By Emeka Okafor
Governors of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on Monday charged President Muhammadu Buhari to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
The governors said it will be “yet another sign of unwillingness” on the part of the President to allow the statutory 30 days permitted by the constitution to elapse without it being assented to.
The governors under the aegis of the PDP Governors’ Forum gave the charge during its regular meeting held on Monday at the Bayelsa State Government House, Yenagoa.
The meeting was attended by Governors Okezie Ikpeazu (Abia and Forum’s Vice Chairman), Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa), Udom Emmanuel (Akwa Ibom), Bala Mohammed (Bauchi), Sen. Douye Diri (Bayelsa) and Samuel Ortom (Benue).
Others are Governors Ifeanyi Okowa (Delta), Godwin Obaseki (Edo), Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi (Enugu), Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde (Oyo) and Nyesom Wike.
According a communique issued at the end of the meeting, the governors frowned at what they described as duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity on the part of the All Progressives Congress (APC) led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime.
The governors described as fictitious and bloated the figures of petroleum product being displayed to have been consumed by Nigerians by the Buhari-led government.
.The communique read in part, “The PDP Governors urged Mr President to immediately sign the Electoral Act Amendment Bill into law.
“Waiting to run out the 30 days is yet another sign of unwillingness by Mr President to give Nigeria a reformed Electoral framework. If there are still misgivings on any aspect of the Bill Amendments may be introduced at a later stage.
“The Governors frowned at the duplicity, inconsistency, insincerity of the APC led Federal Government on the fuel subsidy regime, which has been badly and corruptly administered.
“The figures of consumption and ascribed to Nigerians appear fictitious and bloated. They called for proper investigation to be conducted on this matter.”
On the recently discovered contaminated fuel in circulation, PDP Governors expressed displeasure and charged the Federal Government to bring perpetrators to book.
“The Governors congratulated PDP for winning 43 out of 62 Councillorship positions in the Abuja Area Council election results, just concluded. Inspite of improvements in the conduct of elections, the Gwagwalada and Abuja Area Council results show that manipulations are still possible.
“They urged INEC to tighten all observed loopholes and further improve on the functioning of the BIVAS Machine for future elections.
“The Governors expressed their displeasure on the issue of contaminated Fuel supplied to Nigerians and urged government to bring perpetrators to account.
“The Forum welcomed the Court decision on Police Trust Fund deductions from the Federation Account, a suit at the instance of Rivers State and urged the Federal Government to stop similar unconstitutional deductions from the Federation Account.
“In the same vein, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission should expedite action on the new Revenue Allocation formula in such a way as to increase allocation to States and Local Government.
“The Forum once again deplored the way and manner the CBN is being run as an alternate government, indeed, a government within a Government. It is time to streamline its functions and processes to be constitutionally compliant.
“The Forum once again decried the opaque nature of NNPC operations. They called for accountability and reconciliation of NNPC remittances into the federation account.
“As the National Assembly winds down this current phase of the Constitution Review exercise, the Forum urged that they revisit the issue of devolution of more powers to the States and Local Governments.
“”This opportunity to rejig the framework for policing and securing Nigeria should not be missed. To this end, the Forum would set up a Panel of Consultants to have a thorough look at the security architecture of Nigeria and make recommendations.
“The Governors also urged the National Assembly to transfer some items from the Exclusive Legislative List to Concurrent List.
“The PDP Governors congratulated His Excellency, Governor Douye Diri on his second anniversary in office as he has made a positive difference for the people of Bayelsa State. They thanked him for being such a gracious and wonderful host”, the communique further read.
