The Federal Government of Nigeria has lambasted the Peoples’ Democratic Party Governors Forum for issuing a statement directing a call for resignation at President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
PDP Governors Forum statement issued on 16th February advised federal government to throw in the towel if it can not or is unable to solve Nigeria’s worsening problems.
It recalled meeting held on 12th February, 2024 under the leadership of Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed, Governor of Bauchi State and on behalf of Member-Governors, issued a communique which among other issues.
The Govs patriotically advised the APC-led Federal Government to embark on initiatives involving both Federal and Sub-National Governments to tackle the security and economic challenges facing the nation.
Also, solemnly reiterated its earlier position for creation of State Police that avoids abuse and overreach by any tier of government.
While dutifully called on the Monetary and Fiscal Authorities of the Federation as the lead agents in Federal structure to collaboratively find appropriate solutions.
The Federal Government through the Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris said the call is nothing but attempt at distraction by people who should instead be busy supporting the President’s efforts at bringing economic relief to the Nigerian people.
In a statement released, he added that it is the APC-led federal government’s considered view that the PDP and its Governors should not be seeking, through the back door of intimidation of what they have consistently failed to achieve by democratic means, since 2015.
He stated that those who could not bring transformational change when they had a lengthy chance to, should not seek to interrupt or distract those who are busy at work on the presidential vision that Nigerians elected them to implement.
The Minister said, “The administration of President Bola Tinubu has also, since inception, generously extended financial support to all the State Governments, regardless of partisan affiliation.
“In addition, the removal of the petrol subsidy which, incidentally, was one of the main planks of the PDP presidential campaign—has swelled the revenues of all States, including the PDP States. To whom more has been given, more is therefore expected”.
Idris made it known that the President and his administration recognise the unfinished business of revamping the national economy kickstarted by administration of President Muhammadu Buhari, through programmes focused on large-scale infrastructure, social welfare.
“Prioritizing the equipping and welfare of the military and security agencies, reclaiming Nigeria’s strategic place in the comity of nations. Boko Haram and its affiliates, on the ascendancy in 2014/2015, have since been decimated, and similar bold gains are now being made with bandits and other criminals.
“Nigerians have not forgotten that it was the APC administration that cleared several liabilities left behind by the PDP govt, such as subsidy claims by oil marketers, Paris Club Refunds, unpaid pensions, gratuities, and salary arrears owed various categories of pensioners from liquidated and existing State-Owned Enterprises.
“Major oil sector reforms that the PDP touted for years but could not deliver – passage of the PIB, new refineries, as well as the revamp of existing ones, and so on – are the very real and continuing legacies of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC)”.
The Minister noted that all of these have been accomplished without access to the oil windfall that the PDP government enjoyed for much of the time that it was in power, and also against the backdrop of the most devastating global shock since the Second World War: the COVID-19 pandemic.
He said, “We must continue to state these facts so Nigerians will know where we are coming from, and appreciate what is being done in its full context. President Tinubu is not and will never be overwhelmed by the current challenges the country is facing.
“He will not abdicate his responsibilities. He will courageously continue to wrestle with the challenges and surmount them, laying a durable foundation for the new Nigeria that is emerging.
“He has also never shied away from acknowledging the pain of ongoing reforms, and has seized every opportunity to assure Nigerians that inside the pain of the reforms lie the seeds of lasting prosperity and national development”, Idris added.