PDP states paralysed as govs relocate to Abuja
Crisis: PDP states paralysed as govs relocate to Abuja
**Aides now perform state functions
**Critical files taken to Abuja for action
**Some spend two days a week in domains
**Enugu gov off radar since Aug 24
Indications emerged that government activities have been paralysed in the Peoples Democratic Party-controlled states as governors have abandoned their duty posts in the wake of the crisis rocking the party.
Some of the governors have practically relocated to Abuja, the nation’s capital, and turned the Presidential Villa as their Government Houses.
It was gathered that the governors now permanently reside in Abuja in order to participate in the series of power-meetings taking place in the seat of governance and be part of the peace talks and reconciliatory moves to unite the feuding groups to the detriment of governance of their states.
National Mirror learnt that the governors opted to remain in Abuja with their aides until the festering crisis was resolved.
Findings showed that most of the governors on both sides of the crisis had refused to return to their respective states since August 31 when a faction of the PDP, led by former Vice- President Atiku Abubakar and six governors, stormed out of the venue of the special convention of the ruling party in Abuja.
Investigation by National Mirror in some states controlled by the ruling party showed that many strategic government activities and programmes, which required the attention, approval and confirmation as well as major policy documents for which the authority and signature of the governors were mandatory had been suspended or in some cases such documents are taken to Abuja.
It was also learnt that stakeholders in the states were worried about the financial and other implications of the prolonged stay of the governors and their aides in Abuja.
Investigation in one of the PDP-controlled states in the South-South revealed that the governor had not been seen in the state in the past two weeks.
The state chief executive, who is one of the arrowheads of the pro-President Goodluck Jonathan/ Bamanga Tukur faction of the ruling party, reportedly departed the state for Abuja, one week before the controversial special convention of August 31.
Consequently, government activities in the state have been at low ebb in the past two weeks. His aides were reported to be shuttling between the state capital and Abuja, moving files and documents meant for the immediate attention of their boss.
Investigation also revealed that civil servants and political office holders are upset by the attitude of the governor, which had affected the payment of their August salaries and allowances.
A top civil servant, who did not want his name mentioned, said: “We have not seen our governor in the state in the past two weeks just because of his involvement in the resolution of the crisis in the PDP. The attitude of the governor is very strange because he has subsumed the interest of the state under that of the party.
“Government activities in this state have been paralysed because major policies, programmes and decisions revolve around and require the attention and authorisation of the governor. Since we are not seeing the governor here, the state has been grounded and we don’t know how long the trend will continue. Maybe as long as the crisis persists.
“Sad enough, the August salaries and allowances have not been paid, a development, which lowered the morale of the workers. The governor at times asked his aides to move files in and out of Abuja but that style is not even helping matters.
“So much money is being expended on the maintenance of the governor’s crew in Abuja while nothing is happening at the state.”
Akwa Ibom
If you are a visitor to the Akwa Ibom State Hilltop Mansion, the seat of power, with the sole purpose of seeing Governor Godswill Akpabio, the chances are that you should prepare for a long wait of perhaps two weeks, one month or more and pray fervently to be among the lucky few that will see him when he dashes into the state to handle a few official matters and dashes out in an already waiting private jet.
That has been the scenario since assumption of office for a second term by the governor, who has made a remarkable impact in the infrastructural development of the state in his first term.
Akpabio, the Chairman of PDP Governors Forum, PGF, is more engrossed in party affairs in Abuja than in state matters.
From Abuja, the governor tours the world either on medical check-up, looking for investors or accompanying Mr. President to official functions overseas.
When he is in the country, especially since his assumption of duty as the PGF chairman, the governor is always involved in several meetings mostly aimed at trouble shooting or finding solutions to the crisis-ridden PDP.
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