by Rachel Ogbu
Director General of the PGF, Salihu Lukman
On Monday October 28, The Progressive Governors’ Forum came out in anger to address the disruption of the governors’ meeting comprising of seven governors of the Peoples Democratic Party in Abuja on Sunday.
The forum who accused the Federal Government of sending policemen to cause chaos, described the incident as an affront on the Nigerian constitution and a serious set back to democracy. The G7governors who had planned to meet were said to belong to a group who had pulled out of mainstream PDP over a year ago.
The Director General of the PGF, Salihu Lukman said in a statement available in the media that it was disappointing the “Federal Government had resorted to using its security agents to harass, intimidate and oppress the seven governors and other innocent Nigerians who have issues with the PDP.”
The statement reads on: “for a government that purports to obey the rule of law, the disruption of a peaceful meeting by the police is not only crude, condemnable and unwarranted, but is also a reflection of government’s growing intolerance and an affront on the democratic rights of Nigerians.
“Particularly disturbing and worthy of note is that if seven governors, all of whom are constitutionally guaranteed immunity from prosecution can be treated in such a brutal manner, what would be the fate of ordinary citizens who seek to exercise their rights to freedom of association?”
According to reports, the seven governors were gathered for a meeting at the Sokoto State Governor’s Lodge in Asokoro but policemen armed with guns invaded the place and sent them away.
They quickly converged at the Kano Governor’s Lodge in the same Asokoro District but dispersed soon afterwards out of worry that the police will be back. The PGF went on to appeal to the National Assembly asking for a directive to the Police to stop seize harassment of others perceived opponents of the PDP’s administration. “It is evident that the Federal Government is unlawfully using the police for its illegal and nefarious activities for the purpose of intimidation aimed at imposing the Bamanga Tukur-led Peoples Democratic Party on other party members,” the statement reads.
“The Progressive Governors Forum finds it unacceptable that the Nigeria Police has been reduced to partisan agents and attack dogs that only serve a faction of a political party when the level of insecurity in the country is so high.
“It is reckless to take partisan contest to levels of warfare as the Federal Government has done because this would only weaken the capacity of security operatives in responding to real security challenges.
“At a time when every security outfit and resource should be devoted to securing the lives and livelihoods of Nigerians, that the Federal Government thinks it expedient to send the number of officers and the kind of equipment it did to harass its perceived political opponents takes governance to a new level of irresponsibility and rascality.
“Clearly, President Jonathan and his advisers have acted in complete violations of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended pursuant to some self-serving political interests.
“The Progressive Governors Forum notes with concern, the role of other public officials in the persecution of perceived opposition figures like Senator Aisha Al-Hassan, whose events centre, A-Park Gardens in Abuja, that has been in operation for several years, has been suddenly revoked by the FCTA and slated for demolition.
“This came after the security details attached to Senators Abubakar Bukola Saraki and Danjuma Goje, former Governors of Kwara and Gombe states respectively, were withdrawn as were the security details attached to Governor Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State who now operates without an ADC and a CSO.”
“The PGF hereby expresses solidarity with the G7 Governors who have every right to fear for their lives, as well as other Nigerians that might have been victims of government misuse of the police to intimidate, harass and oppress law abiding citizens.”
