By Samuel Ogidan
Abuja
Reacting to the statement credited to Kano state governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, that Jigawa state governor, Sule Lamido, betrayed the G7 group by refusing to defect to the All Progressives Congress (APC) as agreed, Lamido yesterday said he betrayed them in the interest of the nation.
Five of the governors out of the G7, who defected to APC where that of Kano, Sokoto, Adamawa, Kwara and Rivers, while that of Niger state, Babangida Aliyu, and Lamido refused to defect.
Lamido, who spoke with journalists shortly after a meeting with the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Abuja, said his refusal to defect to the APC along with the five governors was guided by his commitment to fight for the national interest.
He denied reports that his meeting with Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state recently was to prepare for his defection to the APC.
Lamido said: “I am a betrayer, confirmed. I betrayed them. I did, yes. I am aligning myself to what he (Kwankwaso) said. I am aligning my answer to what he said. Go and find out from him. I betrayed them in national interest.”
On his meeting with Amaechi, he said: “You see sometime it is sheer mischief…an elder will not follow an elder, me and Amaechi are very good friends and colleagues, PDP or no PDP, we are Nigerians, how can I go to APC. And therefore if he comes to me we look at issues. How could I be in APC? If wishes were horses there won’t be APC.”