Governors elected on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) have called for a national dialogue on critical issues affecting the nation.

The chairman of the PDP Governors Forum and governor of Sokoto State Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, in a statement on Thursday marking Nigeria’s 60th independence anniversary, said Nigeria must have genuine dialogue where realistic and acceptable solutions to the challenges bedeviling the nation could be found.

He said there were many challenges that had continued to pose threats to the peaceful coexistence and unity of the country.

He said given the magnitude of the problems in the nation’s polity, the efforts of the National Assembly, should be enriched by the participation of relevant stakeholders.

“We cannot continue to plead indifference or remain helpless in the face of the challenges confronting us as a people.

“Nigeria is our common heritage.

“We must not allow the worsening social contradictions to destroy our country.

At 60, we have indeed come of age.

“And we are optimistic that the nation can be rescued from the current slide.

“Given the evident social discontent within the polity, there is a need for a national conversation on the way forward for our beloved but beleaguered nation.

“In this conversation, modernisation of our economy to meet the challenges of technology, innovation is of crucial importance.

“It is through such a national conversation or dialogue that we can find realistic and acceptable solutions to the problems that have continued to pose a threat to peaceful coexistence and national unity”.