Buhari Says he won’t Accept Underperformance from APC Governors
President Muhammadu Buhari says that he will not accept
underperformance from any All Progressives Congress
(APC) Governor, following the overwhelming victory of the party at the 2019 General
Elections.
He urged the Governors to channel resources and initiatives to what will
benefit Nigerian citizens.
Buhari made the remarks in Jos on Monday while declaring open the third Federal
Government/Progressives Governors Forum’s parley on “Strengthening Public
Service Delivery” hosted by Plateau State Governor Simon Lalong.
“Early in 2019, Nigeria overwhelmingly re-elected me as President. That
election was a referendum on not just my leadership but also on our party. Some
State Governors were re-elected while new ones also came on board,” Secretary
to Government of the Federation (SGF) Boss Mustapha stated, delivering the
President’s message.
“To whom much is given, much more is expected. It is therefore incumbent on
this to meet the expectations of our teeming population. There should be no
room for excuses and that is where the outcome of this parley becomes very
critical.”
The President mentioned that insecurity has remained a major obstacle of his
administration but expressed strong determination to overcome the challenge and
secure the country.
He reiterated the protection of lives and property as the primary
responsibility of government and called on citizens to be active participants
in security matters.
Buhari said the APC government will do everything to sustain the country’s
economic recovery efforts and reinforce the microeconomic policies to achieve
sustainable economic stability in the country.
Plateau State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governor’s Forum Simon
Lalong said despite the challenges facing the country, the APC has recorded
tremendous progress in reshaping the economy, rebuilding infrastructure,
creating jobs and improving security of of lives and prosperity.
“We must admit that there is still more work to be done considering the level
of decay we inherited in our various states. That is why we have commended Mr.
President for leading the way in the determination to deliver change and take
Nigeria to the next level,” Lalong stated.
Chairman of the Progressives Governors and Governor of Kebbi State Abubakar
Atiku Bagudu appreciated those who led the campaign that culminated to the
re-election of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and the victory of David
Lyon of Bayelsa State as Governor-elect, victories which brought the number of
the APC Governors to 20.
He said that the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari has
brought crucial intervention to the states which has enabled them pay salaries
and pensions, and has expended N23 billion to states ravaged by floods.
Bagudu expressed pleasure over the Buhari administration’s zero-oil policy, a
policy which he said has compelled most state Governors to look inward for
domestic revenue sources in order to become economically sustainable.
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Adams Oshomhole, on his part,
said Nigerians must support the Federal Government’s policy on the closure of
Nigeria’s land borders, a move which according to him has curtailed the
infiltration of fake products into the country.
He urged the APC Governors to partner with the party leadership to make the
party a strong and a formidable institution in the country.
The panel of discussants at the event included Governor Kayode Fayemi, Ekiti;
Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, Kebbi; Godwin Obasake, Edo; Alh. Abdullahi Sani Bello,
Nasarawa; Nasiru El-Rufai, Kaduna, Mohammed Badaru, Jigawa while Kogi and Gombe
State Governors were represented by their deputies