Ibeto: Why I left APC for PDP

Laleye Dipo in Minna

Former Nigerian Ambassador to South Africa, Alhaji Ahmed Ibeto, has said he left the All Progressives Congress (APC) for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to enable him realise his ambition of ruling Niger State.

Ibeto, who resigned from his ambassadorial position last Monday and registered with the PDP in his Ibelu ward in the Magama Local Government Area of the state last Tuesday, also said he still holds President Muhmmadu Buhari in high esteem and “respects him.”

The former envoy, which spoke to some journalists after joining the PDP, further stated that he also did not hold any grudge against former state Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, under whom he served as deputy governor for eight years before political differences separated them in 2014.

“I remain respectful and grateful to President Buhari for appointing me an ambassador to represent Nigeria in South Africa and for the confidence he reposed in me as a politician to serve Nigeria in that capacity.
“I bear no grudge against anyone; even former Governor Aliyu remains my leader and one of those I respect,” Ibeto declared.

The former ambassador dismissed the rumour making the rounds that there was a quarrel between him and the leadership of the APC in the state and at the national level, adding that he had cordial relationship with everyone in the APC.

He said: “That I was appointed Nigeria’s ambassador to South Africa should not preclude me or stop me from aspiring to serve my state in any capacity I cherish to.

“I’m a free born citizen of Nigeria and have the inalienable right to contest for any public office in the country and particularly my state.”

He charged the people of the state to make the “right choice of persons who are suitably qualified to hold them in trust, and administer the state in the true sense of service and responsibility when the election time comes.”