A former Governor of Nasarawa State, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, has accused the Governors of the Southern States of betraying the trust of Nigerians and their Oath of Office, .
He also accused them of betraying their Oath of Allegiance to President Muhammadu Buhari.
Senator Adamu, the current Lawmaker representing Nasarawa West in the Upper Chamber of the National Assembly, added that the Southern States Governors did not follow the right channel in demanding for the restructuring of the country, as well as their decision to ban open grazing in their region.
He made the submission in Keffi, the State capital, during an interview with Journalists, where he reacted to the communique issued by the 17 Southern States Governors, after their meeting on Tuesday, in Asaba, the Delta State capital.
Recall, that the Southern Governors Forum, SGF, at the end of its meeting, which held in Delta State, on Tuesday, 11th May, 2021, called on President Muhammadu Buhari to urgently address the security situation in the country, and speak directly to Nigerians.
The Governors while banning open grazing in the region, also noted that the activities of armed herdsmen in the Southern part of the country is a serious security challenge that needs urgent attention, as innocent citizens are being killed, and their properties destroyed.
They also called on the President Buhari administration to take bold steps on the issue of restructuring, while declaring their support for State Police.
These decisions were part of the 12-point communique issued and read by the Chairman of the Forum, the Governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu, SAN, at the end of its 4-hour meeting, in Asaba.
Reacting however, Senator Adamu stated that the Governors are only playing to the gallery, and have said nothing different.
He noted that they should have channeled their thoughts through the Legislators representing their States at the National Assembly, or spoken through to the President through the available channels, rather than addressing him in a public communique.
His exact words: “The recent meeting of the Southern Governors Forum is an act of betrayal of the trust Nigerians reposed in them. Each Governor pledged and swore to an oath, and they emphasised loyalty to the sovereignty of this country. They also pledged their loyalty to the President of the country. That is their oath of office.
“While we accept the fact that we have freedom of association and freedom of expression as citizens, they have failed to express their views through the right channel. They are members of the National Council of State. Every governor is a member of the NCS. It also included former presidents who are still living.
“There is no better forum at their level to take a joint decision than such a forum. The fact that they have taken a decision as a divisive move does not speak well of their intention. I feel it is a betrayal of trust. I think they are just playing to the gallery.
“What they are saying is not new. Those things have become like broken records, saying the same thing over and over again. Why can they not come to the appropriate body which is the National Assembly to project their ideas?
“They have members in the National Assembly who are representing them, if they have an issue that is so important as that which borders on the constitution of the country, they should go there and express their grievances.
“We would sit, debate it, and see how best we can come out of it. There cannot be Nigeria, if everyone wants to have things happen in his or her own way.
“There is a constitution and there is a framework that we are supposed to operate as governors. To go outside it is a betrayal of their oath of office. Each of them talking there, if you take a look at what is happening in their individual states, they cannot in all honesty and good conscience, challenge Buhari.”