As the intrigues and manoeuvres in the ongoing jostling for principal offices of the incoming 10th National Assembly intensify, president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday asked governors on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to work with the party leadership and federal lawmakers on the election of Senate president, Speaker and other key positions.
Tinubu stated this when chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and Kebbi State governor, Atiku Bagudu, led his colleagues on a courtesy visit to his residence in Abuja.
“We thank God Almighty for our electoral victory. It was tough and turbulent. The challenge before us is working in unison with the party leadership and the National Assembly over the election of their principal officers. And I charge you to unite in spirit and faith and work in line with the party,” the president-elect told the governors.
Tinubu told the governors and former governorship candidates of the party that whether they return or not, his incoming APC government remains our government.
“Once we know what we are doing and communicating as elected leaders and loyal party men, we will conquer the challenge,” he added, reiterating his earlier admonitions that as leaders, they were elected to serve the people and humanity with fairness and justice.
Tinubu expressed gratitude to God that he, “the first Muslim minority from the South-West, got the blessing of Allah to be elected president.”
Dismissing speculations about his health, the president-elect said, “All speculation has been perished and their purveyors brought to shame.”
On his part, the PGF chairman, Governor Bagudu, said the visit was to congratulate Tinubu on his election, extend goodwill to him over the end of Ramadan fast and welcome him back from his recent travel and celebrate with him.
He noted that the governors were ready for any assignment the president-elect may give them.
On the task with respect to the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly, he pledged that the APC governors would continue to discuss and work with the party and the lawmakers to arrive at the best decision in the interest of the country.
In attendance at the meeting were vice president-elect, Kashim Shettima; Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), Ben Ayade (CrossRivers), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
The deputy governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe, and APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna, were also at the meeting.
