One, PDP has been around for 16 years and there is no way you will be around for 16 years and you will not make mistakes.
“So, there are many reasons that will be put together and we will be able to understand and guide people.”
Stressing that corruption does not only mean stealing of money but also engaging in malpractices, Aliyu enjoined Nigerians to refrain from what could destroy the nation’s economy.
COMMENT: Is it Jonathan’s purported promise of a single term that made Governor Babangida Aliyu to lose in his Senatorial bid? When an elephant dies, you would see all kinds of knife.