Reports emerged on Sunday that Pantami had been placed on the list over alleged ties with a former leader of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The Personal Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on New Media, Bashir Ahmad, has denied reports that the United States government has placed Nigeria’s Minister of Communications, Isa Pantami, on its terror watch-list.
Reports emerged on Sunday that Pantami had been placed on the list over alleged ties with a former leader of the terrorist group, Boko Haram.
The report claimed that the minister was said to be a close confidant of the late Mohammed Yusuf, the late leader of Boko Haram.
It also claimed that Pantami had ties with Abu Quatada al Falasimi and other Al-Qaeda leaders whom he revered and spoke highly of.
But reacting in a tweet on Monday, Bashir described the report as ‘fake news.’
He maintained that the Minister has never been on any US watchlist.
He wrote, ”You have just endorsed a fake report without verifying. For your information @DrIsaPantamihas never been on any US watchlist.”
Biafra Prime Minister Holds Close door Security meeting with Chief Ministers And Commanders At Biafra Headquarters, Owerri
BIM-MASSOB Securities
Biafra Prime Minister, His Excellency, Chief Chinedu Amaifeobu and His Chief Of Staff, Ignatus Adili (Eze Akaji-Ofor of Ivite Kingdom) stormed the Biafra Seat Of Power, Owerri to deliberate on the menace of Fulani Herdsmen and other criminal elements in Biafraland.
I was so occupied that I couldn’t follow up the exaggerated world press conference. When the funny world press conference with one Mr Nnamdi Kanu was announced; I thought I would follow the press conference on any world news website, to my greatest surprise, not even a local media syndicate aired the so-called world press conference. I mean no disrespect but stating the fact. Sir, do not be discouraged to read down and enjoy this letter; irrespective of my blunt observation.
You are a great man but lack wisdom or simply put; you have penchant for self aggrandizement and razzmatazz. You want a local publicity or an opportunity to join the train of fund raising. As an educated man; all you could do in your capacity as a factional Ambazonian leader was to stoop so low to have a press conference with a man that was disgraced by ECOWAS court as having no mandate to represent the people of Biafra. In other words; Mr Nnamdi Kanu is not a legitimate leader of Biafra and cannot legally represent Biafra in any legitimate place around the world by virtue of the ECOWAS ruling. So; razzmatazz was all you cared for. Press conference to announce historic alliance; did you take your time to listen to your press conference over again?
Africa has a problem and people like you add to that problem; inability to reason, although you are not a lawyer but I expected you to be guided by a legal representative. You reduced the significance of everything Ambazonia has achieved by meeting an illegitimate figure who has no regional backing or even the backing of Biafrans agitating for independent state. Sir; let me remind you, ECOWAS ruled that Mr Nnamdi Kanu has no mandate to represent Biafra because he was not appointed by anybody. The scammer you met fraudulently announced himself the supreme leader of IPOB after he hijacked the radio handed over to him to anchor as a media personality. I am not disclosing this for you to pity yourself but for the faction of Ambazonians you lead to see the disgrace you are. A man considered persona non grata, what a foolish move!
I love to speak truth and also to be critical of below per attitude. Biafra is struggling and fighting for her freedom but Ambazonia has shown more determination than us. In this circumstance; you should be meeting EU, ECOWAS, AU, UN and other international organizations to broker referendum or find help. You coming to Biafra to hold a press conference for public stunt is laughable. I know you might feel offended but Sir; what did you achieve after the press conference? World press conference with your fellow victim, you are funny.
Let me lecture you Sir; common sense is not often found in education, you can gain knowledge, but you need more of yourself and divine gift to possess common sense. Press conference happens after internally or privately brainstorming on a subject. You only come out to address the media and tell the world what they should expect or as you fielded questions. I read where you were ranting how freedom is in our hands and clearly possessed by the spirit of rant. Birds of a feather flock together; if you don’t take care, you will see yourself ranting and lying everyday to your faction in Ambazonia to remain relevant or deceive them to contribute defense fund or ESN fund raising you would use to meet your secretary for copulate pleasure.
