Key into party manifesto, meet voters’ expectations — APC tells Govs
…You’ll bear your cross, you’re the shock absorbers of this difficult times — Adamu tells Govs
…Says they came “at a very difficult period”
By Moses Adeniyi
The ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has called on Governors elected on its platform not to deviate from the party’s manifesto in the scheme of their programmes in power.
A meeting of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Party with the Progressive Governors saw the highest decision making organ of the Party cautioning the Governors against deviating from the Party’s manifesto.
National Chairman of the Party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, gave the warning at a consultative meeting with the Governors held at the ‘Buhari House’ national secretariat of the Party, a development coming barely two days after the Governors were respectively sworn-in in their States.
Some of the Governors present at the meeting were those of who has been newly elected. Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Hope Uzodinma; Governors of Yobe, Mai Mala Buni; Kogi, Yahaya Bello; Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule; Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago; Kaduna, Uba Sani; Gombe, Mohammed Inuwa Yahaya; and Kebbi, Nasir Idris, and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
Adamu who addressed the Governors shortly before the meeting went into a closed session, said though the Party hierarchy would give them a free hand, yet he emphasized adherence to the manifesto on the part of the Governors.
Adamu who said there could be “general framework for the governance of the Country,” said the Governors represent those who would fly the flag of the Party, with expectation that whatever their actions and policies would be, it will be informed bearing “in mind the manifesto that the Party gives the Country.”
“For us, anything that we will want to say to you is adherence to the manifesto as much as you can. We have a general framework for the governance of the country and you represent those who fly the flag of the party and it is expected that whatever you do, you will have in mind the manifesto that the party gives the Country.
“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 so, 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.
“Two years are for actual governance. Before you know, you will finish with the tribunals, it will be getting to two years and you will start seeing posters and billboards flying, newspaper publications. This is a tradition in our democracy, fortunately or unfortunately. We must be ready for that. So, you have no time to waste.
“Fortunately, 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.
…..As Uzodinma takes over from Bagudu as Chairman of Progressive Govs
Meanwhile, Governor Hope Uzodinma of Imo State following a consensus among the Progressives Governors under the platform of the APC has taken over the baton of leadership from Kebbi Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu as the new Chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF).
It was gathered that Uzodinma was elected via consensus during the strategic meeting of the PGF on Wednesday.
A few hours after his election, Uzodinma was presented to the National Chairman of the Party, Adamu and members of the NWC at the Party secretariat in Abuja.
The Governors, who arrived Wednesday evening in Abuja, went straight into the secretariat for the meeting with the APC leadership.
On his part, Uzodinma who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said the Progressive Governors would cooperate fully with the Party to achieve set targets.
Uzodinma who promised not to disappoint his colleagues and the leadership of the Party, also promised to uphold the manifesto of ‘Renewed Hope’ promised by the Party to Nigerians during the electioneering campaign.
“There is no doubt that Progressive Governors Forum has been in place before this time and there is no doubt that we are loyal members of our great party.
“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 add impetus to the activities of the party and the government. We are only going to act as salesmen who will market the policies and programmes of government.
“Arising from the manifesto promised to the people before the election, I can assure that you had a team and working together with the kind of men I have seen as Progressive Governors, I think we have gotten all it would take to ensure that policies of our government are fully marketed.
“APC is the only party we have 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 am sure under my leadership, the Party will get it. It is going to be a synergy, we cannot 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,” Uzodinma added.
On the decision of President Bola Tinubu’s pronouncement that ‘subsidy is gone,’ Uzodinma argued that the decision has no ill, premising his argument on the ground that it is on record that the presidential candidates of the major political parties in the last election all queued behind the idea of petroleum subsidy removal.
“The incumbent government before he left made us 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 in the ability of the current President to navigate through the waters and take decisions that will be in the best interest of our people and the country as a nation,” he said.
