By Ikechukwu Okaforadi
All Progressive Congress Governors (PGF) yesterday announced Hope Uzodinma as Chairman of the forum, even as the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, said lifting of subsidy as announced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu comes at a specially challenging moment.
Yobe State Governor, Mai Mala Buni, who was Chairman of APC Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee, disclosed this when he led PGF members to introduce Uzodinma to Adamu and members of his NWC.
Other APC Governors in attendance were Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa, Mohammed Bago of Niger, Uba Sani of Kaduna, Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe, Nasir Idris of Kebbi and Dapo Abiodum of Ogun State.
In his remarks after the introduction, Uzodinma said the PGF is a constructive partner of the party, adding that as Governors, they are absolutely loyal to the party hierarchy, especially in serving as salesmen of APC manifesto.
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 level, 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 the 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 Progressives Governors members, I think we have gotten all it would take to ensure that policies of our government were fully marketed”.
He said APC is the only party in Nigeria, pointing out that the governors are ready to work with the party with absolute loyalty.
“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 cannot do much without you and conversely, I do not think you can do much without us. So we are married in this business and there is no going back”, Uzodinma said.
In his response, Adamu said as a party, NWC has only one advice to offer, which he said is that APC manifesto should be adhered to at all time, even as he reminded them that they are architects of their various destinies.
While he cautioned them to strive in meeting the expectations of Nigerians who voted them into office, Adamu said “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.”
He expressed concern that removal of subsidy will be very challenging, Adamu said “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.”
