Governors elected under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have raised the alarm that the amount of hunger and suffering is rising in the country, causing anger.
They have, therefore, stressed the need for the party to close ranks to rescue the country, as they believe that the people are looking to them.
The chairperson of the PDP Governors Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, made the declaration on Tuesday in Abuja during his address at the 76th meeting of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT).
He maintained that the governors are worried and are intent on evolving strategies that will ensure that Nigeria does not fall into a one-party state.
Mohammed said the governors are determined to reposition the main opposition party and ensure minimal rancour.
While thinking of the BoT’s support for the governors, Mohammed expressed the governors’ support and sympathy, saying, “We recognise that most of the BoT members have suffered so much time out of office.”
He added, “Everybody understands what I’m saying, but they still stood with us. We are the first line of charge and beneficiaries of this party, as elected members.
“Since we don’t have a presidency, the responsibility for catering for the party and its members rests on us, even in states where we don’t have a government, and we have been working very hard behind the scenes.
“Some of the strategies had been laid out by the BOT chairman himself.
“We need it to be strategic so that this country does not become a one-party state, and we needed to make sure that all of us came out victorious. We thank God for that and for your support.
“The governors have also asked me to tell you that we are hoping to make sure that we reposition the party and reduce and minimise rancour and division, which had characterised us in the past because of our size and our divergent interests. Certainly, we don’t have the luxury of doing that.
“The country is suffering. There is a lot of hunger and anger. For the third time, the country is looking up to us. We cannot continue to be weeping boys, girls, or women.
“We must close ranks, give benefit of doubt to each other, and give benefit of doubt to the party, and that’s why we give them the vote of confidence in spite of anything.
“We don’t have the luxury of division, and that’s why some of the offices that are creating perception problems, we decided to rest them so that the various organs of the party from the caucus, the BoT and NEC, will be able to take decisive decisions on them for the time being.
“Even that of the secretary that is causing disaffection, we looked at the legal implications, and we have rested it.
“So, we are with you. Reconciliation must take place. Most people have their own groups here and there, but certainly, it is not time for that.
We respect you. You are the testimony that we have veritable members who will not go anywhere and who will not defect in spite of personal and interpersonal challenges.
“I’m here to let you know that the governors are with you. We are ready to provide alternatives to Nigerians.
There appears to be no good governance in the country, as we said yesterday. We will give vibrant opposition to the current administration so that, at the end of the day, we are not going to do it out of sentiment. We’ll do it with the insight of knowledge.”
The PDP GF boss assured: “We don’t have any party with that. Our party will be made by the grace of God. will be strategic; we will look at things passionately because people will make comments that we don’t have the intention to sell or to allow this party to slip into oblivion.
“By the grace of God, with minimal resources, we will be able to stay on board so that we can give Nigerians the opportunity to actualize their aspirations to take Nigeria to the heights that it deserves.
“At the moment, definitely, there is a lot of despondency, disgruntlement, anger, and hunger. We will make sure that, at the end of the day, we don’t play the blame game.
“We make sure we just provide alternatives with strategies, timelines, and so on.”
In his remark, the chairman of the PDP BoT, Senator Adolphus Wabara, warned that Nigeria’s democracy will be doomed if the PDP goes under.
He alleged that there is a plan to turn Nigeria into a one-party state, which, he said, can only happen if the PDP allows it.
The former Senate President said: “A lot has happened; a lot is happening; the state of the party we all know, and this is the time to hit the ground running since all the judgements have all come and gone.
“Our role as members of the Board of Trustees, the main organ of this party, is to ensure that this party does not die. If the PDP goes under, definitely democracy will go under in Nigeria.
“We know that there are plans to turn this country into a one-party state, but that will be only when we allow it. So, we must fight for democracy in Nigeria, and it is only the PDP that can do that. Nobody owns this party, but other parties are owned.
“Here, we follow due process democratically. I want to beg all of you, especially the NWC, to do everything to bring this party back on track.
“There are so many issues, and it is time now for us to address those issues, where necessary, forgive and forget, and where necessary, take the necessary actions.
“Some people are blaming us for not taking disciplinary action on time, and of course, that has always been the bane of the party. We look at faces before we take action.
“But some of us, especially the BoT, are always objective. Anything that goes outside our constitution will create problems.
“We should strictly abide by our constitution. Follow the law, the rules, and our constitution religiously, and we cannot fail.”
Also speaking, the acting national chairman of the PDP, Amb. Umar Damagum, said with the conclusion of election cases in courts, the former ruling party will commence its rebuilding process.
“This meeting will enable us to brief you on the activities of the NWC and also outline our plans for the coming months.
“Now that all 2023 election petitions are resolved, there is no better time to begin rebuilding the party than now,” he said.
He urged individual members of the party BoT and the National Working Committee (NWC) to speak up for the forthcoming Edo State gubernatorial election.
“You are all aware of the forthcoming Edo State Governorship election. We have initiated the process of selecting a candidate for that election. Despite challenges, we remain focused, and with the grace of God, we will retain Edo.
“We also urge all members to pay attention to Edo and individually promote the PDP. It is crucial to ensure that we have a united party in Edo to retain the governorship seat. Therefore, all hands must be on deck,” Damagun added.
In the communiqué issued at the end of the meeting, the BoT expressed concern over the worsening economic situation in the country, calling on President Bola Tinubu to address rampant corruption in his administration.
The communique read in part: “The BoT expresses deep concerns over the biting economic hardship, high cost of essential life-enhancing commodities, and alarming food scarcity in the country occasioned by the ill-implemented policies of the APC administration, which are already causing restiveness and agitation in various parts of the country.
“The BoT is alarmed by the worsening insecurity in the country, as evident in the rising cases of mass killings, banditry, kidnapping for ransom, and acts of terrorism by assailants who are emboldened by the manifest laidback attitude of the APC administration to issues of security, especially in the last nine months.
“The BoT is appalled by the monumental corruption and unbridled treasury looting in the APC administration, especially the looting of billions of Naira meant for palliatives for poor and vulnerable Nigerians.
“The BoT is seriously worried over the fall of the naira to an abysmal N1,500 to the dollar and the incessant increase in the pump price of fuel, which now sells for over N700 per litre with long queues in various parts of the country.
“These have attendant negative consequences, as evident in the nearly 30% inflation rate, 41% unemployment rate, and alarming 46% poverty rate, where up to 130 million citizens have sunk deeper into multi-dimensional poverty in the last nine months.
“The BoT is disturbed that the catastrophic economic and security situation in the country has left Nigerians hopeless, despondent, and angry and constitutes a present and immediate threat to the survival of the country as hardworking young Nigerians, professionals in critical fields, and major multinational companies are now leaving our nation in droves.
“The BoT is distressed that there are no concrete and coherent policies, measures, and steps by the APC administration to address these existential threats, which have put the country in a precarious situation.
“The BoT calls on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to know that the situation in the country has become unbearable. Mr President should immediately address the issues of corruption in his administration, worsening insecurity in the country, a continuous fall in the value of the naira, high fuel prices, unbearable food scarcity, and unemployment in the country.”
The BoT reassured the Nigerian public that despite the challenges, the PDP remains united, stronger, and more determined in its commitment to working for the well-being of Nigerians and defending their interests at all times.
It announced the confirmation of Wabara as substantive chairman of the board and former Kaduna State Governor Ahmed Makarfi as secretary.
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