NIGER GOV RALLIES SUPPORT FOR JONATHAN

Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Bbangida Aliyu
Niger State Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Bbangida Aliyu has called on Nigerians to rally round and support President Goodluck Jonathan with a view to realising his economic transformation agenda for the nation.

Aliyu made the call yesterday at the North-central zonal executive meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) held at the Niger State Secretariat of the party in Minna, urging Nigerians to help the president to realise his aspirations for the transformation of the economy, power, energy, agriculture, infrastructure, education and health sectors, among others.

'The president is a man of honor and integrity who has repeatedly told the nation and the world that he would not contest in 2015 and we believe Nigerians shall hold him to that commitment.'

The governor drew the attention of the gathering to the significant role of the party as the supreme organ in democracy under the PDP, highlighting that the sustenance of democracy depended to a large extent on party members' recognition and respect for supremacy of the party at all levels.

'In fact, without the party, we cannot form legitimate government and we cannot be talking of transformation of the economy and prosperity for the people as the paramount goals of our government. We must therefore remain subservient to the party and respect all party policies, decisions and conventions at all times and in all circumstances' Aliyu said.

Meanwhile, the Acting National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Abubakar Kawu Baraje, has lamented the abysmal level of indiscipline in the party, saying members should learn to imbibe acceptable behaviour of self-restraint and absolute loyalty to the leadership and structures of the party.

Baraje, who said this at the PDP North-central Zone National Executive Committee meeting at the Niger State party secretariat in Minna, noted that 'some members are cameleon in nature by saying something and doing the opposite. They are card-carrying members of the party but when election comes, they campaign for the opposition. Such indiscipline must stop!'

Towards enhancing the credibility and sustainability of the strength of the PDP, the acting chairman, who was the immediate past national secretary of the party, noted that what he discovered was responsible for the disloyalty of members was lack of dissolution of powers to appropriate organs of the party.

He promised that henceforth, he would ensure that all zonal vice-presidents have their mandate according to the constitution of the party, in order to divest the huge activities at the national secretariat and by so doing, people would feel great sense of belonging to the party.

'I promise to share responsibility with the zones. This will enhance the loyalty, probity and accountability by members for optimal performance of the party at the next elections.'

Decrying the loss of some states to the opposition at the last elections, Baraje noted that his party was monitoring proceedings in Nasarawa state, promising that 'by the time PDP had its next zonal meeting, Nasarawa will be back to us'.

He thanked members of the party from the zone for their unflinching supports and cooperation, noting that being a member from Kwara state, and subsequently, from the zone, he owed the people all the praise for his appointment as Secretary, and subsequently, as the National Chairman of the party.

According to him, he realized that the time limit for him as the Chairman was very limited, promising to make a landmark by entrenching absolute discipline and party supremacy to be able to tackle the hydra-headed of indiscipline ravaging the party.

The meeting was attended by the Kogi state governor, Philip Salawu, who represented his principal,the Kwara state deputy governor, the Speaker of Benue House of Assembly, who represented governor Suswam,the Deputy Speaker, Plateau state House of Assembly, who represented governor Jonah David Jang,while the Senate President, David Mark,was absent, but was represented by Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta,and a host of others.