The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum has unleashed a barrage of criticism against the All Progressives Congress (APC)-led Federal Government, blaming its economic policies for the crippling hardship faced by Nigerians. The governors, clearly unimpressed with President Bola Tinubu’s approach, have called for an urgent review of the nation’s macroeconomic and fiscal policies to ease the suffering of the populace.
Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi State, who chairs the forum, minced no words in expressing their collective frustration. “The forum empathizes with Nigerians who are groaning under the oppressive economic hardship hoisted on the nation by the policies and decisions of the APC-led Federal Government,” he declared after their meeting in Jos, Plateau State. “We call on the president to urgently review both macroeconomic and fiscal policies to address the welfare and well-being of Nigerians.”
The governors vowed to intensify efforts in their respective states to implement policies that reduce hardship and spur development. But this promise might feel like cold comfort to Nigerians who are left wondering if such declarations are anything more than political lip service.
The forum didn’t stop at economic woes. They turned their attention to the just-concluded governorship elections in Edo and Ondo states, describing them as a “rape of democracy.” According to the governors, the APC brazenly manipulated results, openly buying votes while the electoral umpire, INEC, looked the other way. “We are still examining the documents on the Ondo elections where the APC manipulated results after openly buying votes,” a statement from the forum reads.
They called on the judiciary to protect democracy and urged the National Assembly to strengthen electoral laws to prevent what they termed “institutional sabotage of the will of the people.” The language was sharp, the accusations heavy, and the frustration evident.
However, while slamming the APC, the PDP governors couldn’t escape scrutiny of their own internal challenges. They demanded the National Working Committee (NWC) of their party convene a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting by February 2025 to address the party’s lingering leadership crisis.
The meeting, attended by governors from Bauchi, Zamfara, Taraba, Adamawa, Oyo, and Plateau, also saw deputy governors representing Delta and Enugu states, while the governors of Rivers, Bayelsa, Akwa Ibom, and Osun were notably absent.
The PDP governors’ meeting in Jos leaves behind a familiar narrative: blame, outrage, and promises, but little tangible action.
