The forum of 13 governors of the opposition party stated this in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, while supporting the organised labour on the struggle for a new minimum wage.
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has decried the level of mismanagement of the economy by the All Progressives Congress-led Federal Government.
The forum of 13 governors of the opposition party stated this in a communique issued at the end of its meeting in Enugu on Wednesday, while supporting the organised labour on the struggle for a new minimum wage.
The Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, who read the communique after the meeting that lasted over four hours, said they deliberated on a wide range of issues.
He said the issues border on “our critical national interest, the state of our party particularly the forthcoming congress, the unprecedented hardship faced by majority of Nigerians as a result of the dismal performance of the APC-led Federal Government, the minimum wage negotiations, and the recurring issue of inter-governmental relations with special reference to local government autonomy and funding”.
Mohammed said that following exhaustive discussions and consultations, the forum notes with “dismay and grave concern the mismanagement of the economy by the APC-led Federal Government”.
The governors called on President Bola Tinubu’s administration to as a matter of urgency restore the nation’s past glory, regretting that the 16 years of ‘tremendous development’ under the PDP, during which the country witnessed single-digit inflation, establishment of the existing anti-corruption institutions and higher standard of living for every Nigerian had been eroded during the life span of the “lacklustre APC-led Federal Government”.
The communique reads in part, “The forum identifies with the Nigerian populace in these troubling times and promises to bring back those good old days, of low inflation rate, affordable food, fuel and transportation, steady FDI inflows resulting in high naira value and the greater quality of human life as recorded.”
The forum, however, called on all Nigerians to refrain from causing anarchy.
On the off-season elections in Edo and Ondo states, the forum called on President Tinubu to show leadership as a true democrat by refraining from making any statement suggestive of political interference in the entire process.
The governors admonished all the parties to the elections to ensure that campaigns are issues-based and devoid of violence and in strict compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act.
“The forum urges the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to provide a level playing field that guarantees transparent, fair and unimpeachable elections as any act of bias will be totally resisted,” the communique reads.
On the upcoming congresses of the party, the governors insisted that congresses leading to the election of party leaders at the various tiers must be all-inclusive, transparent, fair and in strict compliance with the constitution of the party.
The forum reminded party members that the founding fathers of the party adopted internal democracy as the fundamental principle upon which the PDP was built.
On the minimum wage, the forum stated that the minimum wage negotiations are becoming unduly protracted, considering the unprecedented hardship and impoverishment of majority of Nigerian people.
The communique partly reads, “That Labour’s demand for a substantial salary raise is eminently justified and therefore commands the total support of the Forum
“While the Forum fully supports Labour’s demand, agreement must take into consideration the ability to pay by the local government, sub-national and federal government.
“While negotiations are ongoing, we appeal for restraint in both utterances and actions that could lead to the complete breakdown of law and order and ultimately, the collapse of the economy.”
On the Supreme Court judgement on local government autonomy, the governor expressed their support, adding that the efficacy of the local government system will ensure that governance is brought closer to the people as provided for in the constitution.
However, the forum said the implementation of the court decision “must be done in a manner that does not create a trust deficit between the federal government and sub-national governments while also ensuring that the system does not suffer”.
On the crisis in the Rivers State chapter of the party, the forum expressed commitment to ensure that peace prevails.
“The Forum has resolved to stand by His Excellency, Sir Sim Fubara, Governor of Rivers State; while at the same time employ wider consultations with stakeholders for a peaceful resolution and thus find a lasting solution to the crises,” it said.
The meeting was attended by Governors Bala Mohammed– Bauchi State and Chairman, Siminalayi Fubara –Rivers State and Vice Chairman, Peter Mba of Enugu State, Ahmadu Fintiri – Adamawa State, Umo Eno – Akwa Ibom State; Douye Diri – Bayelsa State; Sheriff Oborevwori – Delta State; Godwin Obaseki – Edo State; Seyi Makinde – Oyo State; Caleb Mutfwang – Plateau State; Agbu Kefas – Taraba State and Dauda Lawal – Zamfara State.