By Ife Osemedua
365Daily – The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has adopted Southern Governors’ ban on open grazing, while calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to initiate the process of devolution of power through an Executive Bill.
This was sequel to a meeting of the PDP-GF in Ibadan, Oyo State, on Monday, May 17, 2021. It was led by the Governor of Sokoto State, Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, who is also the Chairman of the forum.
The meeting was convened to further review the state of the nation, and in particular, proffer practical steps to take to advance the conversation on the worsening security situation and collapsing economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
The Governors said the Bill on Devolution of Power should provide some form of State Policing and strengthen the general security architecture.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting also asked President Buhari to 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 the unity of the country, especially with respect to policing.
The Governors agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure the nation’s democracy and should, therefore, not be subjected to personal attacks.
In addition, the PDP-GF advocated that the welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be prioritised.
It stated: “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 re-iterated 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 opposition Governors thanked their host, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, for being “gracious and wonderful,” and congratulated him for the many landmark developmental projects he executed executed.
They 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.
12 out of the 15 members of the forum were present at the meeting, including Udom Emmanuel of Akwa Ibom State; Sen. Douye Diri of Bayelsa State; Samuel Ortom of Benue State;
Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State; Gov. Nyesom Wike of Rivers State and Engr. Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde of Oyo State.
Others are Gov. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri of Adamawa State; Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State; Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State and Deputy Governor of Zamfara state, Mahdi Mohammed.
That is a welcome idea.