Gov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger on Tuesday said he remained the leader of the G7 Governors contrary to reports that he had pulled out of the organisation.
The governor who stated this when leaders of the National Union of Civil Servants paid him a courtesy visit in Minna, said that he was shocked by the media speculations that he had quit the G7 PDP Governors.
He said the speculations gained ground owing to his absence from the meeting on health grounds.
Aliyu said during the meeting on Oct. 27, three governors tendered apology on his behalf for his absence.
“We are still discussing with President Goodluck Jonathan; this is not the time to pull out, as such, we must respect the president and the office of the president,” he said.
He said those that were not satisfied with the decision could take their next line of action only after completing the discussion with the president.
“Dialogue, discussion and talks, this we must continue on daily basis; this is what is democracy is all about or else we will become a country of deaf and dumb.
“The whole essence of G7 is to ensure that there is democracy in the ruling party; if there is no democracy in it, there is no democracy in the whole country.
“Babangida Aliyu is still a member of G7; what we are asking for is democracy, equity and justice and we will continue to ask for that even outside of the office,” Aliyu said.
Earlier, the union President, Mohammed Shuaibu, said they were impressed by the governor’s performance and called for better attention to workers.