Nwifuru Blasts Fellow APC Governors Who Ploted Uzodimma’s Ouster As PGF Chair

Ebonyi State governor, Francis Nwifuru, has blasted some governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for attempting to remove the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.

He, however, praised President Bola Tinubu, whom he said ‘outsmarted’ the rebellious governors to thwart their plan.

Speaking during a stakeholders’ rally in Abakaliki for his re-election bid and in support of President Tinubu’s re-election, Nwifuru claimed that the anti-Uzodimma plot was politically motivated and falsely linked to the President.

He said those behind the alleged plot tried to use Tinubu’s name to legitimise their action but were unsuccessful.

According to him, “When they connived to work against our leader, the chairman of the South-Eastern Nigerian Governor’s Forum, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum, when they want to indirectly destroy our party, Mr. President strategically showed all of them that he is more intelligent than all of them. They indirectly came behind and said they wanted to remove the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum. And they say it’s Mr. President that directed them.

“Today, the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum is here, Distinguished Senator Hope Uzodinma, The leader of our great party in South-eastern Nigeria, our brother, our ally.

“When Mr. President gave the chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum to South-eastern Nigeria, we were only two in South-East that are members of that organisation. And because Mr. President has our interest in mind, that is why he gave us that opportunity,’’ Nwifuru said.

The Ebonyi State governor insisted that the leadership structure within the APC remained intact, praising President Tinubu’s decision-making and political strategy, while reaffirming Uzodimma’s position as chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum.

LEADERSHIP recalls that the PGF had a few weeks ago got enmeshed in a leadership tussle, following reported disagreements among some APC governors over its leadership structure and influence within the ruling APC, leading to a near successful move to remove Uzodimma as the chairman of the influential group.