By Valentine Amanze, Online Editor
The Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has resolved to support the President Muhammadu Buhari-led All Progressives Congress (APC) federal government to battle the high level insecurity in Nigeria.
The forum, led by the Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, took the resolution at a meeting in Abuja on Thursday.
After the meeting, Governor Tambuwal said that the nation’s security challenges, especially banditry and insurgency, required the cooperation of all, irrespective of party inclination.
He said that the PDP governors were ready to work with the Federal Government in tackling the problem once and for all.
The meeting, which held at the Abuja Lodge of the Sokoto State governor, ended at about 5:10pm.
Governors in attendance include Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).
Others are Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).
The meeting was also attended by some national executive members of the PDP such as former Senate Presidents, Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim, as well as former governors of Gombe and Katsina states, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Ibrahim Shema, among others.
No Negotiation With Bandits
The rate of insecurity in Nigeria has become a major source of concern for the people as the government continues to assure them of safety.
Recently, the activities of bandits in the north-western region of the country led to the abduction of scores of residents who later regained freedom days later, and in some cases, weeks.
While the PDP governors met at the nation’s capital, the National Security Adviser, Babagana Monguno, briefed State House correspondents elsewhere on national security.
He stated that the government would apply its full weight to deal with criminals and would not be blackmailed by any group of people into negotiating with those who threaten the nation’s peace.
Monguno insisted that the present administration was not interested in negotiation with bandits, terrorists, and other criminal elements terrorising the country.
Read the Communique Issued at the meeting of PDP Governors’ Forum held on March 11, 2021, at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Abuja below.
At the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum held, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Conference Hall, Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, FCT, the Forum resolved and hereby issue the following communiqué:
The meeting which was attended by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party received an interim report of the PDP Reconciliation Committee of the Party and commended the NWC for setting up the Committee and lauded the Reconciliation Committee on a job well done so far.
The meeting further resolved to strengthen the party to play its appropriate role as the bulwark for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians.
To this end, the meeting further reviewed how to make PDP more efficient and effective and ensure fraud-free primaries, so that the will of party members should always prevail in the nomination of candidates, congresses and conventions.
It resolved to support the electronic registration and update of the membership register of PDP nationwide.
The meeting inaugurated three Committees of the Forum. The Committees and members are as follows:
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu – Chairman
Gov. Nyesom Wike – Member
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa – Member
Gov. Seyi Makinde – Member
Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri – Member
Gov. Godwin Obaseki – Member
Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – Member
LEGISLATIVE LIAISON COMMITTEE
Sen. Bala Mohammed – Chairman
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa – Member
Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Member
Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – Member
Sen. Duoye Diri – Member
Sen. (Prof) Engr. Ayade Benedict – Member
LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE
Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike – Chairman
Gov. Darius Ishaku – Member
Gov. Seyi Makinde – Member
Gov. Samuel Ioraer Ortom – Member
Hon. Bello Mattawale Maradun – Member
The meeting further resolved to continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to fight the scourge of insecurity bedevilling the country and urged the Government to take necessary steps to engage all major stakeholders.
States that bear the major brunt of the security challenges should be supported more by the Federal Government to secure the country.
The Forum reviewed the economic situation in the country and noted the recent increase in crude oil prices. It urged the Federal Government to use this opportunity to further diversify the economy and provide the enabling environment for Nigerians to thrive in all sectors.
The meeting also noted that no member of the PDP Governors’ Forum is contemplating leaving the party. Nigerians should ignore rumour mongers and mischief-makers trying to sow seeds of disunity in the party.
The party is one and there is no division in its ranks. The PDP Governors are concentrating on delivering democracy benefits to Nigerian people who elected them in various states.
We have equally set up a peer review mechanism to monitor and benchmark the laudable achievements of PDP Governors in their various states. Projects and services relevant to the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of our people are our major pre-occupation at this time.
In Attendance:
Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal – Chairman
Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State) – Vice Chairman
Gov. Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) – Member
Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State) – Member
Gov. Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) – Member
Gov. Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) – Member
Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State) – Member
Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) – Member
Sen. Duoye Diri (Bayelsa State) – Member
Sen. (Prof) Engr. Ayade Benedict (Cross Rivers State) – Member
Gov. Samuel Ioraer Ortom (Benue State) – Member
Gov. Bello Mattawale Maradun (Zamfara State) – Member
Crowther Seth (Deputy Governor-Adamawa) – Member
Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal
Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum/
Governor of Sokoto State.
