The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum (PDP-GF) has urged the federal government to strive hard to address the security challenge and economic hardship facing Nigerians.

The governors said this in a communique at the end of their meeting and read by Gov. Bala Mohammed, the chairman of the forum in Abuja on Monday.

Mr Mohammed said that the governors at the meeting reviewed the state of the nation and the hardship being faced by Nigerians as a result of the 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 sub-national governments to bring a lasting solution to the crises.

“The PDP governors will continue to play their part in the effort to bring security and succour to our people.

“To this end, we reiterate our call for state police with appropriate safeguards to avoid any abuse or overreach by any tier of government,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said that the governors also reviewed recent developments in the PDP and committed to leading efforts to revamp the party to serve as an effective opposition in Nigeria.

He said that the forum also passed a vote of confidence on the Umar Damagum-led national working committee (NWC) of the PDP.

Fielding questions, Mr Mohammed said the opposition governors were working closely with President Bola Tinubu-led federal government on addressing some of the challenges facing the nation.

“The majority of Nigerians voted for this administration, so we are doing so much across party lines and on a bi-partisan basis within the Nigeria Governors Forum within the National Economic Council to make sure that we cushion the effects of some of these policies.

“We have reached out to our people and opened the food reserves in a manner that will provide some succour to our people at the lower level,” Mohammed said.

He said it was Nigerians who voted for the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2023 general election.

He, however, said that while the PDP respected the sensibilities and sense of judgement of Nigerians, it had remained the most democratic and experienced party in the country.

“What we are doing is giving positive criticism to the obnoxious policies of the federal government.

“But at the onset of this administration, we supported the removal of subsidy, we believed that there were safeguards, we believed that if we took collective decisions, 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.

“So we are giving concrete opposition but not insulting anybody. But ultimately, the decision squarely rests with Nigerians and other organs in the country to make sure that we do things that will bring succour to all of us,” he said.

Mr Mohammed said that the PDP governors were 100 per cent behind the party leadership on the Sept. 21 Edo governorship election.

“There is no rancour, there is no division and we are very much behind the NWC.

“We are behind the state chapter of the party and, indeed, the state governor to make sure that we go together in unison to produce a successor for the most respected eldest governor in the governors’ forum,” he said.

Others in attendance were Gov. Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers, Gov. Seyi Makinde of Oyo; Gov. Ahmadu Fintiri of Adamawa; Gov. Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau; Gov. Dauda Lawal of Zamfara; Gov. Kefas Agbu of Taraba; Gov. Godwin Obaseki of Edo; deputy governor Ifeanyi Ossai of Enugu and deputy governor, Monday Onyeme, of Delta.

(NAN)