Gov. Wike Requests That PDP NWC Suspends Babangida Aliyu
Gov. Wike requests that PDP NWC suspends Babangida Aliyu for trying to hinder the plans to re-elect the former president Goodluck Jonathan in 2015.
The Rivers State Governor has called on the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to suspend former Governor of Niger State, Babangida Aliyu with immediate effect.
The Rivers governor explained that Babangida should be suspended for working against the re-election of former President Goodluck Jonathan back in 2015.
We recall that in the past, Aliyu while reacting to his suspension by the PDP in Chachanga Local Government Area of Niger, stated that the North would have completely lost out if Jonathan was reelected.
Aliyu who was the chairman of the Northern Governors’ Forum said after northern governors supported Jonathan to finish the tenure of late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. The former president was still given the go-ahead to contest in 2011.
He said PDP governors in northern states were not in support of Jonathan’s bid for a second term because he rebelled against their agreement not to pursue another tenure.
“Since this was against our initial agreement in the party, and which we the governors in the north felt the North would have been ripped off if Jonathan had succeeded, we stood firm and insisted on the agreement we all had,” he had said.
In his reaction, Wike stated that “If I was the leader of the party I would have immediately suspended Aliyu for that comment he made. But, you see, nothing will happen. The National Working Committee will do nothing. Why? They need Aliyus’ support.
Wike also said that he doesn’t understand why are a leader, so to speak, will come out and tell the world why he fought against his party. He stated that he has never seen such a thing like that in his life.
“If I was the leader of the party, I would have suspended Aliyu and heaven will not fall. what does he hope to achieve? This was 2015, we have carried out the 2019 election. Jonathan had lost in 2015, what is the reason for coming out now to say how you fought him. Looking at our present predicament. So, you are informing us you made us be in this position where we are.
Wike further stated that Aliyu is telling Nigerians that he is one of those who kept Nigeria in this state. In addition, the National Working Committee will not do anything because Aliyu Babangida is one of the untouchables.
The Rivers State Governor also stated that as a leading opposition party in Nigeria, the PDP could not afford to accept acts of gross indiscipline and immunity, because it might hinder its chances to remove power from the APC in 2023.
He said it was indeed heart-breaking to hear that while himself and others were campaigning for the PDP to win the 2015 general elections, the likes of Aliyu who ran for the Senate in the same general election, had come up with a plan and executed that plan to undermine the party.