PDP governors express concern over ‘politicisation’ of security

GOVERNORS elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has expressed concern over what they see as the federal government’s politicisation of security in the country particularly in states controlled by the opposition.

Rising from a meeting of their forum in Abuja on Thursday night, they maintained that they would seek an audience with President Muhammadu Buhari to address the issue.

The governors also condemned the alleged diversion of local government funds, assuring that PDP governors were not involved in the act.

Chairman of PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bayelsa state, Henry Dickson, who addressed the media after the meeting, said: “Firstly, we dealt with the allegation of alleged diversion of local government funds by state governments. And we condemned it in the very strong term, we as governors on the platform of the PDP want to make it clear that no PDP governor is involved in this allegation of diverting local government funds for whatever purpose.

“In our case, the reverse is the case. It is the state government that has been supporting and subsidising funding for the local government. So we call on the federal government and agency in charge to name the state governments and tell us the date and the people who were in charge as the time when this diversion took place.

“Secondly, we express deep concern over the politicisation of the security apparatus in every state, by the federal government and its agencies. Essentially in the states, they are not in control of and we believe also that this is the reason for the widespread insecurity. So we will take some of these issues up when we interact with the President Federal Republic of Nigeria, by tomorrow or whenever we see him.”

According to the governor, the PDP states are willing to pay the new N30,000 national minimum wage as they are keen on alleviating the suffering of workers.

The governor, therefore, called the president to send an enabling bill to the National Assembly.

Dickson added: “We are very eager as PDP governors to implement and pay the 30,000 naira minimum wage that the federal government announced. We want to do so to alleviate the plight of the long-suffering Nigeria workers who have been underpaid for long. And the workers who are currently groaning in economic hardship as a result of what has gone wrong with the economy since the APC government took over.

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“So, we call on the federal government to expedite the process of presenting a bill to that effect. And also we call for a review of the revenue sharing formula.”

On the suspension of the broadcast license of Africa Independent Television (AIT) but the Nigeria Broadcasting Corporation (NBC), the PDP Governors described the action as an act of intolerance and repression.

The PDP Governors Forum boss stated: “The forum note the shocking intolerance and act of repression against the media by the federal government. This evening, as you are aware DAAR Communications we understand has been closed down. And our position is that due process must be followed.

“If there is any allegation of the infraction, then due processes of the law should take place. Because when you short down news outlet when you harass and intimidate journalists, then you are shutting down Nigerians from speaking their minds. And in democracy, freedom of expression is a cardinal component.

“So we condemn what has taken place and we urge the federal government and its agency to forthwith, do what is right. That reopens the company and follow the due process of the law.

“We want to also commend the judiciary for exhibiting uncommon courage and for professionally discharging their responsibilities under the constitution to adjudicate the dispute. They are doing so in a very difficult time.”

The meeting which held at Bayelsa State Government Lodge, Maitama, Abuja, saw the newly elected governors under the party joining their returning colleagues to deliberate on issues affecting the nation and the party.

The meeting came barely two weeks after the last one in which Bayelsa state Governor, Henry Dickson, took over as the chairman of the body following the exit of former Gombe State Governor, Ibrahim Dankwambo.

Among the governors at the meeting are those of Bayelsa, Delta, Oyo, Ebonyi, Taraba, Bauchi, Adamawa, Abia, Rivers, Akwa Ibom, Imo, Zamfara and deputy governor of Benue State.

Also in attendance were the National Chairman of PDP, Prince Uche Secondus, former Senate President, Bukola Saraki and former Speaker, House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara.