Governors under the aegis of the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum has justified its meeting held on Saturday in Zamfara state, dismissing the claims of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) for his attempt to politicize the loss of human lives instead of showing sympathy to victims of insecurity.
Emmanuel Agbo, the Director General of the PDP Governors’ Forum disclosed via a statement that the PDP has grown stronger with a string determination to stay on course since some members left the party for the ADC.
PDP governors convened their meeting in Gusau, the state capital, on Friday and Saturday just days after several lives were claimed in an attack in some parts of Zamfara.
In response, the ADC’s National Publicity Secretary, Bolaji Abdullahi, on Sunday called on President Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Zamfara, accusing the PDP of lacking empathy for human lives and being solely driven by the quest for power.
ADC posited that, “In a similar vein, we condemn the decision of PDP governors to hold their political meeting in Zamfara on Saturday, only a few days after scores of innocent citizens were slaughtered in that same state.
“Instead of the governors to rally around their beleaguered colleague to help stop the orgy of killings, they chose to stage a political rally at the scene of mass murder, even if it meant trampling on the memory of the victims.
“The photos of PDP governors in full ceremonial robes, grinning for the camera is totally out of place in an environment that still reeks of so much blood and sorrow.”
In it’s reaction, the PDP Governors Forum said that the statement released by the ADC is an “irresponsible” attack, adding that “playing politics and trying to gain political capital with human lives isn’t our stock in trade as is characteristic of the ADC.”
It stated, “The Zamfara meeting was scheduled and not a spur-of-the-moment thing. ADC should have done better by empathising through a visit to the affected states than playing to the gallery.
“The meeting extensively deliberated on the state of the nation, the security situation, amongst other critical issues of national interest and at the end of the day issued a communique that created time and space to comment on the state of insecurity and security reforms as follows.
“The forum, particularly commends initiatives by the government of Zamfara State in significantly curbing insecurity within the state; but condemns the continued monstrous killings in Katsina, Plateau, Niger and Benue States and other parts of the country and calls on the federal government to be more responsive to the lives and properties of the citizenry.
“Since their exit, the PDP has become much more formidable, and focused with clear determination to have our eyes on the ball.
“The ADC before now, with their inordinate sense of entitlement, constituted a huge clog to the wheel of national unity and harmony.”
The statement added, “That the ADC couldn’t see that much isn’t surprising, as the prodigal son wasn’t known to have any pity on his father’s fortune.
“The ADC, having made a decision akin to entering a One Chance vehicle, is again reminded that, like the proverbial forgiving father to the prodigal son, the PDP still has our arms and doors widely open to them if they genuinely act remorsefully in repentance.”
