PDP Governors Calls For Constitutional Reform; Tasks FG to Implement Strategies to Combat Challenges to National Unity
The People's Democratic Party Governors' Forum has tasked the APC-led government of President Mohammadu Buhari to immediately initiate the process of constitution amendment that would allow states contribute to security arrangements that would culminate in some form of state policing and general security architecture.
In its communique at the end of the one-day consultative meeting in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital on Monday, Chairman of the PDP Governors' Forum, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal who read its communique, asked the President to summon an immediate meeting of the Police Council, all Governors and other critical stakeholders in order to evolve and implement strategies to combat those challenges that pose a threat to the unity of Nigeria.
The Forum noted that the Police Force remains the appropriate institution properly positioned to secure democracy and should not be subjected to attacks.
The meeting also advised that training, welfare, equipment and funding of security agencies must be given priority for effective policing of the troubled nation.
The meeting also enjoined the citizenry to work towards achieving peace and harmony devoid of any differences.
While describing as incompetent and rudderless the APC government, it called on the administration to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions, while also concentrating on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
The governors also reiterated its earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the electoral act that would ensure free and fair elections to include provisions for electronic accreditation and transmission of votes.
Below is the full text of the Communique:
COMMUNIQUE ISSUED BY THE PDP GOVERNORS' FORUM AT THE END OF ITS MEETING IN IBADAN, OYO STATE ON MONDAY, 17TH MAY, 2021.
The PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM met in Ibadan, Oyo State on Monday, 17th May, 2021, further reviewed the state of the nation, particularly, practical next steps to take to advance the conversation on the worsening security situation and collapsing economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. At the end of the one-day consultative meeting, the Forum, issued the following Communique.
1. The meeting called on Mr. President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander-in -Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the States with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of State Policing and the general security architecture.
2. In the interim, Mr. President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr. President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing. The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.
3. The meeting supports the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors' Forum, Northern Governors' Forum and recently by the Southern Governors' Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders/farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States; and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.
4. The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages. To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
5. The meeting re-iterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.
6. The meeting thanked the Host Governor, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for being a gracious and wonderful host, and congratulated him for the many landmark developmental projects he has executed, and urged him to continue to work with all stakeholders in the South West Zone to ensure that PDP takes over majority of the states in the zone.
In attendance were:
Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, CFR - Sokoto State - Chairman
Gov. Udom Emmanuel - Akwa Ibom State - Member
Gov. Sen. Douye Diri - Bayelsa State - Member
Gov. Samuel Ortom - Benue State -Member
Gov. Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa - Delta State - Member
Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi - Enugu State - Member
Gov. Nyesom Wike, CON - Rivers State - Member
Gov. Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde - Oyo State - Member
Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri -Adamawa State -Member
Gov. Godwin Obaseki - Edo State - Member
Gov. Bala Mohammed - Bauchi State - Member
Deputy Gov. Mahdi Mohd -Zamfara State -Deputy Governor
RT. HON. AMINU WAZIRI TAMBUWAL, CFR
Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum
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