Ibadan Accord: PDP Governors back agitation for restructuring, open grazing
PDP meeting, sheer waste of time — APC
Akinlabi Afolabi, Ibadan
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have declared their support for restructuring, creation of state police and ban on open-grazing by the Southern Nigeria governors.
The Governors also stressed the need for President Mohammadu Buhari to initiate an Executive Bill for the amendment of 1999 Constitution.
The governors, under the PDP Governors’ Forum, said that the bill should propose allocation of more powers to the states, with respect to security arrangements, culminating in some form of state police and the general security architecture.
The positions were contained in a communique issued after the meeting held at the International Institute For Tropical Agriculture.
The communiqué said that the meeting reviewed the state of the nation, particularly the practical next steps to take to advance the conversation on the security and economic situations of the country.
The communique read, “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 forum further urged the Federal Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower the tensions in the country and concentrate on projects and policies that would enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
The governors also re-iterated their earlier call on 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.”
Those in attendance were Aminu Waziri Tambuwal ( Sokoto State), Udom Emmanuel ( Akwa Ibom State), Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), and Ifeanyi Okowa Delta State.
Others were Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Nyesom Wike (Rivers State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa State), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo State).
Bauchi State governor Bala Mohammed was also there while Zamfara State Deputy Governor Mahdi Mohd represented his boss Bello Matawalle
However, in swift response to the communiqué, the All Progressives Congress (APC) said that the PDP Governors’ Forum meeting held in Ibadan, was a waste of time, with no substance.
National Secretary APC Caretaker and Extra-ordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Sen. John Akpanudoedehe, said this in a statement on Monday in Abuja.
“Going by the communique issued by the PDP Governors’ Forum at the end of its meeting on Monday, it is unfortunate that the PDP governors chose to engage in misplaced name calling and abuses,” he said.
According to Akpanudoedehe, the PDP also failed to seize a golden opportunity provided by the meeting to offer meaningful and patriotic contributions on the state of the nation.
He said it was disappointing that the supposed PDP governors consultative meeting turned out to be “a political jamboree and its outcome a waste of time, with no substance.”
He stressed that the efforts and records of President Muhammadu Buhari’s government on revamping the economy and devolution of powers was visible and unmatched.
He added that the administration’s efforts at upgrading the country’s security architecture, governance and electoral reforms, addressing perennial farmers and herders clashes,and public sector reforms were also visible.
Akpanudoedehe recalled that President Buhari on May 20, 2020 signed an executive order on the implementation of financial autonomy of state legislature and Judiciary, which was rejected by the PDP governors.
He assured Nigerians that the Buhari-led government would continue to identify and partner with patriotic and well meaning individuals and interests in its determined efforts to make the country better while addressing its challenges.
