….the governors issued a statement urging the Federal Government to fulfill its duty of ensuring the safety of Nigerian citizens.
By Ebi Kasikoro
On Tuesday, governors who were elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) banner urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to demonstrate a high level of impartiality during the upcoming governorship elections on November 11 in Bayelsa, Imo, and Kogi states. They expressed concern about the escalating insecurity in certain states across the country. Following a four-hour inaugural meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum, led by Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the governors issued a statement urging the Federal Government to fulfill its duty of ensuring the safety of Nigerian citizens.
The communique read, “The meeting notes the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the wanton destruction of lives and property in Plateau and Zamfara states, among other states.
“The meeting, consequently, advised the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the situation and bring the situation under control.”
On the upcoming off-season govenorship elections, the communiqué said, “The meeting advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, 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 resolved to work together and unite the forum, whose aim is to provide a platform for peer review of issues, policies, programmes and achievements (legacy projects) of member governors across the PDP states.
“In the interim, the Forum would 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 criticisms where necessary.”
