By: Balogun Tumininu
The PDP Governors’ Forum held its 4th meeting of 2024 in Jalingo, Taraba State, on Friday, August 23, 2024, and issued a communique addressing various national and intra-party issues.
The governors commended the peaceful resolution of the #EndBadGovernance protests, acknowledging the maturity and restraint shown by PDP governors in handling the situation in their respective states.
The forum criticized the Federal Government’s response to the economic crisis, accusing it of resorting to blackmail instead of reviewing and humanizing macroeconomic and social policies. They called on President to show statesmanship and restrain his officials from blame games.
The governors also addressed the political impasse in Rivers State, reaffirming their support for Governor Siminalayi Fubara and calling for a revisit of the party congress to correct anomalies.
Additionally, they condemned alleged plans to compromise the upcoming governorship election in Edo State and called on the Inspector General of Police to stop intimidating PDP supporters.
The forum expressed concern over the Federal Government’s handling of revenue allocation, calling for transparency and adherence to extant laws. They advocated for the separation of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and that of the Accountant General of the FGN.
Finally, the governors commended the host, Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State, for his hospitality and governance philosophy, which aligns with the PDP’s values.
Full Communique Below:
PDP GOVERNORS’ FORUM
2024/4TH MEETING HELD @ GOVERNMENT HOUSE, JALINGO, TARABA STATE ON FRIDAY, AUGUST 23, 2024
COMMUNIQUE
The PDP Governors’ Forum today, Friday, August 23,2024, held its regular monthly meeting in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital and issued the following communique’;
1. The Meeting deliberated on crucial intra-party and governance matters affecting our states as well as those of overriding national interest and importance.
2. The Governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protests which was edging to a major national crisis. We salute the dexterity of the Governors especially of the PDP extraction in handling the situation in their respective States with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.
3. The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances. The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.
4. The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the Federal Government has resorted to blackmail. We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games, that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem. We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight.
5. The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses. The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.
6. With regard to the forth coming governorship election in Edo State, we condemn the pronouncements by the President to compromise the election in favour of his Party as well as the systematic intimidation of PDP supporters by the Nigeria Police and call on the Inspector General of Police to call his men to order.
7. The Forum notes with concern, the refusal of the Federal Government to distinguish between the Federal Government of Nigeria, FGN revenue and revenue accruing to the Federation which must be allocated in accordance with extant laws. We call on the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Accountant General of the Federation to be more transparent in obeying the law, particularly section 162 (1) (2) (3). And equally call on the Accountant General of the Federation to stop behaving like the Accountant General of the Federal Government and to exercise her role in line with constitution. Therefore, we call for the separation of the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and that of the Accountant General of the FGN.
8. Finally, the Forum commends the host, the Taraba State Government, under Governor Agbu Kefas, for the hospitality accorded members of the Forum and the Secretariat and noted with delight the giant steps taken to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of the state; which is in line with the governance philosophy of the PDP.
His Excellency Sen. Bala Mohammed. @SenBalaMohammed
Governor of Bauchi State.
Chairman PDP Governor’s Forum.