From Maurice Okafor, Enugu
Governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Partyhave described the prevailing economic hardship in Nigeria as very unbearable, attributing it to maladministration by the All Progressives Congress-led federal government, promising to reverse the trend in 2027, if the PDP is voted back to power.
The governors threw their weight behind Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC) on its demand for upward review of the minimum wage, as a way of measuring up rising cost of foodstuffs and other basic commodities.
These decisions were part of the resolutions taken by the PDP ruling governors at their meeting with National Working Committee(NWC) of the party.held at Enugu state government house on Wednesday.July 17.
The communique as read by the Chairman of PDP Governors’ Forum and governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed states.
“The Forum notes with dismay and grave concern the mismanagement of the economy by the APC-led Federal Government.
“The Forum regrets that the 16 years of tremendous development under the PDP-led Federal Government, during which the country witnessed single digit inflation, the establishment of the existing anti-corruption institutions and higher standard of living for every Nigerian has been eroded during the life span of the lacklustre APC-led Federal Government.
“The Forum identifies with the Nigerian populace in these troubling times and promises to bring back those good old days, of low inflation rate, affordable food, fuel and transportation, steady FDI inflows resulting in high naira value and the greater quality of human life as recorded.
“The forum therefore calls on all Nigerians to refrain from anarchy as we all march towards the return of the PDP to power in 2027.”
The PDP called for support to it’s candidates in the forthcoming Edo and Ondo governorship elections. The
PDP governors advocated for violence free campaigns among the parties in compliance with the provisions of the electoral laws and tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission to conduct free and fair elections in the two states.
“The Forum urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing field that guarantees transparent, fair and unimpeachable elections as any act of bias will be totally resisted.
“The Forum also urges Mr. President to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.”
In the communique. the PDP governors urged the Federal Government to expedite action on the issue of increased new minimum wage for workers. However, they noted that the ability of other tiers of government to pay should be taken into consideration.
“Labour’s demand for a substantial salary raise is eminently justified and therefore commands the total support of the Forum
“While the Forum fully supports Labour’s demand, agreement must take into consideration the ability to pay by the local government, sub-national and federal government.
“While negotiations are ongoing, we appeal for restraint in both utterances and actions that could lead to the complete breakdown of law and order and ultimately, the collapse of the economy,” the opposition governors said.
The Forum also threw its weight behind Governor Fubara in the crisis rocking Rivers State and called for a political solution in resolving the crisis.
“The Forum notes the crises in the Rivers State Chapter of the party and commits to ensuring peace. The Forum has resolved to stand by His Excellency, Sir Sim Fubara, Governor of Rivers State; while at the same time employ wider consultations with stakeholders for a peaceful resolution and thus find a lasting solution to the crises,” they said.
The governors while welcoming the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, promised to continue to support LG autonomy, but urged that “the implementation of the court decision must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.”
They commended the host governor, Dr. Peter Mbah “for holding the Party together not only in Enugu State but in the entire South Eastern geo-political zone as well as extolled his virtues and achievements as evidenced with major landmark projects and interventions”.
12 out of the 13 PDP ruling governors attended the Enugu meeting.
They are Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi state who is the chairman of the forum. Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo, Umo Eno of Akwa-Ibom, Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, Agbu Kefas of Taraba, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa, Douye Diri of Bayelsa, and the host, Governor Mbah.
