By Chinelo Ude
The PDP Governors’ Forum has noted with dismay and grave concern the mismanagement of the economy by the APC-led Federal Government.
This was disclosed in a communique led by the leadership of Governor Bala Mohammed after a meeting held at the Enugu State Government House on Wednesday, July 17, 2024.
The meeting deliberated on a wide range of issues that border on the critical national interest, the state of the party, particularly the forthcoming congress, the unprecedented hardship faced by majority of Nigerians as a result of the dismal performance of the APC-led Federal Government, the minimum wage negotiations, and the recurring issue of inter-governmental relations with special reference to local government autonomy and funding.
Following exhaustive discussions and consultations, the meeting resolved as follows:
“In the spirit of the founding fathers of the great party who adopted internal democracy as the fundamental principle on which the party was built, the congresses leading to the election of party leaders, at the various tiers, must be all-inclusive, transparent, fair and in strict compliance with the constitution of the party.
“To ensure the successful conduct of the congresses across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.
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“On the off season elections in Edo and Ondo, the forum admonishes all the parties to the elections to ensure that campaigns are issues-based, violence-free and in strict compliance with the provisions of the electoral act.
“Urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing field that guarantees transparent, fair and unimpeachable elections as any act of bias will be totally resisted.
“Urges Mr. President to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process”.
On the issue of minimum wage, the forum noted that the minimum wage negotiations are becoming unduly protracted in the face of the attendant unprecedented hardship and impoverishment of majority of our people.
It emphasised that Labour’s demand for a substantial salary raise is eminently justified and therefore commands the total support of the Forum.
While the Forum fully supports Labour’s demand, it noted that agreement must take into consideration the ability to pay by the local government, sub-national and federal government.
“While negotiations are ongoing, the forum appeals for restraint in both utterances and actions that could lead to the complete breakdown of law and order and ultimately, the collapse of the economy”.
On the Supreme Court ruling on local government allocation, “the Forum believes in the efficacy of the local government system which ensures that governance is brought closer to the people as provided for in the constitution.
“The Forum will continue to support the autonomy of the Local Governments as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Forum holds the Supreme Court in the highest esteem, and is committed to obedience to court orders. However, the Forum urges that implementation of the court decision must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.
“On the issue of Rivers crisis, the Forum notes the crises in the Rivers State Chapter of the party and commits to ensuring peace. The Forum has resolved to stand by His Excellency, Sir Sim Fubara, Governor of Rivers State; while at the same time employ wider consultations with stakeholders for a peaceful resolution and thus find a lasting solution to the crises.
“Furthermore in restoring the nation past glory, the Forum regrets that the 16 years of tremendous development under the PDP-led Federal Government, during which the country witnessed single digit inflation, the establishment of the existing anti-corruption institutions and higher standard of living for every Nigerian has been eroded during the life span of the lacklustre APC-led Federal Government.
“The Forum identifies with the Nigerian populace in these troubling times and promises to bring back those good old days, of low inflation rate, affordable food, fuel and transportation, steady FDI inflows resulting in high naira value and the greater quality of human life as recorded.
“In that regard, the meeting commended the Governors of PDP-controlled states for their innovative approaches to governance in many fields especially infrastructure, education, health, women and youth initiatives and the timely delivery of developmental projects, across the country”, the communique stated.
The forum therefore called on all Nigerians to refrain from anarchy as we all march towards the return of the PDP to power in 2027.
The meeting thanked the Host, His Excellency, Governor Peter Mbah for hosting the first meeting of the PDP Governors in recent times outside Abuja and for holding the Party together not only in Enugu State but in the entire South Eastern Geo-political Zone; as well as extolled his virtues and achievements as evidenced with major landmark projects and interventions.
Governors in attendance at the meeting were Bala Mohammed (Bauchi); Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers); Peter N. Mba (Enugu); Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa); Umo Eno (Akwa); Douye Diri (Bayelsa); Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta); Godwin Obaseki (Edo); Seyi Makinde (Oyo); Caleb Mutfwang ( Plateau); Agbu Kefas (Taraba); and Dauda Lawal ( Zamfara).
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