Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors reiterated their advocacy for state policing as a viable solution to Nigeria’s escalating security crisis during a meeting held in Abuja on Monday.
Chairing the gathering, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State addressed journalists after a meeting of the governors in Abuja, he highlighted the forum’s concerns over the rapid depreciation of the naira and its resultant implications.
The opposition governors urged the Federal Government’s economic team to proffer suitable remedies to address the currency’s downward spiral.
He decried the high cost of living in the country, and the value of the naira, saying, “We are almost on the road to Venezuela”, a country facing extreme economic and security hardship.
He said, “The meeting reviewed the state of the nation and noted the hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of economic and security challenges facing the nation.
“The Forum consequently urges the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, embark on initiatives involving all the subnational governments to bring a lasting solution to the crisis.
“We reiterate our call for the state police with appropriate safeguards to avoid any abuse or overreach by any chair of government.
“The Forum decried the falling value of the naira and requested the monetary and fiscal authorities to find appropriate solutions.
“We have been partnering even as opposition to make sure that we don’t bring any distraction but certainly the monetary policies and the economic policies rest here and we know the majority of Nigerians live in the state and 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 on our people.
“We supported the removal of subsidy, we thought there were safeguards; we believe that if we took collective decision we should go by it but certainly we have seen that it is a free fall for the naira. The cost of living is going high, we are almost on the road to Venezuela.”
Governors Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State); Seyi Makinde (Oyo State); Ahmadu Fintiri (Adamawa State); Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State); Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State); Kefas Agbu (Taraba State); Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) were in attendance. Also, the Deputy Governor of Delta State, Monday John Onyeme was present at the meeting.
