Governors elected on the platform of the main opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have asked the Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government to throw in the towel if it cannot mobilise all organs and tiers of government for sustainable solutions to the economic challenges confronting Nigerians.
There has been a recent rise in food prices and economic difficulties, which has made it challenging for Nigerians to buy necessary items.
The PDP governors, under the leadership of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, on Monday, said Nigeria under Tinubu was almost on the path to becoming like Venezuela.
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In response, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated in a release that drawing parallels between Nigeria and Venezuela was mischievous, emphasizing that many of the PDP governors have failed to fulfill obligations such as paying minimum wage, gratuities, and pensions.
He stated, “It is far-fetched when the PDP governors, who are supposed to be major players in driving economic growth and prosperity for our citizens in their respective states, mischievously and falsely compare our current economic challenges to Venezuela.”
Reacting in a statement on Saturday, the PDP Governors Forum’s Director General, Cyril Maduabum, explained that the governors of the party patriotically offered advice to the Federal Government, suggesting initiatives that involve both the Federal and State Governments to address the security and economic challenges confronting the nation.
He said the suggestions and advice were provided as contributions from a group of patriotic governors who actively participate in governance.
The Forum praised Tinubu for organising a special meeting to address some of the raised issues and urged that the resolutions of the meeting should be implemented.
The statement read in part “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 colouration. 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 mobilising Nigerians and all organs and tiers of government for sustainable solutions. If it can not 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 criticised 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, programmes, 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.”
