High Cost of Living: Nigeria on the way to Venezuela – PDP Govs

…reiterates call for safeguarded state policing

By Tunde Opalana

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has lamented the rising cost of living and the attendant hardship being faced by Nigerians.

The state executives that if the trend is not halted or reversed, the nation may be on the way to Venezuela.

Chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed said this while addressing the media immediately after the meeting of the Forum at the Oyo State Governor’s Lodge Abuja on Monday.

Answering question on what state governors are doing about the rising cost of living in the country, Mohammed said governors are working closely with the federal government since the inception of this administration.

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He said “the rising cost of living is not only under the purview of the federal government. We have been partnering together with them to make sure that we don’t bring any distraction but the monetary and economic policies rests squarely with the federal government.

“The majority of Nigerians voted for this administration, so we are doing so much across party lines and on bi-partisan basis, within the Nigeria governors forum within the National Economic Council to make sure that we cushion the effects of some of these policies.

“We have reached out to our people and opened the food reserves in a manner that it will provide some succour to our people at the lower level.”

The Bauchi State governor said the PDP is giving positive criticism to the obnoxious policies of the federal government.

“But at the onset of this administration, we supported the removal of subsidy, we believed that there were safeguards, we believed that if we took collective decisions, we should go by it. But certainly, we have seen that it is a free fall for the naira. The cost of living is going high, we are almost on the road to Venezuela.

“So we are giving concrete opposition but not insulting anybody. But ultimately the decision squarely rests with Nigerians and other organs in the country to make sure that we do things that will bring succour to all of us,” he said.

Reading the communique at the end of the meeting, Mohammed PDP Governors’ Forum deliberated on various issues of interest and concern to the Forum, the party and the country at large.

“The meeting reviewed the state of the nation and noted the hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the economic and security challenges facing the nation.

“The Forum consequently urges the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency embark on initiatives involving all the sub national governments to bring a lasting solution to the crises. The PDP Governors will continue to play their part in the effort to bring security and succour to our people.

“To this end, we reiterate our call for State Police with appropriate safeguards to avoid any abuse or overreach by any tier of government.

“The Forum decried the falling value of the Naira and requested the monetary and fiscal authorities to find appropriate solutions.

“The meeting further reviewed recent developments in the Peoples Democratic Party and committed to leading efforts to revamp and reposition the party to serve as an effective opposition to the ruling Party in Nigeria.

“Furthermore, the Forum passed a vote of confidence in the Iliya Damagum led National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party and urged it to put in motion the machinery for convening meetings of the appropriate organs of the party – from Caucus to National Executive Committee (NEC) as soon as possible,” the communique read.

In attendance at the meeting were: Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State who hosted the meeting, Gov. Bala Mohammed, of Bauchi State, Gov Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State and Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State.

The rest were: Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Gov. Kefas Agbu of Taraba State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Dep. Gov. Ifeanyi Ossai of Enugu State and Dep Gov. Monday John Onyeme of Delta State.