Our attention has been drawn to a viral but provocative statement by a former Governor of Niger state and self-styled Chief Servant, Alhaji Babangida Aliyu, that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, has agreed to zone its Presidential ticket to the northern part of Nigeria.
Alhaji Aliyu, to those that may be unaware of his character and personality, is notorious for bigotry, falsehood, treachery and divisiveness even during his infamous eight years as Governor of Niger state.
This man, who by his status as a former governor and age ought to act Statesmanlike, has over the years displayed his hatred for the people of Southern Nigeria and Peoples Democratic Party.
This was a man that misused the apparatchiks of his office as Governor to work against his Party’s Presidential Candidate in 2015 election, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, simply because of his preference for region (origin) and religious faith regrettably bringing to power an unpopular failure and fellow bigot, Muhammadu Buhari of then opposition opposition APC.
For the avoidance of doubt, Alhaji Aliyu is neither the Spokesman of PDP nor a member of the Party’s Zoning Committee, and thus, unqualified to speak for the Party on Zoning or in any capacity whatsoever. Therefore, it is uncharitable of him to make a claim that is capable of disrupting the relative peace being experienced in the PDP.
While we commend the Party for debunking his claim, we also enjoin the Party to reprimand him and ensure that such display of nepotism doesn’t recur in future, be it from him or any other person.
More so, Alhaji Aliyu has lost every credibility to qualify as leader in Nigeria under any guise, and must not be seen in the capacity of a leader nor rewarded with any leadership role.
Conclusively, we state unequivocally that for the love of the country and the interest of equity, fairness and justice, the PDP is morally and patriotically bound to field a Presidential Candidate from the Southern part of the country to succeed President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023 being that he (Buhari) hails from Northern Nigeria.
Signed:
Mazi Nnamdi Iroegbu
Convener: Indigenous People of Nigeria (IPN)
