The Progressive Governors Forum, PGF, has condemned what it views as secessionist and separatist agitations being promoted by sectional groups across the country, describing such as a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system.
Salihu Lukman, director general of the forum’s secretariat, in a statement issued on Friday, June 23, 2017 for and on behalf of Progressive Governors said, “In line with the social democratic principles of the All Progressives Congress (APC), the PGF promotes all-inclusive government, for the development of policies and programmes that improve the life of every Nigerian citizen, regardless of ethnicity and religious orientation.
“It is with this in mind that the forum condemns in the strongest terms the present secessionist and separatist agitations promoting ethno-regional identity in the country.
“These sundry factional groups, claiming to represent different ethnic nationalities, sow seeds of disunity and promote secessionist agenda in the nation. We decry and reject their activities in all intents and purposes.”
While acknowledging the rich diverse heritage of Nigeria as a country, the PGF particularly noted that the resurgence of desperate youth groups promoting ethno-regional identities and extremist positions from the different geo-political zones across the nation as currently being experienced is a reflection of prevalent weak governance, economy and law enforcement system in Nigeria.
“The challenge before us as Nigerians therefore is to commit ourselves to the unity of the country. We must create by all means necessary, a country that we can collectively call our home, irrespective of tongues and localities.
“This is a vision the APC as a party is committed to lead and for which the PGF is unapologetically and intrinsically loyal. These threats to national unity must cease totally and put away into history.”
While acknowledging that Nigeria as a nation, do have challenges, the PGF stated that the resolution of those challenges rest with the development of “our democracy and with it, the ascendency of structured processes of national consultations, negotiations and invariably agreements.
“Some of the challenges are highlighted in the accompanied PGF Position – there has to be a Nation First.
“As governors elected under APC, we will work with our party leaders, the federal government and all Nigerians who are committed to democratic development all parts of the country to ensure unencumbered protection of lives of all citizens in every part of the territorial boundary of our nation.
“The PGF called for the rise of all decent voices across the country to speak up against the upsurge of “some desperate irredentist movements across all ethnic groups and support the emergence of a stronger and virile unified Nigeria for us all.
“The forum insists that, regardless of our diverse identities and whatever differences, Nigeria has to thrive.”
