State Of The Nation: Nigeria Fast Descending To A Failed State

Governors elected on the platform of the People's Democratic Party have faulted attempts by the ruling All Progressives Congress to derail democracy in Nigeria. 

The Governors expressed their disappointment with the Government at the centre at the end of their meeting in Port Harcourt on Monday. 

Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State had joined other PDP Governors, National Chairman of the party and other NWC Members at the crucial meeting, the first in the year. 

Rising from its meeting, the PDP Governors forum in a communique read by the Chairman and Sokoto State Governor, the Rt.Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal urged the National Assembly to expedite deliberations on the Electoral Act Amendment Bill either by overriding the Presidents veto or delete areas of dissent. 

Noting that it was vital for credible elections, the meeting wondered why the process is being delayed one year ahead of elections in Nigeria. 

On the continued state of insecurity, blood letting and the deteriorating economy after handing over a sound economy to APC in 2015, the Governors described it as unacceptable. 

The Governors forum regretted that President Muhammadu Buhari is unwilling to review what it describes as the structural problems of tackling insecurity and advised the President to to have a rethink on his position and consider decentralisation and restructuring of the security architecture which it believes is the most viable option alongside the proper arming, funding and training for security agencies.

The meeting raised concerns on the inconsistent exchange rate regime, high interest rates, unsustainable unemployment figures, and borrowing spree which it said were bad economic indicators. 

The meeting equally expressed dissatisfaction with the management of Nigeria's oil and gas resources, administration of Federation Account remittances, saying it has remained opaque, confusing and non transparent. 

The Governors noted the disappointing transition to NNPC Ltd under the Petroleum Industry Act that has not been properly streamlined to ensure that interests of all tiers of Government are protected in keeping with the provisions of the 1999 Constitution.

To ensure the progress of Nigeria, the meeting appealed to Nigerians particularly the productive sector- the Youths to register with INEC to enable them exercise their franchise in the 2023 elections to end the dominance of the youth unfriendly APC Government that denied them the use of Twitter, a  business friendly tool.

While also congratulating the host Governor Nyesom Ezenwo Wike for the high standard of hosting the meeting and great leadership performance, it congratulated the PDP family for conducting a smooth and credible National Convention that led to the emergence of the Senator Iyorchia Ayu led National Executive Committee. 

The meeting is happy that the new executive has hit the ground running towards repositioning the party into a credible vehicle for rescuing and rebuilding Nigeria that has been battered by bad economy, insecurity and other social ills by an incompetent APC administration.