Kwara gov denies plan to dump PDP

Kwara State Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed
| credits: 247ureports.com

Kwara State Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed on Tuesday denied hatching any plan to leave the Peoples Democratic Party on which platform he became the state governor in 2011.

Ahmed said this while speaking on a monthly public enlightenment programme, ‘The governor explains’.

The governor added that he was a loyal and staunch member of the party who would continue to contribute to the growth of the party.

“I am not leaving PDP. PDP is a national party. Other parties are regional. Why should I leave a big party for a small party? I will remain in PDP and work to strengthen it,” Ahmed said.

Ahmed also said members of the Boko Haram sect should identify themselves and outline their grievances for their wanton destruction of lives and properties in Nigeria before the Federal Government should consider granting them amnesty.

He believed that there was the need for dialogue between the sect and the Federal Government with a view to finding the reasons for their actions and solutions.

He stated that granting amnesty to the sect should be critically viewed.

He said while amnesty could be desirable for the group for peace and national security, integration and cohesion, steps must not be taken to give the impression that terrorism or lawlessness could be a way for people to draw attention and enjoy some palliatives from the government.

Ahmed said, “Amnesty is a desirable for the Boko Haram to the extent that they are able to bring to the fore, the issues they have against the system, and the government and the areas they feel short-changed as a people.

“Then we can begin to look at what manner of peace and pardon would be made available to this class of people so that we can come together again and move forward as a country.

“So it is neither here or there, you cannot stand up and say amnesty is not desirable, amnesty is desirable.

“We must begin to look at issues that we require whether they deserve amnesty or not. Let us see the face of the people we are speaking with.”