PDP govs to raise panel to examine Nigeria’s security

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors have declared their readiness to raise a panel of consultants to thoroughly examine the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.

The PDP governors also alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is unwilling to sign the reworked Electoral Act Amendment Bill, which has been transferred to him by the National Assembly.

The governors, who met under the aegis of the PDP Governors Forum, made this known in a communiqué issued after their meeting in Yenagoa, the Bayelsa State capital on Monday.
The governors stated that they met in Bayelsa to review “the state of the nation, the readiness of the PDP to rescue the nation from APC misrule.”

The PDP Governors Forum further expressed displeasure on the importation of contaminated fuel into the country and urged the federal government “to bring perpetrators to account”.

The governors, in the communiqué issued, said: “As the National Assembly winds down this current phase of the Constitution Review exercise, the Forum urged that they revisit the issue of devolution of more powers to the States and Local Governments.

“This opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum would set up a Panel of Consultants to have a thorough look at the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.”

The PDP governors also urged the National Assembly to transfer some items from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent List.

On the Electoral Act Amendment Bill, the PDP governors urged President Buhari “to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law. Waiting to run out the 30 days is yet another sign of unwillingness by Mr President to give Nigeria a reformed Electoral framework. If there are still misgivings on any aspect of the Bill Amendments may be introduced at a later stage.”

The governors further congratulated PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the Abuja Area Council election results held last Saturday.

The PDP Governors Forum added: “Inspite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible. They urged INEC to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve on the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.

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“The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged government to bring perpetrators to account.

“The Governors frowned at the duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which has been badly and corruptly administered. The figures of consumption and ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated. They called for proper investigation to be conducted on this matter.

“The Forum welcomed the court decision on Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, a suit at the instance of Rivers State and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.

“In the same vein, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should expedite action on the new Revenue Allocation formula in such a way as to increase allocation to States and Local Government.

“The Forum once again deplored the way and manner the CBN is being run as an alternate government, indeed, a government within a Government. It is time to streamline its functions and processes to be constitutionally compliant.

“The Forum once again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations. They called for accountability and reconciliation of NNPC remittances into the federation account.”

Governors present at the meeting include Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State), Vice Chairman; Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom State), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Sen. Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State), Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State), Seyi Makinde (Oyo State), and Nyesom Wike, (Rivers State).

TheStar