The Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors, have issued advice to the All Progressives Congress, APC, led by President Bola Tinubu, [/b]suggesting that if they are unable to effectively govern Nigeria and address the nation's challenges, they should consider stepping down.
The governors emphasized the shared impact of the difficulties faced by Nigerians, regardless of their tribe, religion, or political affiliation. They pointed out that hunger can lead to frustration and anger among the populace.
This advice was conveyed in a statement over the weekend by the Director-General of the PDP Governors' Forum, Hon CID Maduabum, in Abuja.
The PDP Governors reiterated that as the top leader of Nigeria, the President holds the ultimate responsibility for the country's affairs. They emphasized his roles as the Chief Executive Officer, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, and the primary representative of Nigeria.
Despite their call for accountability, the PDP-GF assured that, as stakeholders in governance, they would continue to collaborate with the President to find lasting solutions to the challenges exacerbated by the APC since 2015.
The PDP Governors expressed disapproval of the criticism from the Minister of Information, APC Governors’ Forum, and other officials of the APC-led Federal Government regarding their suggestions and patriotic intervention for the country's future during their recent meeting in Abuja.
They reminded the APC-led government of the crucial need to address Nigeria's problems rather than compounding them, shifting blame, or resorting to propaganda.
The PDP-GF's statement emphasized, “It must be noted that even though Nigeria is a Federation, there is indeed only one economy.
“Hardship and suffering being faced by Nigerians have no tribal, religious or party coloration. A hungry man is an angry man.
“While all tiers of government have a role to play, the APC led Federal Government has a disproportionate role to play in mobilizing Nigerians and all organs and tiers of government for sustainable solutions.
“If it cannot do so or is unable to do so, it should graciously throw in the towel.
“Attempts by the Honourable Minister of Information, APC Governors’ Forum and other officials of the Federal Government who criticized the PDP Governors’ Forum for their patriotic intervention should be guided by the fact that the APC sought power to solve the problems of Nigeria not to compound them or shift blame, or grandstand or use propaganda to obfuscate or confuse issues.
“PDP governed States are comparatively the best in Nigeria in terms of developmental policies, programs, and projects that benefit their States positively, regular payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, and minimum wage to their workforce. State governments that are delinquent on these issues are not of PDP extraction. It is false to say so.
“Even the food crises are exacerbated by insecurity and high exchange rate issues, among others, which are largely federal subjects.
“The PDP Governors as stakeholders in governance would continue to work collaboratively with Mr. President to find lasting solutions to a very difficult situation created or exacerbated by the APC since 2015. We believe in cooperative Federalism.
“The buck ultimately stops at Mr. President's table as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria, the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Chief Salesman and leader of Nigeria.
“We are not in doubt that he is trying his best. We only hope and pray that his best is good enough to take Nigeria out of the woods in the shortest possible time,” the PDP Governors emphatically stated.