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APC Governors Kick Against politicizing insecurity and Economic Development

The Progressives Governors Forum (PGF) has said the nation must unite to combat insecurity and economic development issues.

The party’s governors gave the assertion yesterday in a statement signed by its Chairman, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi state. The Governors urged Nigerians to resist all attempts to politicize the issue of insecurity.

Some Part of the statement reveals thus: “The Progressive Governors Forum PGF wishes to join all Nigerians to welcome the beginning of 2021. We commend the resilience of Nigerians, and indeed humanity all over the world. The year 2020 was the most challenging year of the last century. People and nations across the globe are still struggling with the health pandemic occasioned by Covid-19. The discovery of vaccines at the end of 2020 is landmark progress, which bolsters hope that human life will return to normal in 2021.

“Apart from the complex health challenges experienced by citizens who got infected by the Covid-19 virus, resulting in the unfortunate loss of lives, periods of lockdowns in Nigeria and world over as a result of the pandemic, spanning for 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 increased 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 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”.

“Our ability as a nation to control the spread of the virus is no doubt the result of the diligent work of the PTF under the leadership of the Secretary to Government of the Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, and the support of all Nigerians. We appeal to all Nigerians to continue to support every initiative of the Federal Government to bring a permanent closure to this world pandemic.

The statement also commended the government’s legislative arm for setting a new standard in the budgeting system and upholding the philosophy of “Change.”

“We, in particular, wish to note that, once again, our party, APC, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari, can inspire the process of producing a national budget for the year 2021 before the New Year.

This new fiscal orientation is part of the change we promised Nigerians. This is made possible given a committed, patriotic, and selfless leadership of the government’s legislative arm, under His Excellency, Sen. Ahmed Lawan, Senate President, and Rt. Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, Speaker, House of Representatives. As a party and as a government, we have set a new standard in our national budgeting system. Already, many of our states have similarly replicated this feat. We therefore also commend all our state legislatures for effectively demonstrating abiding loyalty to ensure that all our governments lived up to our philosophy of change.

In their statement, the Governors noted the issues of insecurity are disturbing the nation and acknowledged that the security agencies are doing their best to control the situation.

“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 insurgents’ activities. Also, kidnapping activities are rampant in North Central and South West and spread to every country. Every Nigerians are justifiably disturbed by this unfortunate development.

While acknowledging that our security agencies are doing their best to control the situation, a lot more needed to be done. We are confident that our security agencies will effectively restore order and guarantee the security of all Nigerians’ lives and properties 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 politicize insecurity. Ending insecurity will require strong national unity. Therefore, we wish to acknowledge and commend President Muhammadu Buhari for providing leadership at the national level and 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.

“We now once more restate our commitment to make all our 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 our party constitution and manifesto. In 2021, we shall continue to take all the necessary steps to roll out programs that will consolidate synergy, experience sharing, and collaboration by all progressive states.

The Governors further reiterate their commitment to uniting and developing the country, tackle insecurity, fight crime, destroy all vestiges of corruption and create jobs and opportunities for all Nigerians.

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