Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, has criticised the opposition coalition, labelling it as an abnormal arrangement.
He urged members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) involved in the coalition to stop engaging in political double-dealing.
Governor Mohammed made the statement on Wednesday in Abuja during a meeting with PDP founding fathers and key stakeholders.
He maintained that it is unacceptable for PDP members to remain in the party while simultaneously aligning with the coalition.
He said, “If you are in the PDP, you are in the PDP. You cannot be a member of the PDP and simultaneously be part of a coalition or another party. We cannot take this with all respect. But you have all the time to decide. Coalition is an aberration — yes, I said it.”
“You cannot belong to two places. You cannot be a hermaphrodite. You cannot be a man and a woman at the same time. The PDP is a man, and we are moving. But we will still allow you to have a thought, because you are our leaders. But if you are going, don’t de-market us.”
According to him, the PDP has a more national appeal and is still willing to accept those who have, before now, left the party.
“If somebody wants to leave PDP to go to another party, how is this smart in terms of thought and thinking? The PDP has history, a legacy, a structure everywhere, and the governors are doing their best,” the governor who also doubles as the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, said.
“Yes, politics is local. Some may go due to certain reasons, certain permutations, and calculations. But I think they will be proved wrong. Even our elders who have gone, we don’t want to diminish, denigrate, or abuse them. We are telling them with humility: Come back,” he said.
“So, this is the thought. But certainly reason with them. Maybe in terms of their own calculations, they want to actualise their aspirations to get tickets. But do you want to get a ticket and lose? So, please, come back. You have no reason to go anywhere,” the governor added.