Presidential reaction to our statement a disgrace – PDP Governors

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors have criticised the Senior Special Assistant to the President, Garba Shehu, for performing a terrible job of composing a response to a statement released after the meeting in Uyo.

The Governors depicted the presidential response to the statement as ‘poorly worded and pedestrian.’

In a statement entitled, ‘Presidential Response to PDP Governors’ Forum Communique Is a Disgrace,’ signed by the Director General of the forum, C.I.D. Maduabum, in Abuja, on Thursday, the Governors declared that the presidency’s reply to the crucial and important matters of state they raised in their statement after meeting betrays the terrible ignorance, lack of gratitude to the matters raised in the PDP statement.

Maduabum said, “It is unbelievable that such low-quality response could come from Nigeria’s seat of power.

“He celebrates the non-remittance of funds by NNPC to the Federation Account because they should not ‘break the bank’ for PDP Governors. What a pity!

“The duty and responsibility of NNPC to pay revenues into the Federation Account is not a matter of discretion by NNPC. It is an imposition of law.

“The constitutional provisions on Public Revenue are clear. Section 162. (1) of the Constitution says: ‘The Federation shall maintain a special account to be called ‘the Federation Account’ into which shall be paid all revenues collected by the Government of the Federation, except the proceeds from the personal income tax of the personnel of the Armed Forces of the Federation, the Nigeria Police Force, the Ministry or Department of Government charged with responsibility for Foreign Affairs and the residents of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.”

The PDP Governors’ Forum also stated that it was unhappy that the presidential aide disregarded the economic dangers inherent in Naira fall against key currencies of the world particularly the United States dollar.

Maduabum said, “The implication of the fall of the Naira for cost of goods and services, including the price of food and basic needs of Nigerians is becoming unbearable for the average Nigerian.”

Similarly, the PDP spoke in a same way in a statement entitled, PDP To Buhari: Our Governors Don’t Peddle Falsehood Like You,’ signed by the National Publicity Secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan.

The party disclosed that it was shocked by the unjustified attack and insult by President Buhari against the Governors elected on the PDP platform.

Ologbondiyan said, “For the avoidance of doubts, the PDP insists that our Governors are responsible and responsive leaders who have always shown concerns towards the plight of Nigerians.

“It is on record that they attend to the wishes of Nigerians in their respective states and do not by any whim recourse to peddling of fake news and lies like the Buhari Presidency and his All Progressives Congress.”