The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has urged President Bola Tinubu to resign if he feels overwhelmed by the country’s challenges.
The main opposition party offered the advice in the face of escalating cost of living, and the intractable insecurity, which have brough untold hardship on the citizens.
Specifically, governors elected on the platform of the PDP advised the All Progressive Congress (APC)-led government to graciously throw in the towel if it is unable to mobilise Nigerians and all organs and tiers of government for long-term solutions to the nation’s various challenges.
The PDP Governors’ Forum, through a statement by its Director General, CID Maduabum, lamented that the hardship and sufferings being experienced by Nigerians are not based on tribal, religious, or political affiliations.
The governors, who noted that “a hungry man is an angry man,” emphasised that food crises are exacerbated by insecurity and high exchange rate issues, among other things, which are primarily federal issues.
The PDP governors made it clear that the President, as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria, the President and Commander –in- Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Chief Salesman, and Nigeria’s leader, is ultimately responsible.
The governors, however, assured that as stakeholders in governance, they would continue to collaborate with the President to find long-term solutions to “a very difficult situation created or exacerbated by the APC since 2015.”
They frowned at the Minister of Information, the APC Governors’ Forum, and other APC-led Federal government officials who chastised the PDP-GF for their suggestions, advice, and patriotic intervention on the country’s future through a communique issued following their recent meeting in Abuja.
The PDP further governors reminded the APC-led government of the importance of being guided by the fact that it (the APC) sought power to solve Nigeria’s problems rather than compounding them, shifting blame, grandstanding, or using propaganda to obfuscate or confuse issues.
The statement read in part: “It should be noted that, despite being a Federation, Nigeria has only one economy.
“The hardship and suffering that Nigerians face are not based on tribal, religious, or political affiliation. A hungry man is angry.
“While all levels of government have a role to play, the APC-led Federal Government plays a disproportionate role in mobilising Nigerians and all organs and tiers of government for long-term solutions.
“If it cannot or is unable to do so, it should gracefully give up.
“Attempts by the Honourable Minister of Information, APC Governors’ Forum, and other Federal Government officials who criticised the PDP Governors’ Forum for their patriotic intervention should be guided by the fact that the APC sought power to solve Nigerian problems, not to compound them, shift blame, grandstand, or use propaganda to obfuscate or confuse issues.
“PDP-governed states are comparatively the best in Nigeria in terms of developmental policies, programmes, and projects that benefit their states, as well as regular payment of salaries, pensions, gratuities, and the minimum wage to their workers.
“State governments that are behind on these issues are not from the PDP. It is incorrect to say so.
“Even food crises are exacerbated by insecurity and high exchange rates, among other issues that are largely federal.
“The PDP Governors, as stakeholders in governance, will continue to collaborate with Mr. President to find long-term solutions to a very difficult situation created or exacerbated by the APC since 2015. We believe in cooperative Federalism.
“The buck ultimately stops at Mr. President’s table as Nigeria’s Chief Executive Officer, President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federation, Chief Salesman, and Nigeria’s leader.
“We are confident that he is doing his best. We can only hope and pray that his best efforts will be sufficient to get Nigeria out of the woods in the shortest possible time.”
The PDP Governors met on February 12, 2024, under the leadership of Sen. Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State, and issued a communique on behalf of Member-Governors, which included:
“Patriotically advised the federal government to launch initiatives involving both the federal and sub-national governments to address the nation’s security and economic challenges.
“Solemnly reiterated its earlier position for the establishment of State Police to prevent abuse and overreach by any level of government.
“Dutifully requested that the Federation’s Monetary and Fiscal Authorities, as the lead agents in a federal structure, collaborate to find appropriate solutions.
“During the question-and-answer session, the Forum’s Chairman warned that if no immediate action is taken, the Venezuela situation will be as simple as it is in Nigeria.
“The above suggestions and advice were provided as contributions by a patriotic group of government who participate in government,” it added.
