Babangida Aliyu Says Jonathan Is Responsible for PDP's Failure

The Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu, has blamed the defeat of his party, the PDP, in the presidential election and governorship elections in some state to President Goodluck Jonathan’s refusal to honour the "single term" pact he signed with leaders of the PDP before he was made President in 2011.

Mr. Aliyu, who also lost the May 28 senatorial election to represent Niger East Senatorial District, said he and some of the party’s leaders saw the defeat coming.

“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.”

The governor spoke in Minna at a convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology where he was the guest of honour.

While facing Jonathan’s political adviser, Rufai Alkali, who also attended the ceremony, Governor 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 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'?" Aliyu recounted.

“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.”