We need national dialogue, nation on reverse gear- PDP governors

By SAMUEL OGIDAN

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governors, under the aegis of PDP Governors’ Forum, have reflected the situation in the country as it marks its 60th anniversary and concluded that the nation needs a national dialogue.

Reflecting on Nigeria 60 years after it got its independence, the governors noted that the nation appears to be on the reverse gear, inspite of the efforts of the founding fathers.

The governors, in a statement by its Chairman and governor of Sokoto state, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal said, “in spite of these enviable strides, the reality on the ground today is neither cheering nor palatable. The nation appears to be on the reverse gear. With the current state of affairs in our country, it would appear that we are living on past glory.

“It is indeed sad to observe that the great promise and potentials which Nigeria represented at inception in 1960 have remained largely unfulfilled, mainly as a result of poor leadership, politics of prebendalism, ethno-religious dichotomies, unabating corruption in low and high places, lack of patriotism and social distrust amongst many other factors.

“The Nigerian condition has continued to worsen with the prevalent social dichotomies widening the country`s existing fault-lines; and thereby posing great challenges to the quest for national integration and inter-ethnic unity and social harmony. It cannot be a measure of development that there is a mushrooming of ethnic and regional organizations and local militias competing with the State for attention.

“Today, Nigeria has to contend with herders-farmers clashes, banditry, terrorism, cultism, kidnappings for ransom, and agitations for self-determinations and militancy which have tended to drive a wedge in the chords that hold us together as one united people. Such indices do not bode well for the future of our dear country. The trend must not be allowed to continue,” the governors said.

Berating the All Progressives Congress (APC) government, the governors noted that since it got into power five years ago, the nation has continued on the downward slide into extreme decay, adding that the APC administration has plunged Nigeria deeper into the debt trap after the country had exited from its initial debt burden from the London and Paris Clubs under the PDP-led administration.

“In the last five years, under the APC-controlled administration, Nigeria has continued on the downward slide into extreme decay, with the country displacing India as the poverty capital of the world, with an estimated 87 million Nigerians living on less than $1.9 US Dollars a day (Brooking Institute 2018). We as leaders must strive harder to make sure that poverty is minimised in all parts of the country.

“This is even made worse by the fact that in 2019 Nigeria ranked 93rd out of 117 qualifying countries with a score of 27.9 below Guinea and Mali in the Global Hunger index.

“It is also regrettable to note that the Buhari-led APC administration has plunged Nigeria deeper into the debt trap after the country had exited from its initial debt burden from the London and Paris Clubs under the PDP-led administration.

“It is indeed sad to observe that Nigeria’s external debt hit a 16 year high of $27 billion in December 2019, just higher than the $20.8 billion in external level as at 2005 when Nigeria exited from the club of its foreign creditors. Any loan acquired that is not directly tied to meaningful infrastructure that can help Nigeria progress should not be taken.”

The governors also noted that the country under APC administration has also scored high on the global terrorism index, reaching an all-time high of 9.01% in 2016 and 8.6 in 2018 on the global terrorism index from an all-time low of 6.31% in 2010 to 7.9% in 2012 during the period the PDP was in power.

“This unfortunate situation has placed our nation in the league of countries deeply wrecked by terrorism such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Somalia, Syria etc.

“We feel the pains of Nigerians in the North East and North West and other parts of the country who are victims of terror in our land. It is indeed glaringly clear that the Boko Haram terrorists and other bandits have continued to make lives difficult for Nigerians in these areas putting a big lie to the APC-led Federal Government’s claim that Boko-Haram has been defeated. This Government has failed Nigerians on issues of security and the general welfare and wellbeing of our people.

“We, as leaders have a bounden responsibility to ensure that the current slide to atrophy is apprehended.

There is no doubt that the country appears to be more divided today than ever before as result of divisive policies being pursued by the APC-led administration.

This has given rise to increasing clamour within the polity for another look on how Nigeria is governed. As leaders, we must rise to the challenge,” the governors said.

Speaking on the way forward, the governors said that Nigeria must unite, adding, “we must unite and give hope to the aspirations of the next generation.

We cannot continue to plead indifference or remain helpless in the face of the challenges confronting us as a people. Nigeria is our common heritage. We must not allow the worsening social contradictions to destroy our country.

“At 60, we have indeed come of age. And we are optimistic that the nation can be rescued from the current slide. Given the evident social discontent within the polity, there is a need for a national conversation on the way forward for our beloved but beleaguered nation. In this conversation, modernisation of our economy to meet the challenges of technology, innovation is of crucial importance.

“It is through such a national conversation or dialogue that we can find realistic and acceptable solutions to the problems that have continued to pose a threat to peaceful coexistence and national unity.

I wish to appreciate what the National Assembly has done over the years in the alteration of the Constitution to strengthen our democracy.

Given the magnitude of the problems in our polity today, the efforts of the National Assembly, should be enriched by the participation of relevant stakeholders. We need a national dialogue among the various groups and leaders in Nigeria to discuss and further agree on how to continue to make Nigeria a better place for all.” (Daily Independent)