By Folorunso Alagbede, Abuja
The Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party PDP Governors’ Forum, Senator Bala Mohammed has expressed concern at some of his colleagues (PDP Governors) defecting to the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, stressing however there was nothing the forum can do to stop it (the defection).
Senator Mohammed, who is the Governor of Bauchi State, said that the decision of some the PDP Governors to defect to the APC is purely their personal interest and that there is nothing he can do prevent them from defecting.
Among the PDP Governors who have already defected to the APC are those of Delta and Akwa Ibom states.
Others who are set to quit the PDP, according to information, are those of Enugu State, Mr Peter Mbah and Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri among others.
While fielding questions from Journalists after the inauguration of the Publicity and Communication sub committees of the PDP national convention holding November 15 and 16 in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, Bala Mohammed, who is the Chairman of the committee said, “If you ask me whether I’m concerned about our governors leaving for APC, I am more than concerned”.
Continuing, he said, “But leadership is a burden. As a leader of a group of equal status, I cannot determine the decisions or inactions of my colleagues, but certainly, a lot of work is being done behind the scenes.
“This defection would have been more devastating at the onset, but we have been talking and discussing.
“You know the style of leadership of the APC-led federal government in trying to make this country a one-party state. They have the power of coercion; they have the power of everything.
“I cannot say that my colleagues are wrong; they are free to do whatever they choose. But I have been advising them that even those who left are not finding it easier because most of the people at the grassroots level are PDP and are not happy with the defections.
“Sometimes it is done because of permutations and calculations. I will not denigrate or speak negatively about my colleagues, but I assure you I am not going anywhere. I am in PDP, and my state has no element of division.
“Even today, I saw in the news that one of my senators is going. They are being controlled, they are being bought, but certainly, the state is PDP, and the issue is PDP because Nigerians want change, and they believe they can get it through the PDP.
“Most of the measurable achievements by the federal government were done by PDP regimes.
“By the grace of God, if we stand firm, we will deliver. Nobody stops you from leaving, so that you can create another space for others to come around for governance.
“Some of us who won as governors were not even considered capable, and here we are. That’s what will play out in 2027.
“I am optimistic that we will get a new set of leaders in 2027 who will defeat the deceptive style of the APC by coming up with true leaders who will listen to Nigerians and address their challenges by the grace of God.
‘If somebody goes, just like a bird, they go, they come. Please don’t blame anybody at the governor’s level; we are doing our best, but it is beyond our control”, he said.
The Bauchi State Governor expressed the firm optimism that the forthcoming PDP elective national convention will hold as scheduled, regardless of any obstacles that may be placed on its way.
According to him, “I cannot speak for the National Working Committee, but as a leader within the party, I know they are doing their best to address issues of litigations. Many are artificially created to undermine us, but we don’t have any faction in the PDP.
“At the state level, I have even seen some people taking us to court not to go for a convention. This is not good and makes some at the National Assembly feel unsafe.
“We are addressing these issues squarely. Comparatively, most of the other parties are not better off than us. “We are better off than most opposition parties. Some don’t even have leadership at the national level. We are the only ones intact—with one National Secretary, one National Chairman, and one Publicity Secretary.
“This meeting gives hope that at the end of the day, we will deliver. As a big party with a history since 1999, still with the same logo, colors, manifesto, and leadership, we should commend the National Working Committee for doing well despite limitations”, he said.
