By Ayodele Oni
Governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP), rose from their meeting in Ibadan, Oyo state capital, on Monday, with a call for the amendment of Nigeria’s constitution to give more powers to State Governors on security.
The PDP governors, in a communique stated that “Mr President as the Chief Executive Officer of Nigeria and Commander in Chief of Nigerian Armed Forces, should immediately send an Executive Bill to the National Assembly to amend the Nigerian Constitution to devolve more powers to the States with respect to security arrangements culminating in some form of State Policing and the general security architecture.
The meeting, attended by all the governors, and presided over by Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, Sokoto state Governor, in the interim, called on Mr President to summon a meeting of the Nigerian Police Council, to evolve and implement strategies to combat the present threats to the unity of the country, especially with respect to policing.
The Police Council is made up of the President, Governors and other critical stakeholders.
It agreed that the Police Force still remains the appropriate institution to secure democracy and should not be subjected to personal attacks.
“The welfare, training, equipment, funding of all security agencies should be given priority.
Other decisions reached were: “Backing the earlier position taken by the Nigeria Governors Forum, Northern Governors Forum and recently, by the Southern Governors Forum to adopt ranching as the most viable solution to the herders / farmers clashes in Nigeria; the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation to devolve more powers and functions to the States; and reform of various civil institutions to achieve efficiency and equity for all sections of Nigeria.
“The meeting enjoins all Nigerians to work together to achieve peace and harmony with one another, devoid of discrimination based on ethnicity, religion and other cleavages.
“To this end, the meeting called on the incompetent and rudderless APC Government to take bold and deliberate steps to de-escalate and lower tensions in our country, and concentrate on projects and policies that will enhance and promote national unity and cohesion.
“The meeting re-iterated earlier call for the National Assembly to expedite action on the passage of the Electoral Act that will ensure a free and fair election, including provisions for electronic accreditation and electronic transmission of votes.”
The meeting by the PDP Governors Forum was to discuss the State of the Nation, especially, given the unprecedented worsening insecurity in the country.
