The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has called on the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of the arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters.
The forum made the call in a communique released at the end of its fourth meeting of 2024 held on Friday at the Government House in Jalingo, Taraba State.
The communique was signed by the forum’s chairman who is the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed.
The governors expressed relief over the resolution of the #EndBadGovernance protests held between August 1 and 10 in parts of the country and affirmed citizens’ right to peaceful protests.
The communique read in part, “The meeting deliberated on crucial intra-party and governance matters affecting our states as well as those of overriding national interest and importance.
“The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which was edging into a major national crisis.
“We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially those of the PDP extraction in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.
“The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances. The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.”
The governors criticised the Federal Government for allegedly using blackmail instead of addressing key issues and urged President Bola Tinubu to avoid blame games.
They also declared support for the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, and called for a review of the party congress outcome to restore his leadership role.
The communique added, “The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the Federal Government has resorted to blackmail. We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games, that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem.
“We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight.
“The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgements are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses. The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State, and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.”
The Forum urged clearer distinction and transparency in revenue management by the FG and called for separating the roles of the Accountant General of the Federation and the Accountant General of the FG.
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