ALLEGED BETRAYAL: Presidency, Jang Blasts Gov.Aliyu Challenges Him To Name Bribed Northern Politicians

The factional Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum, who is also the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang, has described Niger State Governor, Aliyu Babangida as number one on the list of betrayals from the North, saying the governor had betrayed him as well Jang, who stated this in a statement signed by the Media Officer of his faction of the NGF, Mr. Kassim Yakubu was reacting to Aliyu's allegations that 400 leaders from the North had been bribed to support President Goodluck Jonathan's re-election bid in 2015. 

But Jang said that if there were betrayals from the North, Aliyu would be the first person on the list of those that would betray the North.

Jang said that he (Aliyu) reneged on the agreement by the northern governors that he (Jang) should be their consensus candidate for the NGF chairmanship election, but regretted that Aliyu and others reneged on the agreement.

Jang said in the statement, "Maybe Governor Aliyu and his group do not see me as a Northern and perhaps need to explain to us what makes you a northerner if they can so flagrantly disregard the collective decision."

Gulak also denied the claim by Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger State that the Presidency had bribed 400 northerners to support Jonathan in 2015.

Challenging the governor to mention the politicians that were bribed, the presidential aide insisted that Jonathan was not used to bribing people for whatever reason.

"What I can simply say is that Mr. President is not used to bribing people. We challenge Aliyu to name the people that were bribed," he said.

Aliyu, on Saturday in Minna at the 25th anniversary celebration of the enthronement of the Emir of Minna, alleged that about 400 prominent Northerners had been bribed to betray the region by supporting Jonathan in the 2015 election.

He added that those who collected the money would be exposed "as soon as we lay our hands on the list of the people involved."

He said, "We are looking for that list so that we will tell the people of the region that these are the people that want to betray them.

"We hear the rumour of some people who say that they have the list of 400 prominent Northerners that they are going to settle and that they are sure if they settle 400 everything will be okay in 2015."

The governors said the North was not afraid of 2015 election, adding that it would be a game of numbers.

"No matter what happens by 2015, we (northerners) should not be afraid because politics is a game of number. Through the ballot box we can always determine who becomes our leader. Do not be afraid, let there be 200 candidates, God will allow only one to emerge," he said.