PDP govs, APC differ over security situation nationwide

 

By John Alechenu, Peter Okutu, Omeiza Ajayi & Steve Oko, ABUJA 

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, and the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, differed yesterday on the security situation in the country. 

While PDP governors raised the alarm that insecurity in the country is worsening, the APC said the Federal Government is addressing the situation, stressing that the Bola Tinubu administration will ensure peace in Nigeria. 

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Both parties spoke yesterday as bandits late Monday night, killed four policemen in Zamfara State as gunmen also kidnapped a Catholic priest and three others in Ebonyi State.

These came on a day tension in the South-East was further heightened by the two-week sit-at-home declared by a factional leader of the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra, IPOB, Simon Ekpa, from July 31 to August 14.

Ekpa’s declaration, which was a direct response to the decision of governors, lawmakers and Ohanaeze Ndigbo to meet with President Bola Tinubu over the security situation in the South East, came as Enugu residents lamented yesterday that they are yet to recover from the one-week sit-at-home order declared by Ekpa last week, which just ended.

Rising from a meeting in Abuja yesterday, the PDP governors noted that the situation is particularly dire in Plateau and Zamfara states, where scores of Nigerians were killed and property destroyed.

Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who read the communique issued at the end of the meeting which lasted five hours, said he and his colleagues are calling on the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the occasion.

He said: “The meeting noted the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Plateau and Zamfara states, among other states.

“The meeting consequently advised the Federal Government and security agencies to rise to the occasion and bring the situation under control.

“The meeting resolved to work together and unite the Forum. The aim of the Forum is to provide a platform for peer review of issues, policies, programmes and achievements (legacy projects) of member-governors across the PDP states.

“The meeting advised the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, the security agencies, and the Federal Government to be neutral in the conduct of the off-season elections in Bayelsa, Kogi and Imo states.

“The meeting noted the deteriorating security situation in the country, especially the wanton destruction of lives and properties in Plateau and Zamfara and other states.

“In the interim, the Forum will cooperate with the Federal Government on issues concerning the welfare of Nigerians and good governance, while striving to maintain the independence and autonomy of the Forum through offering constructive criticisms where necessary.”



In response to a question from reporters about the absence of the Rivers State governor, Simi Fubara, Mohammed said the governor sent in an apology, adding that 12 of the party’s 13 governors attended the meeting which is indicative of the unity in the forum.