BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD ... GETTING IT RIGHT : Jonathan shifts security meeting to accommodate uninvited Governors ... TheNationNews

President Goodluck Jonathan rescheduled yesterday another meeting with governors over rising insecurity.

The meeting will take place next Wednesday.

The Presidency on Wednesday, through a statement by presidential spokesman Dr. Reuben Abati, invited governors and the National Security Council for a meeting yesterday to discuss insecurity.

Although it was thought that all the governors were to attend, only the PDP governors turned up at the First Lady’s Conference Room, State House venue.

Briefing State House correspondents at the end of the two hours meeting, PDP Governors Forum Chairman and Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio said only PDP governors were invited for yesterday’s meeting.

All the governors will be invited for the rescheduled meeting, he said.

A statement by the Interim National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Lai Mohammed, explained the absence of APC governors.

The party said the governors of APC-controlled states were given the impression that the meeting had been called off, hence they did not attend.

‘’On Wednesday, the Presidency called the Chief Detail of the Kwara State Government to say that the meeting had been called off. On the basis of this information, which apparently got to other governors under the aegis of the APC, our governors did not attend.

‘’Now that the meeting has been held, it is incumbent on the Presidency to launch an investigation into the source of the call to the Kwara State Government and what the call was meant to achieve.

‘’Irrespective of the totally unfounded and absolutely irresponsible allegation that the APC is behind the escalating security situation, our party will not shy away from any serious effort to end the terrorist attacks in our country. Therefore, it is not true that our governors shunned the meeting with the President,’’ the APC said.

After the President met the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police Mohammed Abubakar in his office, they all moved to the First Lady’s Conference Room where governors were already seated.

Governors at the meeting were: Gabriel Suswam(Benue), Martin Elechi (Ebonyi) Ramalan Yero (Kaduna), Isa Yuguda(Bauchi), Theodore Orji (Abia), Ibrahim Dankwanbo (Gombe).

Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Willie Obiano (Anambra), Idris Wada (Kogi), Ibrahim Shema (Katsina), Jonah Jang (Plateau), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Sule Lamido (Jigawa) and Sullivan Chime (Enugu).

Also at the meeting were Babangida Aliyu (Niger), Olusegun Mimiko(Ondo), Garba Umar (Acting Governor Taraba), Deputy Governor John Jonah (Bayelsa) and the Deputy Governor of Kebbi State.

Others at the meeting were Vice President Namadi Sambo, Defence Minister Aliyu Gusau, State Security Service (SSS) Director-General Ita Ekpeyong; Minister of Interior, Abba Moro; National Security Adviser (NSA) Sambo Dasuki and Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Anyim Pius Anyim.

Akpabio said: “This is a fallout of our meeting which we held with PDP governors and we felt that there was a need for us and to meet with security chiefs. Mr. President has listened to us even said that since it is a problem that involves all the states of the federation, it is better for all the governors to be in attendance. Because of that, he has graciously agreed to meet with all the 36 states of the federation on Wednesday by 4pm.

“Of course, you know we are very much concerned, first as PDP governors and the centre belongs to the PDP and so we felt that we should see our dear president and if need be, with some of the security chiefs.”

“He has graciously listened to us and he said since it is a national issue, we must have all the 36 governors in attendance. So I believe strongly a notice will be going out and all governors will be meeting with Mr. President and service chiefs next week Wednesday so we can sit and discuss and profer solutions to the current insecurity in the country. I believe it will come to an end,” he said.

On the state of emergency that will expire in the three Northeast states tomorrow, he said: “No, he didn’t go into details with us. Of course you know that it is a national issue and if you discuss it and as you know you can’t shave a man’s head behind him. The governors of the states that are involved in emergency are not here. So I believe that issue will be taken on when all the governors are around on Wednesday.”

Asked why the APC governors were not at the meeting, he said: “No, no, no, they were not invited. You know there was an initial requisition of this meeting by the PDP governors; this was as a fallout of our own meeting. And so it wasn’t something that was extended to all and that is why I said they have been invited on Wednesday. We just wanted to meet with our president and some service chiefs to air our views and also make some suggestions. Now he is insisting, which is right too, that it is a national issue because it must be handled nationally and that is why all the governors must be here.”

Explaining why LP Governor Mimiko and APGA Governor Obiano attended the meeting, he said: “You know there was initial call for governors to attend, I invited them. But Mr. President has invited them.”

Confident that all governors will be at next week’s meeting, he said: “I don’t think there is a governor who will not love to be here to also add his voice and suggestion on how we can tackle the current situation. We must face the situation and it is not something we can politicise, you don’t politicise security. All hands must be on deck, the entire country, every single Nigerian must contribute its quota towards bringing the current situation to an end.

“I believe that if you are not a soldier, you can also be an informant. And, of course you know that this thing is becoming like an HIV, if you are not infected you are affected. Your children are also involved, your grand children and relations. If people are now attacking schools to disrupt the lives of children how will you not be concerned? A market woman is affected when motor parks are being bombed, so there is no way any governor in Nigeria will not be concerned and will not show interest.”

“In bringing this situation to an end, all Nigerians must know that we must be our brothers keepers as far as security is concern,” he stated.

Abia State Governor Theodore Orji said: “We undertook an essential discussion on the security of the nation that is exactly what we did. Details are not for public because they are security issues. Of course, no governor is happy with what has happened but bear in mind that the meeting is at the instance of the PDP governors.

“We took a decision when we went to Jigawa and we requested the president to invite us to a meeting with the security chiefs. That is why we are here. We initiated the meeting,” Orji said.