Sir; you can stop insulting the sensibility of the faction of the Ambazonians you represent; take your time and find a way to meet people that matter in the world and hold press conference with them if that is your problem. Sorry; you held press conference with one Mr Nnamdi Kanu and not the people of Biafra and any day we see you near Biafra matter, you will tell us if we have any business with you. Biafra will happily seek understanding with Ambazonia but not exclusively with any faction but entire people of Ambazonia.
I was disappointed over the week after reading a disclaimer; thankfully, on behalf of the people of Biafra and in my capacity as a journalist that have defended my people in truth and fairness, I wish to inform you that we have no business with you but Ambazonian people as a whole. Let me also remind you; because I can understand you just arrived. In 2016; all pro-Biafran groups called a meeting with all pro-Ambazonian groups to iron out things and devise a way to be helpful, but the traitor you had a non-existent world press conference sabotaged it. Unfortunately; you have wasted your time because we are republic of Biafra and not supreme (leadership) Biafra. Go home and sleep with your wife and maybe; start perambulating on another world press conference with another persona non grata. You can as well open a radio station and enjoy what you came here to enjoy. Madness is a choice!
South East Governors will meet in Owerri, the Imo State capital to deliberate on security- related issues today.
Also expected at the meeting are the Brigade Commanders, Navy, Air Force Commanders, Inspector General of Police, Ohanaeze Ndigbo and other stakeholders.
The Governors, according to sources, are meeting to find solution to the recent insecurity challenges facing the zone, particularly the recent jail break and attack on Imo Police headquarters that led to release of over 600 suspects in police custody and 1,881 inmates at the Correctional Service Centre Owerri.
Chief Press Secretary to Imo Governor, Oguike Nwachuku confirmed the meeting.
He said the governors would brief the media after the meeting.
Imo Governor Hope Uzodinma has assured the northern community residing in Imo of government’s protection always, saying they are part and parcel of the State.
“This is where you live. This is where you do your business. You are stakeholders in Imo State. Sit in your house and defend yourself and protect your house. Nobody will drive you away,” he said.
He spoke during a meeting with the leadership of the Northern community at the Government House Owerri over the weekend.
The leadership of the Northern community said they had come to pay a solidarity visit to Uzodimma and to solicit his continuous support in the face of recent pockets of insecurity affecting them.
Uzodimma, who told the northerners they are taxpayers in Imo State, admonished them not to be “tenants in your house,” adding “once you are here doing your business you are from Imo State.”
The Governor told them that “every protection or support I can give to the Igbo man from Imo State I will also give to a northerner who is in Imo State.”
He reminded them that they voted for him overwhelmingly and government has a programme that will help them live well and conduct their businesses properly.
He told them that government has taken note of the development in their habitation and assured them that it will not happen again
“This government has no time for nonsense. Don’t go for self- help. Government will help you. No arrangement by any person or group will be stronger than that of government.
“All we need from you is information. Pray for the souls of those who lost their lives,” the Governor said.
Uzodimma, who thanked the leaders of the northern community for their maturity and understanding of the events happening in Imo State of late, noted the development has nothing to do with herdsmen but the “conspiracy of some blood thirsty and greedy political leaders from the state working to ensure that state of emergency is declared in Imo State.
“They want to create impression that the people are fighting the northerners. But unfortunately their plans did not work and will not work. Blood means nothing to them and that is the difference between them and us.”
Revelation holds dire implication for economy – Experts
FG, CBN officials: “we don’t know what gov is talking about”
Gov. Obaseki
A huge row appears to be brewing between the federal government and Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo State following the governor’s claim that Abuja printed N60 billion to supplement the federal allocation to the three tiers of government for March.
Obaseki told his state transition committee stakeholders at a meeting in Benin on Thursday that the printing of the N60billion was an illustration of the poor state of the national economy.
