Gov Bala Mohammed (3rd from left) reading the communique of the meeting of PDP Govs, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar with the party’s National Working Committee in Abuja on Saturday
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have called on the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government to resign if it fails to mobilize all branches and levels of governance to address the enduring economic challenges facing Nigerians.
In light of recent increases in food prices and economic hardships, purchasing essential goods has become increasingly difficult for Nigerians.
The PDP governors, led by Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, voiced concerns on Monday, asserting that Nigeria, under Tinubu’s leadership, is dangerously close to mirroring the situation in Venezuela.
Responding to these claims, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized in a statement that drawing parallels between Nigeria and Venezuela is misleading, pointing out that many PDP governors have neglected their responsibilities, including meeting obligations such as paying minimum wage, gratuities, and pensions.
In a statement on Saturday, Cyril Maduabum, the Director General of the PDP Governors Forum, responded to the Minister’s statement, emphasizing that the PDP governors offered advice to the Federal Government with the aim of addressing the nation’s security and economic challenges through collaborative initiatives between the Federal and State Governments. He clarified that these suggestions were made as contributions from a group of patriotic governors actively engaged in governance.
The Forum commended Tinubu for convening a special meeting to discuss the raised issues and urged that the resolutions reached in the meeting be promptly implemented.
The statement emphasized that despite Nigeria being a Federation, it operates as a single economy, with hardships affecting all Nigerians irrespective of tribal, religious, or party affiliations, as hunger knows no boundaries.
While acknowledging the shared responsibility across all tiers of government, the APC-led Federal Government bears a significant burden in mobilizing Nigerians and coordinating efforts for sustainable solutions.
The statement suggested that if the government is incapable of fulfilling this role, it should gracefully step down.
Furthermore, criticisms from the Honourable Minister of Information, APC Governors’ Forum, and other federal officials towards the PDP Governors’ Forum’s intervention were deemed misguided, as the APC assumed power to address Nigeria’s issues, not exacerbate them through blame-shifting, grandstanding, or propaganda.
PDP-governed states stand out as exemplary models in Nigeria, demonstrating effective developmental policies, programs, and projects that significantly benefit their constituents.
They consistently prioritize the timely payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, and minimum wage to their workforce.
Any state government failing in these areas cannot be attributed to the PDP. It is inaccurate to suggest otherwise.
Additionally, factors such as insecurity and fluctuating exchange rates, primarily under federal jurisdiction, contribute to exacerbating food crises.
As stakeholders in governance, PDP Governors are committed to collaborating with the President to find sustainable solutions to the challenging circumstances, many of which have arisen or worsened since the APC assumed office in 2015.
We advocate for cooperative federalism as the path forward.
Ultimately, as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, and the foremost leader of Nigeria, the responsibility rests squarely on Mr. President’s shoulders.
While we acknowledge his efforts, we earnestly hope and pray that his best will suffice to guide Nigeria out of its current challenges as swiftly as possible.
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