By Nma Shekwolo
Governor of Niger state, Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu on Wednesday warned external forces working to aggravate the crisis rocking the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to steer clear, insisting that the party has the capacity to solve its problems.
The governor stated this while receiving the Brigade Commander 31 Field Artillery Brigade Nigerian Army, Hassan Abayomi Salihu, a Majo General, in Minna.
Aliyu, an outspoken member of the Abubakar Baraje-led faction alleged
they were external forces striving to worsen the crisis and make the differences among members irreconcilable.
“The PDP has the capacity to resolve whatever differences we have, we must not allow people who are outside the party to get so enmeshed in the problem that is not their own and in the process kill that which we want to build,” he said.
He said he had seen a lot of articles in the media which prove these party haters are out to create more animosity and anarchy within the party.
“What is happening is an internal affair of the PDP because I am beginning to see a sign as if some people don’t want reconciliation to take place through the type of articles they are planting in newspapers,” he noted.
Aliyu stressed that the G7 Governors involved in the crisis were matured enough to know when to hold on and when to let go, adding that the essence of the crisis plaguing the ruling party is to strengthen democracy in the country by building a democratic culture in politicians “to the extent that their words will always be their bond”.
He commended the Military for their discipline and stressed the need for military training for all adult civilians in order to create a disciplined society.
The governor reiterated the call for an extension of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, programme from the present 12 months to 18 months, with the last 6 months devoted to military training of members.
Earlier, the Commander had commended the cordial relationship between the military and civil population in Niger state and the support given to security agencies in the state by the government.
Salihu said the Brigade is currently training its officers and men on how to tackle insurgency across the country using communication.