A top official of the Federal Ministry of Finance and another official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said last night that they did not understand what the governor was talking about.
But economic experts warned that the federal government would be doing the country a lot of disservice if it truly printed N60billion without commensurate production at home and foreign reserves.
The result would be hyperinflation, they said.
Speaking at the Benin meeting, Obaseki said: “Nigeria has changed. The economy of Nigeria is not the same again whether we like it or not. Since the civil war, we have been managing, saying money is not our problem as long as we are pumping crude oil every day.
“So we have run a very strange economy and strange presidential system where the local, state and federal governments, at the end of the month, go and earn salaries. We are the only country in the world that does that.
“Everywhere else, the government relies on the people to produce taxes and that is what they use to run the local government, state and the federation.
“But with the way we run Nigeria, the country can go to sleep. At the end of the month, we just go to Abuja, collect money and we come back to spend. We are in trouble, huge financial trouble.
“The current price of crude oil is only a mirage. The major oil companies who are the ones producing are no longer investing much in oil. Shell is pulling out of Nigeria and Chevron is now one of the world’s largest investors in alternative fuel, so in another year or so, where will we find this money that we go to share in Abuja?
”When we got FAAC for March, the federal government printed an additional N50-N60 billion to top-up for us to share.
”This April, we will go to Abuja and share. By the end of this year, our total borrowing is going to be between N15 and N16 trillion.
“Imagine a family that is just borrowing without any means to pay back and nobody is looking at that, everybody is looking at 2023, everybody is blaming Mr. President as if he is a magician.”
FG, CBN officials: ‘We don’t know what gov is talking about
Contacted last night, an official of the Federal Ministry of Finance and two officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) appeared surprised at the governor’s claim.
The officials who do not want their names in print said they did not understand what the Edo State governor was talking about.
One of the CBN officials asked: “when did central banking translate to political authority?”
Read Also: MPC okays more CBN spending to boost economy
The Federal Ministry of Finance official said the media should ask Obaseki to shed light on his claims.
“The media should interrogate him (Godwin Obaseki) more and not the Minister of Finance,” he said.
Printing N60b for the economy is dangerous: ex-President, CIBN, former bank director
An economist and former President, Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria CIBN), Okechukwu Unegbu, said it would not be in the best interest of Nigeria if the federal government truly printed N60billion for the March FAAC sharing.
He said any such decision was dangerous for the economy.
He said it was better for the economy to be in deficit borrowing than for the economic managers to print money not backed by production.
“Public finance is my area of specialisation and I know the dangers of printing money that is not backed by production. It means the country is broke and the governor is raising the alarm,” he said.
According to Unegbu, money should be backed by what is produced; foreign reserves, otherwise it gives room for hyperinflation.
His view is shared by a former Executive Director, Keystone Bank, Richard Obire.
Although Obire admitted that Central Banks around the world do print money not backed by production when the economy is challenged; he explained that issues like quantitative easing and stimulus packages simply means printing and sharing money but no one comes out to say how much has been printed.
He said the disclosure by the governor is big news for foreign investors and could affect investment decisions into the economy.
Obire said such action means that Nigeria is not earning enough funds through tax, and other income to fund the activities of the state.
A text message sent to the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Director, Corporate Communications, Osita Nwanisobi, on the matter was not replied.
When printing of money becomes a problem, by Ekpo
A professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Prof. Akpan Hogan Ekpo, said there is nothing new about the CBN printing money if it becomes inevitable.
But such funds must be put into non-productive use, he said.
His words: “Central banks all over the world print money when there is a need for it. It is only if you don’t manage the huge amount of money in circulation that it becomes a problem.
”If it (printed notes) is not well managed, it will lead to a situation where too much money is chasing few goods and that could lead to inflation naturally and inflation hurts the poor harder than the rich.
“The first thing however, is to avoid printing money if possible. But if it becomes inevitable, it should be done efficiently in terms of being able to manage such funds.
