Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) governors have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu not to interfere in the forthcoming staggering gubernatorial elections in Edo and Ondo states.
This was contained in a communique issued on Wednesday at the end of the meeting of the PDP Governor’s Forum in Enugu, Enugu State.
The governors urged “Mr. President to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.”
The PDP governors declared their unflinching support for Governor Sim Fubara over the ongoing political crises in Rivers State.
They said: “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.”
The 13 PDP governor led by Bauchi State governor, Sen. Bala Mohammed tasked the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to provide level playing field for all participants in the elections.
According to the Forum, “The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) should provide a level playing field that guarantees transparent, fair and unimpeachable elections as any act of bias will be totally resisted.”
They, however, charged all the political parties participating in the polls to ensure their campaigns are issues-based and avoid violence.
“All the parties to the elections should ensure that campaigns are issues-based, violence-free and in strict compliance with the provisions of the electoral act,” the communique reads.
Speaking on the nation’s economy, the PDP governors “noted with dismay and grave concern the mismanagement of the economy by the APC-led Federal Government.”
They said: “The minimum wage negotiations are becoming unduly protracted. In the face of the attendant unprecedented hardship and impoverishment of majority of our people, the Forum resolves as follows:
“That 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.”
Having deliberated on the Supreme Court’s verdict on the autonomy of the local governments, the governors states that “The Forum believes in the efficacy of the local government system which ensures that governance is brought closer to the people as provided for in the constitution.
“Will continue to support the autonomy of the Local Governments as enshrined in the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
“Forum holds the Supreme Court in the highest esteem, and is committed to obedience to court orders. However, the Forum urges that implementation of the court decision must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal governments and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.”
Deliberating on the upcoming Congress of PDP, the Governors’ Forum concluded that “In the spirit of the founding fathers of our great party, who adopted internal democracy as the fundamental principle on which our party was built, the congresses leading to the election of party leaders, at the various tiers, must be all-inclusive, transparent, fair and in strict compliance with the constitution of the party.
“To ensure the successful conduct of the congresses across the 36 states of the Federation and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.”
The meeting, which was hosted by Enugu State governor, Peter Mba, was attended by Gov. Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State(Chairman), Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State(Vice Chairman), Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Gov. Umo Eno of Akwa Ibom State, Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa State, Gov. Sheriff Oborevwori of Delta State, Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo State, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State,
Gov. Agbu Kefas of Taraba State and Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State.