“Do not politicise economic, security challenges”-PGF

By Aanya Igomu, Abuja

Governors on the platform of Nigeria’s governing party, the All Progressives Congress, APC have appealed to Nigerians not to politicise the health, economic and security challenges the country is experiencing.

The governors under the aegis of the Progressives Governors Forum, PGF made the appeal in a new year message signed by the Forum’s Chairman and Governor of Kebbi state, Atiku Bagudu.

The Forum said the challenges caused by the Coronavirus require unity and cooperation of all Nigerians to tackle it.

“Apart from the difficult health challenges experienced by citizens who got infected by the Covid-19 virus, resulting in unfortunate loss of lives, periods of lockdowns in Nigeria and world over as a result of the pandemic, spanning over a period of close to six months, created a lot of hardships for our citizens. The adverse economic consequences have created economic recessions for virtually all countries.

“Combined effects of all these have further increase our security challenges in the country. The challenge before us as a nation is to ensure the development of democratic institutions in the country to be able to mobilise effective national responses and resolution of the health challenges created by the pandemic, the economic difficulty and the security challenges facing the country. These are not issues that should be reduced to politics. We must appeal to all Nigerian to have a strong sense of national unity and togetherness in responding to these challenges,”  PGF said.

End to Security Challenge
The Governors restated their confidence in the ability of the security agencies under President Muhammadu Buhari’s leadership to bring an end to the security challenges in the country.

“One issue that has dominated public attention, especially in the second half of 2020 was the new wave of insecurity in the country. Beyond Boko Haram insurgency in the North East, sadly we now have banditry in North West, which is as disruptive and threatening as the activities of insurgents. In addition, kidnapping activities is rampant in North Central and South West and is spreading to every parts of the country. Every Nigerians is justifiably disturbed by this unfortunate development. While acknowledging that our security agencies are doing their best to control the situation, a lot more need to be done. We are confident that our security agencies will effectively restore order and guarantee security of lives and properties of all Nigerians in every part of the country.

“We appeal to all Nigerians to continue to support our security forces in the effort to end insecurity in the country. Nigerians must resist all attempts to politicise insecurity. Ending insecurity will require strong national unity. We therefore wish to acknowledge and commend President Muhammadu Buhari, for providing the leadership at national level, as well as ensuring that all arms of our security services are discharging their responsibilities. As Progressive Governors, we will continue to support the Federal Government and the security services” PGF said.

The PGF promised to continue to work on delivering on the APC manifesto as promised to Nigerians.

The governors also reiterated their commitment to make their states models of good governance with records of rapid human development and progress founded on the principles of social democracy in line with provisions of the All Progressives Congress constitution and manifesto.

Confidence Okwuchi