Echoing similar sentiments, Dr. Austin Nweze, a political economist at the Lagos Business School, said it was scandalous to print money for the purpose of spending at home as that would stifle the economy in the long run.
He said: “What the federal government is doing is inflation targeting that will lead to so much money in circulation since you have not created jobs.
“It doesn’t make any economic sense to print money and still allow such money to be in circulation because it has huge implications for the economy.
‘What Governor Godwin Obaseki said is cause for worry’
“What the federal government has done is that the country is broke and its economic management style is not dependable. I should have expected the government to take a cue from the Rwanda President, Paul Kagame, who had to resort to printing Rwanda local currency to pay up its foreign debts.
“That way the money is not in circulation and cannot lead to inflation.
“However, the experience in Nigeria shows that the money being printed is not productive money but free money to be spent and that is indeed a sad thing.”
LEADERS of northern Nigeria from 17 groups, including the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) and the Northern Elders Forum (NEF), declared on Friday that the North was ready for restructuring of Nigeria but it would not succumb to any blackmail to rotate the presidency with the South.
The groups, under the aegis of the Northern Peoples Summit, took that decision in Kaduna, Kaduna State, after what they described as two days of deliberations. They issued a 12-point communique literally emphasising the political advantage which the North currently enjoys over the South. “The North will not be stampeded or blackmailed into taking major decisions around rotating the presidency,” they said.
The communique reads in part: “The Northern Peoples Summit convened on the 7th and 8th April, 2021 at Arewa House, Kaduna, to discuss the issues bedeviling the North and the Nigerian State. These include security, restructuring, economic, politics and the survival of the Nigerian State.
“After two days’ intensive discussions, the summit resolved as follows:
“To sustain the summit as a productive forum for utilising pan-Northern assets in the search for resolution of Northern problems;
“To encourage Northern elites and political leadership to improve their levels of sensitivity to inclusiveness and management of the North’s pluralism. The North will be stronger if it addresses its internal weaknesses, particularly around ethnoreligious matters, as it relates to its challenges with the rest of Nigeria. Perception and practise of creating minorities and majorities among Northerners should have no place in the North, nor is discrimination on the basis of place, faith or ethnic group of any Northerner;
“The North believes that restructuring the country is now a vital necessity for survival as one united entity.
“The North will not be stampeded or blackmailed into taking major decisions around rotating the presidency.
“The North draws attention of the country to the inherent fragility of the Nigerian state. For Nigeria to survive, all parts of the country must equally commit to supporting its continuation as one entity, without equivocation or subterfuge. The North extends an invitation to groups that are genuinely interested in discussing the future of the country. The North believes that every interest can be accommodated in one united, just and equitable nation, but the North cannot be the sole custodian of this endeavour.
“The North warns against the continuation of demonisation, attacks and killings of Northerners in the Southern parts of the country. It demands that federal and state governments must take firmer steps to protect members of Northern communities who live in the South. This includes the arrest and prosecution of persons who are involved in these dangerous activities.
“The North urges Northern communities to continue to exercise restraint and be good hosts.
“The North invites the attention of President Muhammadu Buhari, Northern governors and legislators to the fact that under their watch, the North has sunk lower in all indices of human existence. Delegates at the summit commit to continuously engage in searching for solutions, as well as raising their voices against poor governance, corruption and absence of commitment to deal with insecurity, poverty and hopelessness among Northerners.
“Government should show effective presence in all ungoverned spaces in the North. “The North resolves that there should be government backed negotiations and dialogue with the bandits, Boko Haram and affected communities for effective peace in the North.
“The North appreciates the response of H.E. Governor of Plateau State and Chairman, Northern Governors Forum (NGF) Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong, to its invitation to attend the summit and be a resource person who enriched our discussions.
