By: Sunday Oyewole Governor Godswil Akpabio on Monday said the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) would not miss the seven ‘rebel’ Governors should they decide to leave the party.
According to him, several chieftains of the opposition All Progressives Congress (APC) are mounting pressure on him that they want to join the PDP.
The seven Governors that have aligned with the party’s splinter group christened ‘New PDP’ are Rotimi Amaechi- Rivers, Abdulfatah Ahmed- Kwara, Muazu Babangida Aliyu- Niger, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso- Kano, Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko- Sokoto, Sule Lamido- Jigawa and Murtala Nyako- Adamawa.
They are demanding that the PDP national chairman, Bamanga Tukur should step down and that President Goodluck Jonathan should honour is alleged one-term agreement.
But, Governor Akpabio, who is also the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum cautioned the G7 Governors as they are now known not to take the humility of the President for granted.
He was speaking to State House correspondents after attending the launch of the third phase of the YouWin programme at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The Governor also reminded the G7 Governors that should they continue with the hard-line posture, they could also face rebellious activities in their respective states.
His words, “I don’t see a problem with issues of certain politicians wanting to change camp. It is a normal thing in politics that people move from one political party to the other but what is important is that we move on, the country moves on.
“So, it is the same thing. You know there are so many APC members who are approaching me on a daily basis that they want to move to PDP and I kept telling them that it is not yet time. Let us resolve this issue of G-7 governors and then you will see the big fishes that will come out of APC.
“They are ready to come out and when they come out, it is going to be a bomb. It is something the entire country will shout.”
“Well, I have seen newspaper clips where they said rebellion, rebellious governors and all that. You see, in any rebellion, you can resolve it through dialogue and I think that is what the “President is doing and I think that’s is what the PDP leadership is out to do to see how we can dialogue and see how we can bring the situation to a close.
“But, you see, it all depends. For me, I believe you cannot be a good leader unless you are a good follower and I believe strongly also that leadership comes from God. So, the question of rebelling against leadership does not occur because if I rebel against the leadership at the federal level, I should expect somebody also to rebel against my leadership at the state level. May be from some of my local governments or thereabout.
“And if I expect to be respected as a governor of a state, I should also expect to respect the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“So, it is not important who occupies the position. I think what is important is that we give respect to the institution of Presidency in Nigeria and that way, the international community will also respect Nigeria.
“We just believe that here, you have a very humble President and who is very patient and I hope we don’t take advantage of his patience and then continue to waste his time and distract him.”
“I can tell you the truth. The reality is that some of us that are leaders, we have to be careful because when we are saying we are moving to another political party, our followers may not be going with us and vice versa.
“We can also stand in a political party while our followers are moving the other side but of the PDP, there is no shaking. I am very delighted that the President is prepared to continue to dialogue with any group, not just the G-7, any group of Nigerians who are outside the party, either trying to come in who have grievances and I think that we should address those things through dialogue .I am happy about it and I think there will soon be an end to it”.
