By Uche Amunike
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum has agreed, during a closed door meeting held at the Enugu State Government House, Wednesday, to adopt a political solution that will settle the ongoing crisis that has bedeviled Rivers State.
This disclosure was made through a communique that was issued at the end of the meeting and read by the Chairperson of the Governor’s forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State.
Recall that Governor Fubara of River State and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, current FCT Minister, have been involved in a crisis in Rivers States for some time. This crisis has divided the state House of Assembly into two factions. 27 members of the House make up one faction that is loyal to Nyesom Wike, while the others are loyal to Fubara. Presently, both factions are locking horns in different courts over control of the State House of Assembly.
While reading out the communique, at the end of the meeting, Bala Mohammed stated that the PDP Governors Forum were fully aware of the crisis in Rivers States between Fubara and Wike and that they were committed ‘to supporting the governor of rivers and also resolved that the issues can be done through a political solution that will be required and other measures and that all the leaders, organs of the party will be committed so that we can go together and resolve the issues.’
They recommended that Nigerians should desist from anarchy, as they work towards returning the PDP to power in 2027.
On the issue of the ruling of the Supreme Court to grant financial autonomy to Nigeria’s 774 local governments on Thursday, where they will start receiving their allocations directly from the Accountant-General of the Federation, Mr Mohammed stated that the PDP Governor’s Forum resolved to give their support to the autonomy of the local governments in line with the ruling by the Supreme Court and the Nigerian Constitution.
He however stated: ‘However, the forum urges that implementation of the court decision must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.’
He further mentioned the displeasure of the forum that the minimum wage negotiation between organized Labour and the federal government had become unduly prolonged and expressed their belief that the demands being made by the workers’ union for salary increment is eminently justified in the face of the worsening economic hardship in the country.
His words: ‘However, the forum urges that implementation of the court decision must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer.’
The governors also criticized President Tinubu’s economic performance, describing it as ‘dismal’. They also expressed their concern about the mismanagement of the Nigerian economy by the APC-led federal government, adding that Tinubu’s government reversed the gains made by the PDP government during the party’s 16 years in power. He noted that Nigerian were in troubled times, but that they were making a promise to bring back the good old days of low inflation rate, affordable, food, fuel, and transportation, steady FDI inflows that will bring about a high value of the naira and greater quality of human life.
He also said that in view of the coming elections in Edo and Ondo states, the PDP has adopted internal democracy for the conduct of congresses that will usher in the election of party leaders across the country. They also urged President Tinubu ‘to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.’
The meeting was attended by governors, party leaders and PDP stakeholders.
