Four Northern governors call for true federalism

Governors of four Northern states on Tuesday called for the practice of true federalism in the country.
The Governors were Dr. Muázu Babangida Aliyu of Niger State, Dr. Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Dr. Rabiú Kwankwaso of Kano State and Alhaji Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State.
The governors made the call in Port Harcourt, Rivers State in a communiqué jointly signed by them after a solidarity visit to Governor Chibuike Amaechi.
The communiqué said that the current political crisis in Rivers State had shown the importance of true federalism and the need for institutions to function freely without undue interference.
According to the communiqué, as federating units, states must be allowed to freely pursue sustainable developments that will improve the living standard of the people as provided by the constitution.
The governors said that they were shocked at the role of the police in the political crisis in the state and condemned its clear partisanship in the fight that took place at the state House of Assembly.
The communique reads: “As Chief Executives of our states who have sworn to protect lives and properties in our various states, we are particularly troubled by the development in Rivers.
“We commend the House of Representatives for its proactive leadership in the crisis and appreciate the Senate committee’s thoroughness in addressing the matter.
“We wish to call on the Inspector General of Police to listen to the voice of reason and immediately redeploy and discipline the Rivers Commissioner of Police, Mr. Joseph Mbu.
“Mbu’s actions smirk of unprofessionalism and political partisanship which is unbecoming of his office.
“With the way the police is being used and abused, and with officers like Mbu in the police, we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic police.
“We may be forced to reconsider our position on the financial contribution of the states toward the funding of the police in our various states.
“Arising from the actions of the police and Mbu in the state, the call for state Police as a constitutional provision has become a necessity.”
The governors called on politicians involved in the crisis in the state to stop actions that were capable of overheating the polity and therefore, derail the nation’s nascent democracy.
They said that Amaechi had shown maturity and calmness in the face of apparent prosecution from his oppositions.