PDP Governors Demand State Police Say Nigeria is Almost Becoming Venezuela.
Governors elected on the Peoples Democratic Party’s (PDP) platform reiterated their support for state policing on Monday as a response to the country’s deteriorating security situation.
The opposition governors also condemned the naira’s wild slide and its implications, and requested that the Federal Government’s economic team find acceptable remedies to the problem.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, the Forum’s chairman, informed journalists during a governors’ meeting in Abuja.
He lamented the high cost of life in the country and the value of the naira, stating, “We are virtually on the road to Venezuela,” a country facing severe economic and security challenges.
He stated, “The meeting evaluated the situation of the nation and underlined the hardships that Nigerians are experiencing as a result of the country’s economic and security difficulties.
“As a result, the Forum urges the Federal Government to launch urgent initiatives involving all subnational governments in order to find a long-term solution to the situation.
“We reaffirm our request for the state police to take appropriate precautions to prevent any abuse or overreach by any chair of government.
“The Forum lamented the naira’s decreasing value and urged the monetary and fiscal authorities to find acceptable measures.
“We have been collaborating even as opposition to make sure that we don’t bring any distraction, but certainly the monetary policies and economic policies rest here, and we know the majority of Nigerians live in the state, so we are doing so much across party lines on a bi-personal basis within the Nigerian Governors’ Forum and with the National Economic Council to make sure that we cushion the effect of some of these policies that have far-reaching consequences for our p
“We supported the elimination of subsidies; we thought there were protections; we feel that if we made a collective choice, we should stick to it; nonetheless, we have seen that the naira is in free decline. The expense of living is rising; we are nearly on our way to Venezuela.”
Governors Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State, Seyi Makinde of Oyo State, Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa State, Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau State, Dauda Lawal of Zamfara State, Kefas Agbu of Taraba State, and Godwin Obaseki of Edo State were all in attendance. The gathering also included Delta State’s Deputy Governor, Monday John Onyeme.