ABUJA, April 18, 2014. The Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) is concerned about the attempt to insinuate that APC Governors boycotted the Thursday meeting of the National Security Council. For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to state categorically that all APC governors received invitations to the meeting, but were later informed on Tuesday night by the Presidency that the meeting had been postponed. It is unfortunate that a meeting as important as that of the meeting of National Security Council at this trying moment is reduced to a partisan status.
As at Tuesday night, 14 APC governors were in Abuja and on Wednesday morning, actually visited victims of the Nyanya bomb blast in Asokoro and National Hospitals, where we announced our intention to set up a trust to support victims of terror.
As a matter of fact, after the visit we stated categorically “This is a time that we must all close hands to ensure the safety of lives and property. This is not a time to talk about politics with people’s lives”. It is therefore shocking and in bad faith that we are being accused of boycotting a meeting we were duly notified that it had been called off.
We want to reiterate our call to President Goodluck Jonathan to “deepen that particular section of our constitution, which guarantees safety of lives and property of ordinary citizens. We urge him to show leadership at this moment and do whatever it is within his capacity and capabilities as President to fish out those who are involved in this act.”
We stand by this position and hereby re-affirm our commitment to work with the Federal Government and all Nigerians to resolve our national security challenges.
Owelle Rochas Okorocha
Chairman, Progressive Governors Forum