“The Northern Peoples Summit will reconvene in the near future. Signatories to the communique are Air Marshal Al-amin Daggash, Northern Elders Forum (NEF); Ambassador Ibrahim Mai-Sule, Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF); Dr Usman Bugaje, Arewa Research Development Project (ARDP); Engr. Bello Suleiman, Code Group (CG); Dr Sadiq Umar Abubakar Gombe; The Northern Movement (TNM); Dr Innocent Ahure, Northern Development Resource Centre (NDRC); Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, Kano Concern Citizens Initiative (KCCI); Hajiya Bilkisu Oniyangi, Arewa Initiative for Good Governance (AIGG); Dr Rose Danladi Idi, Northern Initiative Forum for Development (NIFD); Nastrura Ashir Shariff, Coalition of Northern Groups (CNG); Yerima Shettima, Arewa Youth Consultative Forum (AYCF); Murtala Mohammed, Joint Action Comm. of Northern Youth Ass (JACNYA); Comrade D. S. Rimoni, Middle Belt People Assembly (MBPA); Alhaji Muhammed Tahir, Amalgamated Union of Food Stuff and Cattle Dealers of Nigeria, Alhaji Awual Tukur (Galadiman Delta), Northern Union Rep. South South; Alhaji Iliyasu Yushau (Sarkin Hausawa Onitsha), Northern Union Reps South East; Alhaji Aliyu Yaro, Northern Union Rep. South West and Professor D. D. D. Sheni, Chairman, Communique Drafting Committee.
The communique came a day after Governor Bello Matawalle of Zamfara State issued a statement threatening reprisal attacks on Southerners in the North if what he called attacks on Northerners residing in the South did not stop. Matawalle’s statement reads in part: “As Northern leaders, our dignified silence in the face of constant provocation, attacks because of our desire for peace must not be taken as a sign of weakness as no community, no region has the monopoly of violence.
“If Northerners and their means of livelihood will not be protected, accommodated and be dignified anywhere they chose to stay in any part of the South, Southerners should not expect such reciprocal protection from the North as the North has more than what it takes to respond to any kind of aggression and hatred.
“We have seen the destruction, the killings and the devastation recently at Sasha Market against Northerners and their economic interests.
“Properties worth billions of Naira were lost in addition to human lives, yet some leaders in the South West are downplaying the atrocities committed or at best justifying it. Some of them have shamefully gone to the extent of apportioning blames on the victims and casualties of their aggression.
“Last Sunday’s killings of innocent Northerners in Imo is one too many and no matter how we love peace, leaders with conscience and fear of God must speak out against this continued barbarism and hatred. If that is allowed to continue, we will not take that any longer as no human life is better than another.
“No business interest is better than another. In fact, in crisis situation, the South has more to lose in terms of its business interests in the North and the strategic nature they established themselves in the North than Northerners living in the South.”
The ACF also issued a communique on Thursday in which it said it “received reports on the unfortunate killings of some northerners in the South East that seemed suspicious.” The forum said: “We call on security agencies to investigate these killings and fish out the culprits. We also warn our youths who have suddenly started distributing messages on the social media calling on reprisal attacks on Ibos and their business interests in the north. We the Arewa Consultative Forum stand against all lawless acts of self help and call on all northern youths to stop such evil plans.
“They do not enjoy our support. The Arewa Consultative Forum believes in dialogue and consultation as a way of bringing peace and normalcy back to our troubled region and nation. We however condemn the payment of ransom and call on the bandits and insurgents who are holding other citizens as hostages to desist from such ungodly acts.
“No religion that is practised in Northern Nigeria permits such sinful acts like holding other human beings as hostages for financial reward.”
The Chief Justice of Biafra (CJB), Justice Calister Amamgbo, has cautioned the ten new Justices of the Supreme and appeal courts not to allow their personal ambitions to becloud their sense of judgment in this Biafra judiciary. Justice Amamgbo gave the warning during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly appointed justices on Saturday.
She advised them to rather see themselves as God’s representative on earth to people of Biafra.
