The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum (PDPGF) has restated its solid stance in support of Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, on the political crisis in the party in the state.
The governors indicated their readiness to engage the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party to revisit the congresses with a view to correcting the anomaly, while insisting that Governor Siminalayi Fubara must be allowed to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.
The PDP Governors said these in a communiqué issued at the end of the forum’s 4th regular monthly meeting in 2024 at Government House, Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, on Friday.
The communiqué, which was read by the Chairman of the forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, said, “The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency, Governor Siminalayi Fubara, to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.”
The meeting, which deliberated on a number of burning national and intra-party issues, also commended the PDP governors for their mature handling of the #EndBadGovernance protests across the country and urged the Federal Government to stop the blame game and face governance squarely by addressing core policy issues with a view to reducing the sufferings of Nigerians.
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Senator Mohammed said, “The meeting deliberated on crucial intra-party and governance matters affecting our states as well as those of overriding national interest and importance.
“The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which was edging to a major national crisis.
“We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially of the PDP extraction, in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.
“The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances. The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.
“The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the Federal Government has resorted to blackmail.
“We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem. We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight.”
The PDP Governors’ Chairman also highlighted the concerns of the Forum in respect of the crisis in Edo State in the heat up to the upcoming governorship election and urged the Federal Government to act with caution in resolving any issues arising therefrom.
Senator Mohammed noted, “With regard to the forthcoming governorship election in Edo State, we condemn the pronouncements by the President to compromise the election in favour of his party as well as the systematic intimidation of PDP supporters by the Nigeria Police, and call on the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order.”
On the lingering issue of revenue sharing among the tiers of government, Senator Mohammed said, “The Forum notes with concern the refusal of the Federal Government to distinguish between the Federal Government of Nigeria’s (FGN) revenue and revenue accruing to the Federation, which must be allocated in accordance with existing laws.
“We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to be more transparent in obeying the law, particularly Section 162 (1), (2), and (3). And equally, call on the Accountant General of the Federation to stop behaving like the Accountant General of the Federal Government and to exercise her role in line with the Constitution. Therefore, we call for the separation of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and that of the Accountant General of the FGN,” the communique emphasised.
The Governors commended the Dr. Agbu Kefas-led Taraba State Government for the hospitality accorded members of the Forum and the Secretariat and noted with delight the giant steps taken to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state, which they said were in line with the governance philosophy of the PDP.
Nine governors of the PDP extraction attended the one-day forum meeting, including Senator Bala Mohammed, who serves as chairman and governor of Bauchi State;
Sir Siminalayi Fubara, who is Vice Chairman and Governor of Rivers State, as well as the host governor, Dr. Agbu Kefas,.
Others are Governor of Enugu State, Barrister Peter Mbah; Governor of Adamawa State, Rt. Hon. Ahmadu Fintiri; Governor of Delta State, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori; Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Caleb Muftang; Governor of Zamfara State, Alhaji Dauda Lawal; and Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki.
Those absent were Governor of Oyo State, Engr. Seyi Makinde; Governor of Osun State, Senator Ademola Adeleke; Governor of Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri; and Governor of Akwa Ibom State, Pastor Eno Umo.
