State governors of the PDP-ruled states in Nigeria under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum have called on President MUHAMMADU BUHARI to immediately send an executive bill to the National Assembly to amend Nigeria constitution in order to devolve more power to state government with respect to security arrangements culminating to state policing and general security architecture.
The opposition governors stated this in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting in Ibadan on Monday to further review state of the nation especially on worsening security situation and the collapsing economy of Nigeria. The governors also called on the President to summon immediate meeting of Police Council which comprises the president, all state governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to the country.
The meeting supported the earlier position taken by Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently, Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to herder/farmer clashes in Nigeria, among other important issues.
The communiqué, signed by the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum, Aminu Tambuwal, reads as follows:
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“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.”
“The meeting reiterated 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.”
“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.”
It would be recalled that Southern Governors’ Forum recently met in Asaba, the Delta State capital and banned open grazing of cattle in the zone, among other things.
The governors at the meeting included Governor Aminu Tambuwal, of Sokoto State as the Chairman of the forum, Governor Emmanuel Udom of Akwa Ibom State, Governor Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State, Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State and Governor Nyesom Wik of Rivers State.
Other governors at meeting include Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Governor Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd of Zamfara State.
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