Why APC Governors Did Not Attend Security Meeting Held At Aso Rock

GOVERNORS from Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP) and All Peoples Grand Alliance (APGA) were in attendance, during the security meeting called by President Goodluck Jonathan in Abuja, on Thursday, while the All Progressives Congress (APC) governors were absent at the meeting.

The president, however, insisted that all 36 state governors, particularly those in the North-East under emergency rule must be present in any meeting to discuss the current security situation in the country, as well as the possible extension of the emergency rule.

The president had summoned two meetings, including that of the National Security Council and an enlarged security meeting expected to be attended by state governors.

But, according to the chairman of PDP Governors Forum,, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, who briefed State House correspondents after the meetings, APC governors were not invited, as the meeting was the initiative of PDP governors who wanted to share their ideas on the security challenges in the country with the president and security chiefs.

He disclosed that Jonathan had, however, stressed the need for all governors to be in attendance before critical decisions could be taken on the security challenges and, therefore, invited the APC governors for another round of meeting on Wednesday, next week, scheduled for 4.00 p.m.

“This is a fallout of our meeting which we held with PDP governors and we felt that there was a need for us to meet with security chiefs.

“Mr President has listened to us and even said that since it is a problem that involves all the states of the federation, it is better for all the state 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 4.00 p.m.

“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, meet with some of the security chiefs,” Akpabio said.

The Akwa Ibom helmsman, who was confident that the security situation would soon be resolved, said the meeting did not discuss details of the emergency rule, because of the absence of governors of the affected states.

Answering questions on the absence of APC governors, Akpabio noted that “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.”

Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State corroborated Akpabio’s position as he told State House correspondents that APC governors were not invited for the meeting.

The meeting of the National Security Council was presided over by President Jonathan, with Vice President Namadi Sambo in attendance.

No statement was released at the end of the meeting which was followed by the enlarged meeting with the governors.

Reacting, APC, on Thursday, explained the absence of its governors at the security meeting called by President Jonathan.

A statement issued by its spokesperson, Lai Mohammed, in Lagos, on Thursday night, said the truth of the matter was that 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,’’ APC said.