The Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ (PDP) Forum on Friday asked the Federal Government to ensure a fair and speedy trial of the arrested #EndBadGovernance protesters.

The governors made the call in a communiqué read by the Chairman of the Forum and Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, after a meeting which held at the Taraba State Government House in Jalingo.

The opposition governors affirmed the rights of citizens to peaceful protesters, commiserating with the families of protesters that were killed during the nationwide demonstrations that were held between August 1 and 10.

“The meeting deliberated on crucial intra-party and governance matters affecting our states as well as those of overriding national interest and importance.

“The governors noted with a sigh of relief the end of the #EndBadGovernance protests, which was edging into a major national crisis.

“We salute the dexterity of the governors, especially those of the PDP extraction in handling the situation in their respective states with maturity, thereby restraining hoodlums and other unscrupulous elements from hijacking the protests.

“The Forum reiterates that peaceful protests are the inalienable rights of the citizens through which they vent their genuine grievances. The Forum commiserates with the families of those innocent souls that were lost and calls on the Federal Government to ensure fair and speedy trial of those who were arrested.” the communiqué read.

Rivers PDP Crisis

They also weighed in on the crisis rocking the PDP in Rivers State, reiterating their support for the state governor, Siminalayi Fubara.

The governors also called for a review of the party congress outcome to restore his leadership role, promising to work with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC).

“The Forum notes the political impasse in Rivers State where court judgments are employed to determine the outcome of the party congresses. The PDP Governors’ Forum restates its stand with the Governor of Rivers State, and will engage the NWC of our great party to revisit the congress with a view to correcting the anomaly and allowing His Excellency Governor Siminalayi Fubara to take his rightful leadership position of the party in the state.

“The Forum laments that rather than undertake a review of macro-economic and social policies with a view to giving them a human face, the Federal Government has resorted to blackmail. We call on Mr. President to show statesmanship by restraining his officials from blame games that make the sub-nationals look bad by mentioning piecemeal interventions that cannot solve the problem.

“We remain unshaken in our firm resolve to stand with the suffering Nigerian masses and to take all legitimate steps to ameliorate their plight,” Mohammed said. (Channels TV)

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