The governor said the PDP failed to adhere to democratic principles.

Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State said that the formation of the G-7 governors’ group was to reform the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, owing to the party’s failure to adhere to democratic principles.

Mr. Aliyu said this in Minna on Thursday when the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), led by its Country Vice-President, Hauwa Shekarau, paid him a courtesy visit.

Five of the G-7 governors have since joined the opposition All Progressives Congress with Mr. Aliyu and Governor Sule Lamido of Jigawa the exception.

“For the benefit of those who may not understand; I led the so-called G-7 governors as a result of the reform which we were looking for in our party.

“The idea was not to leave our party but to reform it; along the line, some people found it more expedient to leave the party; that is their choice.

“Those of us who feel that if you want a reform and you want to do it within; I think our views should also be respected. People must not go and play politics in whatever form where it creates more problems.

“For us in Niger State, we welcome the development of a two-party system; rather than having so many parties that end up creating political prostitutes.

“I am seizing this opportunity to say this because there is a lot of misinformation out there,’’ he said.

Mr. Aliyu also said that the G-7 governors’ forum was formed because “some people within the party were taking the electoral success of the PDP since 1999 for granted’’.

He said that there was a need to make the party to understand that it could not take people’s support for granted.

“You need really to invigorate the people’s support, so as to enable you to be properly accepted by them.

“For anybody who fails to remember, I have always said that my intention was not to leave the PDP but to reform it. I said that it is not a one-man show or about me; it also is not about my ambition, it is about the people. And I said that there is no way I will take any decision without coming back to my people.

“Majority of my people prefer that we stay in PDP and we will stay in the party and make it work,” he said.

Earlier, the Country Vice-President of FIDA decried the increasing rate of violence against women and children in the country.

“We at International Federation of Women Lawyers will always join the global train in efforts to eradicate violence against women and children,’’ she said.

Ms. Shekarau, however, called for the enactment of appropriate laws to protect the wellbeing of women and children.

“There is need to ensure that peace reigns in our society and this should start from our families,’’ she said.

(NAN)