Coup: PDP Governors, Atiku, Damagum, others advise Tinubu to avoid war with Niger

*Seek reduction in number of Ministers, Aides

*Harp on unity, discipline within party

By Lateef Ibrahim, Abuja

Governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, rose from a crucial meeting with the party’s national leadership and its presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar in Abuja on Saturday, with an advice to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to avoid any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country.

Specifically, the meeting, which was convened by the PDP Governors’ Forum, under the chairmanship of Bauchi State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed, urged that all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed.

The meeting which was attended by the acting National Chairman of the PDP, Ambassador Umar Ilya Damagum and the party’s Vice Presidential candidate, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa among others, equally counselled the Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of Governance in the country.

The meeting advised that the 48 Ministers and several Special Advisers and Assistants should be reduced to ensure the health of the nation’s economy.

In a communique issued at the end of the well attended meeting and read by Governor Bala Mohammed, the meeting “advised the President, Commander in Chief and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country, rather all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed”.

Continuing, the communique reads, “The meeting emphasized the need for party discipline and re-iterated zero tolerance for anti-party activities and sabotage. ‘No individual or group of individuals will be allowed to undermine the unity of the party and its processes.

“The is meeting committed to repositioning and stabilizing the party. To this end, the healing and reconciliation process are in progress and yielding results.

“The meeting signalled that unity and loyalty are still core values of the PDP and would be rewarded.

“All the Governors and organs of the party solidly support the PDP Presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, GCON, and the PDP Vice Presidential Candidate, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, to rescue the stolen mandate in the tribunal and would do everything lawful towards achieving this.

“The Governors will work in partnership with the party at the states and national level to ensure good governance, transparency and accountability.

“The meeting congratulated the party for empanelling the Campaign Councils for the off-session elections in Bayelsa, Imo and Kogi States and urged the Campaign Councils to ensure victory for the party in the three States.

“The meeting counselled the Federal Government to show leadership in curtailing the cost of Governance. 48 Ministers and several Special Advisers and Assistants should be reduced to ensure the health of our economy.

‘The meeting advised the President, Commander in Chief and the Government of the Federal Republic of Nigeria not to go into any form of war with the Republic of Niger over the recent military coup in the country, rather all tools of dialogue and diplomacy should be further employed”, it said.

In attendance at the meeting were;

Sen. Bala Mohammed, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Senator (Dr.) Ifeanyi Okowa, Governors Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri (Adamawa State), Sen. Douye Diri (Bayelsa State), Sheriff Oborevwori (Delta State), (Peter Mbah (Enugu State), Ademola Adeleke (Osun State), Godwin Obaseki (Edo State), Kefas Agbu (Taraba State), and Dauda Lawal (Zamfara State).

Others include; Hon. Kingsley Chinda, House of Representatives’ Minority Leader, Amb Umaru Iliya Damagum (Acting National Chairman, PDP), Ambassador Taafeek Arapaja (Deputy National Chairman, South), Chief Dan Orbih, (Vice National Chairman South South), Sen. Samuel Anyanwu (National Secretary), Hon. Capt. Umaru Bature (National Organising Secretary), and Hon. Debo Ologunagba (National Publicity Secretary) among others.