November 09, (THEWILL)- The aggrieved five governors (G5) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), have pledged to support Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, to secure a second term in the 2023 general elections.
The governors, led by Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, included, Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Samuel Ortom of Benue State, were on a solidarity visit to their Bauchi counterpart.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, who was in Benue on Monday with his G-5 colleagues to inaugurate some projects completed by Ortom, was, however, absent. Only Makinde is seeking re-election among the five governors.
Recall that the Bauchi Governor had accused the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, of working with a group of politicians from the State to scuttle his 2023 re-election bid.
However, both have resolved their differences and resolved to work together for electoral victory in 2023 after a meeting in Abuja on Tuesday night.
But, speaking on behalf of the G-5 Governors at the Ramat House in Bauchi, Governor Wike said whatever affects Governor Bala Mohammed also affects them as a group, hence their resolve to reach out to him with support for his second term bid.
He said although the Bauchi governor has done so well that the people of the State will vote for him in the 2023 governorship election, they felt their support at this critical time was important to the governor.
“We come here in solidarity with our friend, the Governor of Bauchi State. We know that he’s running for a second term in office and what we are doing to those of our friends is to find out how things are with them, how the elections are going. This period is a period to identify with your friends.
“Luckily, four of us that are here are not running for a second term in office, even though they are running for senate I’m the only one who is not running for election after I failed at the (presidential) primary (election).
“Going forward, nothing more but just to fraternise with him. If there is any area we can help and advice because what affects him also affects us. Nothing more than that, just to say how are you doing and planning.”
Responding, Governor Mohammed said the support of the G-5 Governors for him at this material time when anti-party activities and treachery were the order of the day in the State chapter of PDP, cannot be taken for granted.
He, however, wondered why he was not made a member of the PDP G-5 from inception.
“The Governors of G5, they called themselves ‘Integrity Group’. I’m supposed to be with them but they excommunicated me for some reason best known to them.
“But I’m highly connected with them, each and every one of them. There is no day that I don’t call to speak with each of them.
“Because in politics, you go with the people that you share something in common with. The presidency that we ran where my brother was defeated and he defeated me has brought us close. Of course, at the Governors Forum, one thing I appreciate about them is that they look at your challenges even though they are not running for a second term but they are always worried.
“We have something in common. They know that I have challenges of anti-party, challenges of underacting in some treachery and mischief and of course politics is about all these but when you know that you have people behind you, of that stature and that calibre you feel fulfilled”, he said.
