The Governors Forum of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has pledged its support for the Federal Government to tackle the security challenges in the country.

Members of the forum led by the governor of Sokoto State, Aminu Tambuwal, declared their support for the government at a meeting held on Thursday in Abuja, the nation’s capital.

The governors elected on the PDP platform shunned their political divide to provide the necessary support that would in turn boost the effort of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led government in ending insecurity in the land.

Briefing reporters at the end of the meeting in Sokoto, Governor Tambuwal stated that the nation’s security challenges, especially banditry and insurgency, required the cooperation of all, irrespective of party inclination.

According to him, the PDP governors are ready to work with the Federal Government in tackling the problem once and for all.

Governors in attendance include Douye Diri (Bayelsa), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Bello Matawalle (Zamfara), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), and Godwin Obaseki (Edo).

Others are Samuel Ortom (Benue), Ben Ayade (Cross River), Seyi Makinde (Oyo), Nyesom Wike (Rivers), Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta) and Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia).

The meeting was also attended by some national executive members of the PDP such as former Senate Presidents Bukola Saraki and Pius Anyim, as well as former governors of Gombe and Katsina States, Ibrahim Dankwambo and Ibrahim Shema, among others.

The Communique issued at the meeting of PDP Governors’ Forum reads in full:

At the meeting of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum held, Thursday, March 11, 2021, at the Conference Hall, Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, FCT, the Forum resolved and hereby issue the following communiqué:

The meeting which was attended by the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party received an interim report of the PDP Reconciliation Committee of the Party and commended the NWC for setting up the Committee and lauded the Reconciliation Committee on a job well done so far.

The meeting further resolved to strengthen the party to play its appropriate role as the bulwark for the betterment of the lives of Nigerians.

To this end, the meeting further reviewed how to make PDP more efficient and effective and ensure fraud-free primaries, so that the will of party members should always prevail in the nomination of candidates, congresses and conventions.

It resolved to support the electronic registration and update of the membership register of PDP nationwide.

The meeting inaugurated three Committees of the Forum. The Committees and members are as follows:

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu – Chairman

Gov. Nyesom Wike – Member

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa – Member

Gov. Seyi Makinde – Member

Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri – Member

Gov. Godwin Obaseki – Member

Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – Member

LEGISLATIVE LIAISON COMMITTEE

Sen. Bala Mohammed – Chairman

Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa – Member

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi – Member

Gov. Udom Gabriel Emmanuel – Member

Sen. Duoye Diri – Member

Sen. (Prof) Engr. Ayade Benedict – Member

LEGAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Gov. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike – Chairman

Gov. Darius Ishaku – Member

Gov. Seyi Makinde – Member

Gov. Samuel Ioraer Ortom – Member

Hon. Bello Mattawale Maradun – Member

The meeting further resolved to continue to collaborate with the Federal Government to fight the scourge of insecurity bedevilling the country and urged the Government to take necessary steps to engage all major stakeholders.

States that bear the major brunt of the security challenges should be supported more by the Federal Government to secure the country.

The Forum reviewed the economic situation in the country and noted the recent increase in crude oil prices. It urged the Federal Government to use this opportunity to further diversify the economy and provide the enabling environment for Nigerians to thrive in all sectors.

The meeting also noted that no member of the PDP Governors’ Forum is contemplating leaving the party.

Nigerians should ignore rumour mongers and mischief-makers trying to sow seeds of disunity in the party.

The party is one and there is no division in its ranks. The PDP Governors are concentrating on delivering democracy benefits to Nigerian people who elected them in various states.

We have equally set up a peer review mechanism to monitor and benchmark the laudable achievements of PDP Governors in their various states.

Projects and services relevant to the lives, livelihoods and wellbeing of our people are our major pre-occupation at this time.

In Attendance:

Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal – Chairman

Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia State) – Vice Chairman

Gov. Nyesom Wike (Rivers State) – Member

Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta State) – Member

Gov. Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) – Member

Gov. Godwin Obaseki (Edo State) – Member

Sen. Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State) – Member

Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu State) – Member

Sen. Duoye Diri (Bayelsa State) – Member

Sen. (Prof) Engr. Ayade Benedict (Cross Rivers State) – Member

Gov. Samuel Ioraer Ortom (Benue State) – Member

Gov. Bello Mattawale Maradun (Zamfara State) – Member

Crowther Seth (Deputy Governor-Adamawa) – Member

Rt. Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal

Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum/

Governor of Sokoto State.