Governors elected on the platform of the PDP have been commended for their excellent handling of the last nation wide protest across the country.
The commendation came after the forum’s meeting which took place in Taraba State.
Plateau State Governor, Barr. Caleb Manasseh Mutfwang, joined his counterparts on Friday at the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held at the Government House in Taraba State.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Sen. Bala Muhammad, set the tone for the meeting, affirming that opposition governors would continue to provide effective leadership in navigating the current difficulties confronting Nigeria.
In a communiqué read by Sen. Muhammad after the closed-door session, the forum discussed critical intra-party issues and governance matters affecting their states, alongside national concerns of significant importance.
The Forum expressed relief at the peaceful resolution of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which had the potential to escalate into a major national crisis.
The governors commended their colleagues, particularly those from the PDP, for handling the situation with maturity, ensuring that hoodlums and other disruptive elements were prevented from hijacking the protests.
Acknowledging the inalienable rights of citizens to peaceful protests as a means of expressing genuine grievances, the Forum extended condolences to the families of innocent victims who lost their lives.
The Forum criticized the Federal Government’s response to the ongoing economic and social challenges, accusing it of resorting to blackmail instead of reviewing policies with a human touch.
“We urge Mr. President to exhibit statesmanship by restraining his officials from engaging in blame games that unfairly target sub-national governments, especially when piecemeal interventions cannot address the root problems,” the communiqué stated.
Reaffirming their commitment to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses, the Forum vowed to take all legitimate steps to alleviate their plight.
The Forum also expressed concern over the political impasse in Rivers State, where court judgments have been used to influence the outcome of party congresses.
The PDP Governors’ Forum reiterated its support for the Governor of Rivers State and called on the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) to revisit the congresses to correct any anomalies.
The Forum condemned attempts to compromise the upcoming governorship election in Edo State and decried the systematic intimidation of PDP supporters by the Nigeria Police. They urged the Inspector General of Police to ensure that his officers maintain neutrality.
The Forum in addition criticized the Federal Government for failing to distinguish between federal revenue and revenue accruing to the Federation, which should be allocated according to existing laws. They called on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to be more transparent and to respect constitutional provisions, particularly Section 162.
The Forum appreciated the hospitality extended by Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and commended his administration’s efforts in delivering the dividends of democracy to the people of the state..