Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, has categorically denied reports suggesting he plans to facilitate Governor Hyacinth Alia's defection from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the People's Democratic Party (PDP).
In a statement released on Wednesday, Maku clarified that his recent participation in the Good Governance Tour of development projects in Benue State was entirely apolitical and not aimed at political realignment.
As previously reported, Governor Alia sparked defection rumors after allegedly engaging Maku, a PDP member, into his media team—a move many political observers interpreted as a signal of possible party switching.
Good Governance Tour: A Non-Partisan Initiative
"The Good Governance Tour is a professional effort designed to shift the focus of political leaders – across all parties and at all levels – away from endless political quarrels towards the urgent need for development and service delivery, particularly to the grassroots," Maku explained in his statement.
He emphasized that the concept originated during his tenure as Minister of Information when he initiated the National Good Governance Tour as a non-partisan platform for assessing and showcasing development efforts of incumbent leaders nationwide.
"Prof Jerry Gana also undertook a nationwide media tour during his time as the Minister of Information and National Orientation," he added, highlighting the precedent for such initiatives.
Refocusing on Development
Maku expressed concern about the continued lack of priority attention to governance in Nigeria's political landscape. He revealed that he had reached out to like-minded professionals, including Dr. Mike Omeri, former Director-General of the National Orientation Agency, to revive the good governance tour as a tool for civic accountability.
"We have approached political leaders across party lines, requesting permission to assess and showcase their projects and policies. Governor Hyacinth Alia happened to be the first to officially invite us to tour his state," Maku clarified.
The Benue tour included a town hall meeting where citizens directly engaged with the government, asking questions about development and security efforts. According to Maku, the initiative has received positive feedback from citizens across Nigeria, with many requesting similar tours in their states.
"Let me be clear: No part of our mission to Benue State involved persuading Governor Alia to switch political parties. That narrative is absolute fiction. Those who know him understand that he is not driven by desperation for 2027, but by a burning desire to serve."
Maku concluded by emphasizing that their focus remains on promoting development initiatives and concrete service delivery rather than political scheming and power games that often dominate Nigeria's political discourse.
