Gbenro Adesina
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governor’s Forum on May 17, 2021, have called on President Muhammadu Buhari 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.
The governors stated further, “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”.
These were parts of resolutions of the governors in a one day consultative meeting held in Ibadan, capital of Oyo State to review the state of the nation and practical steps that can be taken to advance the conversation on the worsening security situation and collapsing economy in Nigeria.
According to a communique signed by the Chairman, PDP Governors’ Forum, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, the Forum agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure the nation’s democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks, stressing that the welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.
The governors supported 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 Forum enjoined Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages.
It frowned at the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in the country and concentrate on projects and policies that would enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
The Governors re-iterated a call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that would ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.
The Governors at the meeting were: Udom Emmanuel – Akwa Ibom State, Sen. Douye Diri – Bayelsa State, Samuel Ortom -Benue State, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa – Delta State, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Enugu State, Nyesom Wike – Rivers State, Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde – Oyo State, Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri -Adamawa State, Godwin Obaseki – Edo State, Bala Mohammed -Bauchi State and Deputy Gov. Mahdi Mohd -Zamfara State.