Judicial Co
“Your interactions with people of unenviable inclinations and pedigree, if any, must be halted forthwith for them to deliver justice to Biafra people as a humanity and a nation as well. “Let your conscience guide and filter every thought that traverses your mind from this moment.
“I have no doubt that you may have at one time or the other been confronted with some forms of criticism or verbal assaults by litigants who lost their cases in your various states as the chief judge of high court during the last administration of Biafra internal government. “I want to assure you that more of such will come your way, where appellant’s expectations are often very high and infectious.”
She said that there is no way they can please human beings, especially litigants.
Justice Calista Amangbo
“I am, however, making it absolutely clear to you that the easiest way to fail in life is to try pleasing everybody.
“The only deity you can fear is the Almighty God, once your judgment is in consonance with the constitution of Biafra internal government of what God expects from you, Amamgbo said.
The Biafra internal government national reporter, comrade Ijeomah Anthony reports that the justices sworn-in for supreme court justicess are, Justice Michael Obaji who is also national judicial secretary (Rivers East State), Justice (Rev. Sister) Mary Colette Madu who is also Supreme court president (Orlu State), Justice Peter Onyema who is also in charge of commission of oath (Abia central state), Justice Nkechi Ajunwa(Iron lady) a member (Anambra South) and Justice Calista Amamgbo who is the chief justice of Biafra federation( Anambra North).
Other Justices for appeal court are, Justice Abasi Akam Jefhet (Uyo state), Justice Esther Ogbonna (Ebonyi South state), Justice Damian Nzekwe(Anambra North state), Justice Innocent Nwankwo Odo(Anambra Central state) and Justice Enyinnaya Akunna (Abia South state).
The swearing-in, which took place at the Biafra seat of power, Owerri of the Supreme Court and Appeal court for now, was sequel to the appointments made by Biafran president, Jis Excellency, Chief Ifeanyi Amadi and confirmed by the Biafra second Parliament, on the recommendations of the Biafra National Judicial Council (BNJC).
During the swearing-in ceremony, the newly appointed justices accepted to serve the Biafra judiciary according to their positions, to serve in love, truth and honesty and to keep all duties confidential as assigne to them with the help of God.
Vincent Ilogbenu, former Chief Justice
The swearing in ceremony was witnessed by the past chief justice of Biafra, Justice Vincent Ilogbenu and other past justices of the Supreme court and Appeal court.
Justice Vincent Ilogbenu in his advice to the newly appointed justices, admonished them to serve the people of Biafra in obedience, patriotism, truth and Justice in order to uphold the honour and dignity of Biafra as a nation from henceforth.
Prominent Yoruba monarchs have said the agitation for Oduduwa nation can be halted if the Federal Government addresses the call for restructuring.
Two first class monarchs, Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, and the Olugbon of Orile Igbon, Oba Francis Alao, who is the Deputy Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas spoke with Saturday Sun on Friday.
They traditional rulers appraised the issues that led to agitation for Oduduwa Republic and returned verdict that the agitators have a genuine cause, based on the insecurity pervading Nigeria, nepotism, marginalization and situation, whereby some sections of the country have been positioned to be superior to other sections.
Though they warned that if the insecurity, marginalization and other forms of disputes continue, a breakup of the country might be inevitable, they did not, however, support the breakup of the country. Instead, they advocated restructuring of the nation such that true federalism would be practiced in Nigeria.
Said Olubadan: “There is no doubt that in Nigeria, a lot of people have a grouse against the way our system is being operated. What we have is not true federalism. This gave rise to separatists’ movements. If we must separate, it is not something you will announce in the mass media. Yoruba nation is not monolithic. You will have to take opinions of people before pursuing the agenda.
“As monarchs, it is our responsibility to consult deities and oracles before taking such step. Then, there must be consultations with religious leaders, politicians, business interests. If you are agitating for Oduduwa Republic, many people and groups will ask if you consulted them. You don’t take people for granted.
