Governors on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on President Muhammadu Buhari to summon the meeting of the Nigerian Police Council and devolve more powers to the states in order to douse the tension in the country and curb insecurity besetting the country.
The governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors’ Forum also reiterated the call for restructuring of the country and recommended ranching as the viable most viable solution to the herders / farmers clashes in the country.
These were part of resolutions of the governors at the end of their meeting held at the International Institute of Tropic Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Oyo State,to further review the State of the nation, particularly, practical next steps to take to advance the conversation on the worsening security situation and collapsing economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
At the end of the one-day consultative meeting, the Forum, issued a six-point communique signed by its Chairman, Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State.
Governors Udom Emmanuel( Akwa Ibom ),
Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ( Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Nyesom Wike ( Rivers).
Others were Governors Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo ), Bala Mohammed(Bauchi ) and Zamfara State Deputy Governor Deputy Governor, Mahdi Mohd.
Having reviewed the state of the nation, the PDP governors called President Buhari to send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the 1999 Constitution to devolve powers to the states with respect to security architecture that will give birth to state police.
They said:” The meeting called on Mr President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces to immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the States with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of State Policing and the general security architecture.
“In the interim, Mr President should summon an immediate meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, which comprises Mr President and all State Governors and other critical stakeholders to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to our union, especially with respect to policing. The meeting agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure our democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks. The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority”.
The governor also threw their weight behind Southern Governors on the need to adopt ranching and restructuring of the country, adding that various civil institutions must be reformed to enhance efficiency.
They said: “The meeting supports the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders / farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States; and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria”.
They also enjoined all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages.
To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
“The meeting re-iterated our earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes”, they said.
6. The meeting thanked the Host Governor, His Excellency, Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State for being a gracious and wonderful host, and congratulated him for the many landmark developmental projects he has executed, and urged him to continue to work with all stakeholders in the South West Zone to ensure that PDP takes over majority of the States in the Zone.
In attendance were Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri
Tambuwal (Sokoto) who is the Chairman of the forum.
Governors Udom Emmanuel( Akwa Ibom ),
Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Samuel Ortom (Benue State), Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa ( Delta), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu) and Nyesom Wike ( Rivers).
Others were Governors Oluseyi Makinde (Oyo), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Godwin Obaseki (Edo ), Bala Mohammed(Bauchi ) and Zamfara State Deputy Governor Deputy Governor, Mahdi Mohd.
