NIGERIA- As the crisis in the ruling Peoples  Democratic Party (PDP) persist in Nigeria, the Chairman of the party’s Governors’ Forum and the Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Godswill Akpabio, has advised the aggrieved G7 governors not to decamp from the party.

The G7- governors of Niger (Babangida Aliyu), Kwara (Abdulfatah Ahmed), Sokoto (Aliyu Wamakko), Adamawa (Murtala Nyako), Jigawa (Sule Lamido), Kano (Musa Kwankwaso), and Rivers (Rotimi Amaechi).

He said this at the State House in Abuja, urging that the governor should embrace dialogue with the President as a way of putting an end to their grievances.

“In any rebellion, we can resolve it through dialogue and I think that that’s what the President is doing, that’s what the PDP leadership is out to do to see how it can dialogue and bring the situation to a close.

“But, you see, it all depends. But for me, I believe that you cannot be a good leader unless you’re a good follower and I believe also strongly that leadership comes from God. So the question of rebelling against leadership does not occur because if I rebel against the leadership at the federal level, I should expect somebody also to rebel against my leadership at the state level, may be from my own local government or thereabouts.

“And it is expected that as a governor state, I should respect the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. So it is not important who occupies the position. I think what is important is to give respect to the institution of the presidency in Nigeria. And that way, the international community can also respect Nigeria,” he said.

Furthermore, Akpabio said the party remains the biggest with wider coverage in Africa.

 “I don’t see a problem in the issues of certain politicians wanting to change party; it is a normal thing in politics that people move from one political party to the other. But what is important is that we move on and the country moves on.

“And as PDP is very big and robust enough, with its branches in 774 local government areas in Nigeria, if you have five persons moving away from PDP, you have 10-50 moving into PDP,” he said.

In addition to the above mentioned, Governor Akpabio also noted that the party is matured enough to handle its internal disputes, saying it is a party that belong to every Nigerian, not some individuals.

“PDP is the only political party in Nigeria that is not owned by any individual or not owned by certain group.”

“So, this party belongs to Nigerians. So, if one Nigerian leaves the part, another Nigerian comes, the party goes on. And I can tell the truth, the reality is that, even those of us who are leaders, we need to be careful because when we are saying that we are moving to another political party, our followers may not be going with us and vice versa,” he said.

The G7 governors are expected to hold what could be their last meeting with President Jonathan this week before they decide whether to leave the PDP or not.