Imo State governor, Hope Uzodinma, has emerged the new chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), an umbrella body of governors elected on the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC).
This is just as the governors met with the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja on Wednesday.
Although details of the meeting which held behind closed-doors were sketchy, LEADERSHIP gathered that it was part of ongoing consultations on the party’s zoning arrangement for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly.
Speaking after the meeting with the APC NWC, Governor Uzodimma parried the issue of the National Assembly leadership, noting, however, that the party will continue to talk and convince stakeholders.
He said, “The president has not made proclamation for the National Assembly leadership to be inaugurated. And of course you know, APC is the majority party.
“At the right time, the party will continue to convince and talk to stakeholders. And collectively the issues will be resolved.”
Uzodimma assured that the PGF will cooperate with the party’s leadership in implementing its policies and programmes.
He said, “I want to assure you that the APC governors understand very clearly that the government each of us are presiding over belongs to the party and we know both at the federal and sub-national levels. The government belongs to APC; it is APC-led government.
“Under my watch, we will be very close to the party. The purpose of the forum is to have impetus to the activities of the party and the government. We are only going to act as salesmen that will market the policies and programmes of government.
“Arising from the manifesto promised to the people before the election, I can assure that we have a team and we are working together with the kind of men I have seen as Progressives Governors. I think we have gotten all it would take to ensure that policies of our government were fully marketed.
“APC is the only party we’ve got in Nigeria. The governors of APC seem to be the most active governors in Nigeria. So, my assurance is that we are just constructive partners to work with the party and our loyalty to the party is absolute and indeed, the party will become the envy of other parties in Africa.
“Whatever that we did not get before, I’m sure under my leadership, the party will get it. It is going to be a synergy; we can’t do much without you and conversely I don’t think you can do much without us. So we are married in this business and there is no going back.”
On fuel subsidy removal, the PGF chairman recalled that all the presidential candidates during the 2023 campaigns promised to remove fuel subsidy.
He said, “The former government before it left made us to know that fuel subsidy is no longer sustainable. What we are talking about now is the implementation process – how to implement the programme in a manner that will not be too hard on the people. And I think the government is working on it.
“I have confidence on the ability of the current president to navigate through the waters and take decisions that will be to the best interest of our people and the country as a nation.”
Earlier, national chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Adamu, had told the governors that the country was in a very difficult moment now that fuel subsidy has been removed.
Addressing the APC governors at the meeting, Adamu said they were coming at a very difficult period.
The governors in attendance included Uzodinma – Imo, Mai-Mala Buni – Yobe, Yahaya Bello – Kogi, Abduallahi Sule – Nasarawa Mohammed Bago – Niger, Uba Sani – Kaduna, Inuwa Yahaya – Gombe, Nasir Idris – Kebbi and Dapo Abiodun – Ogun.
The APC chairman urged the governors to adhere to the APC manifesto in the execution of their mandate and address the challenges of their respective states head-on even in the present circumstance.
“You, as the chief executive officers of the states, must key into this manifesto but there are peculiarities, there are priorities you must have set and you are bound to do as much as you can to meet the expectations of those who voted for us.
“We are in a very difficult moment and you have come at a very difficult period. Even with the timing of the lifting of the fuel subsidy, this is going to be very specially challenging to us, particularly to you because you are where it matters most.
“From national politics, you are the shock absorbers in the various states of the federation. You live with the people. You wake up with the people and you work with them. The expectation is that you could have a better appreciation of their pains as citizens of this country. So, a lot of expectations will be on you as governors of the federating units of this great country.
“As far as the party is concerned, we will give you every cooperation you need. If you have any problem, turn to us and we will give you the best advice as we can. But whatever we do with you, you are the one wearing the shoes and know where it pinches.
“You are lucky to have a president who will listen to you. He has come with the same urge, the same desire to deliver. So, you are lucky. But whatever you do, do not forget that you will bear your cross. You will bear your cross. We will not as a party stand in your way for a good programme. If someone does so, please draw our attention so that we will stop it,” he said.
Adamu said while it was the intention of the party to meet with its governors immediately after their elections, the journey of the then president-elect abroad, leadership tussle in the National Assembly and activities for the inauguration delayed the meeting.
He thanked the governors who afforded to attend the meeting even at the very short notice, adding that another meeting would be summoned soon when all of them will attend to put issues of governance in proper perspective with the federal government.
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