PDP govs worry over high cost of living, recommend state police

State governors elected under the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party have expressed worry over the rising cost of living in Nigeria.

They noted the free fall of the naira in the foreign exchange market was largely responsible for the rising cost of food and other essential things.

They recommended the creation of state police to address the worsening insecurity situation across the country.

Chairman of the PDP governors forum and Governor of Bauchi State, Bala Mohammed, said this in an interview with newsmen shortly after reading the communique of a meeting of the group held at the Oyo State Governor’s Lodge, Asokoro, Abuja, on Monday.

He said, “At the onset of this administration, we supported the removal of subsidy, we believed that there were safeguards, we believed that if we took collective decisions, we should go by it.

“But certainly, we have seen that it is a free fall for the naira. The cost of living is going high, we are almost on the road to Venezuela.”

Mohammed also said, “We are working closely with the federal government since the inception of this administration. The rising cost of living is not only under the purview of the federal government.

“We have been partnering together with them to make sure that we don’t bring any distraction but the monetary and economic policies rests squarely with the federal government.

“The majority of Nigerians voted for this administration, so we are doing so much across party lines and on bi-partisan basis, within the Nigeria governors forum within the National Economic Council to make sure that we cushion the effects of some of these policies.

“We have reached out to our people and opened the food reserves in a manner that it will provide some succour to our people at the lower level.”

The Bauchi State Governor described the PDP as the most democratic and experienced party in the country.

He said, “We have been at the seat of governance and Nigerians took a decision to bring APC at the centre and we respect their sensibilities and sense of judgement of Nigerians.

“So, we are giving concrete opposition but not insulting anybody. But ultimately the decision squarely rests with Nigerians and other organs in the country to make sure that we do things that will bring succour to all of us.”

On the Edo State Governorship Election, he said, “We are 100 percent behind Edo and you can see that there is no rancour; there is no division and we are very much behind the National Working Committee; the state chapter of the party and indeed the governor to make sure that we go together in unison to produce a successor for the most respected eldest governor in the governors forum.”

Those who attended the meeting are Bala Mohammed (Bauchi State), Siminalayi Fubara (Rivers State)-Vice Chairman; Seyi Makinde (Oyo State) and Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State).

Others are Caleb Mutfwang (Plateau State), Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State), Kefas Agbu (Taraba State), Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Dep. Gov. Ifeanyi Ossai – Enugu State and Dep. Gov. Monday John Onyeme (Delta State).