After the defection of his deputy, Ahmed Musa Ibeto, to the All Progressives Congress, the Niger State Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, on Monday called on the judiciary to speedily determine the cases of defectors who he described as political prostitutes.
Aliyu made the request in Minna when he received the 2014 hajj report from the leader of the state delegation to the Holy land, Prof. Sheikh Abdallah.
He said: “Defectors to other political parties have betrayed the electorate because they were not originally elected on the platform of the party to which they have defected.
“We need morality in politics.
“We need the courts to properly interpret the section of the constitution on defection.
“I believe that you cannot go to another party with the mandate given in another political party.
“The judiciary should speedily determine the cases of defection to other political parties by elected political office holders to bring stability and morality to politics.
“If you are dissatisfied with what is going on in your party and you are an elected politician, resign your position before joining another political party, otherwise the public will see politicians as people who should not be respected.”
Aliyu however advised the electorate as the general elections draws near to critically view those politicians that have left their original parties and vote them out in the elections to show that voters cannot be taken for a ride any more.
He further stated: “In Niger State, I suggest to the electorate to punish immoral politicians by defeating them at the polls.”
The governor commended the Hajj committee for ensuring a hitch free exercise in 2014 and prayed that the next committee will build on the gains of the 2014 team.
Aliyu prayed for early preparation for the 2015 hajj, saying that the state Pilgrims Welfare Commission should immediately fix the hajj fares using additional 30 per cent of last year’s fares as benchmark before suggesting that three weeks should be made the maximum period pilgrims will spend in the Holy Land.
Furthermore, he said the ratio of first time pilgrims should be 90-10 as against the 80-20 last year to give more opportunity to fresh intending pilgrims.
Earlier, Abdallah disclosed that though the exercise was successful, three pilgrims lost their lives during and after the pilgrimage.