By Myke Uzendu, Abuja
Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP-GF) said that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) does not show and concern over the escalating kidnapping, banditry, insecurity and plunge in the economy of the country.
The statement came on the heels of comments credited to the Secretary of the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, Senator John Akpanudoedehe who was quoted as saying that the Ibadan meeting of the PDP governors was a mere “political jamboree and its outcome a waste of time, with no substance”. He claimed that Buhari’s government has done a visible job in upgrading the country’s security architecture, governance, electoral reforms, and addressing perennial farmers and herders’ clashes.
But the PDP-GF in a statement by its Director General, Hon. CID Maduabum on Wednesday lamented the level of deceit and falsification of facts coming from the ruling party.
He said, “It is most disheartening that an officer of an illegal, unelected and unlawful APC contraption is living in a fancy world. If one may ask, where did President Buhari do Electoral reforms in the last 6 years other than vetoing 2 bills sent to him by the 8th NASS on Electoral reforms? How has the country’s security architecture been improved by President Buhari other than in the imagination of Sen Akpanudodehe? Is he really serious that security has improved under Buhari? What concrete measures has APC government taken to curb Herders / Farmers clashes other than inciting and ridiculous statements regularly dished out from two Presidential aides on behalf of the so called Presidency?
“Is he not aware that issues of restructuring, devolution of powers, state policing proposals and ranching, have been endorsed by the Nigerian Governors Forum (With 21 APC Governors), Northern Governors Forum (with 13 APC Governors) Southern Governors Forum (with 7 APC Governors,); Arewa Consultative Forum and even the El Rufai Committee?
“Perhaps, because the Caretaker Committee is not elected and consequently, devoid of any democratic mandate, as required by the Nigerian Constitution, they seem to be insensitive to the feeling and suffering of Nigerians under APC misrule especially the insecurity and economic challenges facing the nation”.
The PDP governors in its Communique after its meeting in Ibadan recently called on Mr. President, to summon the Nigeria Police Council which is constitutionally mandated to organize and administer the Nigeria Police Force, a statutory organ of state comprising of Mr. President as Chairman, the 36 State Governors, IGP and Chairman Police Service Commission as members, that has practically not been meeting since 2015, to begin to grapple with the immediate problems of policing , pending a constitutionally based restructuring.
“How can a meeting of 15 State Governors that made concrete suggestions on how to improve the almost hopeless Nigerian condition under the APC Government be termed a Jamboree? Can a meeting that called for a speedy passage of the Electoral Act, de-escalation of tension in Nigeria, the equipping, welfare, training financing, and stoppage of personal attacks on Nigerian Police Force be termed a Jamboree and a waste of time?
“No wonder that after more than a year of usurping the offices of the APC National Executive Committee, the Caretaker Committee is unable to organise a National Convention and had to take the unprecedented step, just this week of describing those who sought for the holding of the APC National Convention, as “the handwork of political jobbers” and “fifth Columnists”.
You may wish to note that the APC Caretaker/ Extraordinarily Convention Planning Committee recently extended their 6-month mandate to one year
