Insecurity: Rise Up To Occasion, PDP Governors Tell Tinubu

• The PDP Governors Forum has called on the federal government to immediately address the country’s killings, kidnappings, and attacks
• The governors specifically expressed concern about the killings in Plateau and Zamfara states
• The forum also advised the federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states

Members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum emerged from their inaugural meeting in Abuja on Tuesday, calling on the federal government to immediately rise to the occasion and address the country’s killings, kidnappings, and attacks.

The governors, in particular, expressed concern about the killings in Plateau and Zamfara states and urged the federal government and security agencies to step up.

The governors also advised the federal government and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be neutral in the upcoming governorship elections in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states in a communiqué read by the Bauchi State Governor and Chairman of the forum, Bala Muhammed, after more than three hours of meeting at the Akwa Ibom Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro.

The forum promised to work with the federal government to improve Nigerians’ well-being through constructive criticism.

The governors, who stated that they had resolved to collaborate, stated that the forum’s goal was to provide a platform for peer review of member governors’ issues, policies, programmes, and achievements.

The communique reads in part:

The meeting advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the security agencies, and the federal government to be neutral in the conduct of the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi, and Imo states.

The meeting noted the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the wanton destruction of lives and property in Plateau and Zamfara states, among others. The meeting consequently advised the federal government and security agencies to rise to the situation and bring the situation under control.

In the interim, the forum will cooperate with the federal government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance while striving to maintain the independence and autonomy of the forum through offering constructive criticism where necessary.

Those that attended the meeting were Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Bassey Umo Eno (Akwa Ibom), Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa), Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta), Peter Mbah (Enugu), Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau), Ademola Adeleke (Osun), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Kefas Agbu (Taraba) and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara).

Siminalayi Fubara, the governor of Rivers State and the forum’s vice chairman was not present.