The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum rose from a meeting on Thursday with a pledge to collaborate with the Federal Government to fight the scourge of insecurity bedevilling the country.
The Governors led by the Chairman of the Forum and Governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, urged the Federal Government to take necessary steps to engage all major stakeholders in tackling the security situation.
The meeting which held at the Abuja Lodge of the Sokoto State Governor Lodge in Abuja had in attendance Governors 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.
A Communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Governor Tambuwal stated that the nation’s security challenges, especially banditry and insurgency, required the cooperation of all, irrespective of party inclination.
According to him, the PDP governors are ready to work with the Federal Government in tackling the problem once and for all.
The Governors also urged the Federal government to support States that bear the major brunt of the security challenges to secure the country.
Read the Full Communique 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
Gov 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 Ortom – Member
Hon.Bello Mattawale Maradu – 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.
