Niger State Governor Muazu Babangida Aliyu says that the recent loss of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) at both the national and state polls did not come to him and many other Nigerians as a surprise.
Aliyu said this on Friday when he appeared as a special guest of honour at the 24th convocation lecture of the Federal University of Technology, Minna. According to him, the failure of the PDP to honour the single term agreement led to the defeat suffered by the party in the hands of the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the presidential and National Assembly polls.
“Many of us saw it coming. When I reminded us that we had an agreement for one term, they nearly crucified me. When I led the G7, they did not do what we wanted them to do until five members left the party and they did what we asked them to do.
“I recall also that when APC came on board, I was the first person to say I was very happy that now, we have a strong party to put PDP on its toes and many people were asking whether i was a member. Up to the last elections, the accusation against me had always been that I was a supporter of APC and now, you have seen the results.
Aliyu also said that there were other reasons for the failure of the party.
“Nigerians wanted a change and Nigerians got the change. There are 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 against next time, “many of us saw the defeat coming. Even when I told some of us (PDP members) that we had a one-term agreement, they nearly crucified me. Now, sir, (to Alkali), you have seen the results,” he added.