“What I am saying is that the consultation for self-determination should also be held differently with the people of Ibadan, Ijebu, Egba, Ondo, and so on, as well as the Yoruba in Kwara, Kogi and in the diaspora, on whether they want Oduduwa Republic or not. This is a serious issue. It is not what can be achieved in one day. If you do, you will put any lives on the harm’s way.”
Oba Adetunji, who spoke through his Personal Assistant and Director of Media and Public Affairs, Mr. Adeola Oloko, said if the issues of structural imbalance, lopsided appointments into national positions and others divisive factors in Nigeria could be holistically addressed, the agitation for self-determination would have been addressed.
Deputy Chairman of Oyo State Council of Obas, Oba Alao, said the agitation for self-determination boils down to the fact that the government has failed Nigerians. He added: “So, we begin to have so many people and groups agitating for secession or self-determination. But how do we curtail this? We need to talk to the agitators. Our government needs to engage our youth. You cannot be saying you want to arrest them today, you want to arrest them tomorrow; you need to engage them into dialogue, call them for meeting and reason together. Then, there are problems of tribalism and nepotism in government. Apparently, some sections of the country feel they are more superior to other sections in the country.
“So, for me, I am not going to blame those agitators for self-determination. I will blame the government, especially the Federal Government. We need to restructure our system. The Nigeria Police Force is not functioning the way it should. If you look at it, do the police have better welfare? The defence is nothing to write home about. So, all these issues are things we need to rework and readdress properly. Also, top traditional rulers, the Federal Government should call us, let us sit down and reason together.
“Things cannot continue to go on this way. If they continue, break-up of the country may come. I do not pray for a breakup of the country. But the only solution is for the government to engage the agitators in dialogue. And then, let us restructure our system.”
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors Forum, yesterday, said an urgent devolution of power and restructuring of the polity has become imperative, if the country does not want another civil war.
The forum raised the alarm that the country is fast becoming a failed state, under the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government.
The PDP governors expressed worry that all fault lines and differences in the country have been stretched to the limit by the present administration.
The opposition governors stated this, in a communiqué issued at the end of their meeting, in the Benue State capital, Makurdi. It was read by Tambuwal, who is the chairman of the forum.
The meeting was attended by Governors Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sokoto State; Okezie Ikpeazu, Abia State; Udom Emmanuel, Akwa Ibom State; Douye Diri , Bayelsa State; Samuel Ortom, Benue State; Ifeanyi Okowa, Delta State; Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, Enugu State; Nyesom Wike, Rivers State; Seyi Makinde, Oyo State, Darius Dickson Ishaku, Taraba State; Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri, -Adamawa State; -Godwin Obaseki, Edo State and deputy governor of Bauchi State, Baba Tela.
Also in attendance were the PDP National chairman, Uche Secondus and the Board of Trustees (BoT), Walid Jibrin
The PDP governors said the country is dire need of a government at the federal level “to avert the looming disaster.”
According to the governors, the alleged incapacity of the APC led administration to govern has resulted to “ethnic and tribal tensions, religious divisions, and various forms of social and political cleavages.”
They added that it is alarming that “security of lives and property of Nigerians are no longer guaranteed under the present government as a result of leadership incompetence and mismanagement of the nation’s affairs “
They noted “that the APC has been unable to even have a democratically-elected National Executive Committee as required by the Nigerian Constitution. A political party that operates by military fiat with an appointed and unelected Executive Committee at all levels from ward to national, has no business running the affairs of our country.
“APC cannot deliver democracy to Nigeria; even to constitute a Board of Trustees has been an impossible task for the party since inception.”
They noted that “it is imperative for the country to take advantage of the ongoing review of the 1999 Constitution to decentralise the security architecture and involve states and local governments.
“We call on the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission to send a new Revenue Allocation Formular that allocates more resources to states and local governments to Mr President for the National Assembly’s action.”
BT Afrika 