G-7 Governors: Presidency not worried by defection report — Gulak

The presidency, on Tuesday, said it was neither surprised nor threatened by the governors’ action.

Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, told State House correspondents that the defected governors had had their hearts outside PDP for a long time.

Noting that Governors Aliyu (Niger) and Lamido (Jigawa) had already disassociated themselves from the merger move, Gulak remarked that it was a good thing that the five governors had told the world where they truly belonged.

According to him, the development would now allow PDP to be focused and not be distracted.

“A lot of people in the APC, ACN, ANPP have contacted me severally that they want to come back to PDP, that they were just waiting for what happened today to happen. And to us, it is a good development,” he said.

He added that the presidency did not feel threatened by the defection ahead of the 2015 general election.

“The presidency does not feel threatened, the PDP does not feel threatened. PDP is the party to beat. We have had it before. Even people who have occupied higher offices left the party and came back. Outside there, there is nothing. It is empty. PDP is the only party,” he said.

On whether there was any hope of reconciliation, the presidential aide was of the opinion that the party would continue with peace efforts, saying “we are talking about peace. Reconciliation is an ongoing process.”

Meanwhile, moments after the former PDP governors announced their decision to join APC, Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, was in the Presidential Villa, where he was thought to have met with President Jonathan.

Oshiomhole declined comments when he was approached by State House correspendents as he emerged from the president’s office.