Buhari Yet To Discuss Ministerial List With Us — APC Govs

The All Progressives Congress (APC) Governors Forum on Tuesday disclosed that President Muhammadu Buhari is yet to discuss ministerial lists with them.

But they maintained the matter of a cabinet for the President’s second term was purely the President’s decision.

The President, the Forum said, should appoint whosoever he wishes.

The Chairman of the APC Governors Forum and Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, briefed State House correspondents at the end of the President’s meeting with the APC Governors at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

On whether the ministerial list was discussed, he said” “No. It is an executive decision.”

According to him, they came to celebrate the victory of the party in the emergence of the National Assembly presiding officers positions and to thank the President on the various interventions to state governments.

Four candidates of the party had last week emerged as the four presiding officers of the Senate and House of Representatives leaderships.

According to Bagudu, some of the interventions included the Paris Club refunds, the budget support fund and the refund for money expended by states on federal roads.

He said: “This morning, Mr. President graciously granted audience to progressive Governors forum.

“We came to congratulate him on the National Assembly elections and thank him for the confidence he had on the progressive Governors forum members who participated actively in all the processes that led to the emergence of Senator Ahmad Lawan, as Senate President, Ovie Omo-Agege as Deputy Senate President, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila, as Speaker (House of Representatives) and Hon. Ahmed Wase as Deputy Speaker.

“Furthermore, we used the opportunity to thank Mr. President in all he has been doing and all the successes recorded in the areas which he campaigned upon and by extension our party, which are security, economy and accountability.

“We are quite happy with his support for states where close to N2 trillion was given to states in form of restructuring of loans, refunds on federal roads, refund for Paris Club, which has helped encourage economic activities in the states, payment of salaries, payment of pensions, payment of gratuities and overall investment by infrastructural spending.

“We are also appreciative of increased investment in agriculture which has been because of conscious decision to support agriculture as a way out of economic challenges and provide economic growth.

“We also congratulate Mr. President that despite drop in incomes, the value for money that he insists upon has begun to pay off in terms of more security across the country even though some challenges still remain, he is working hard on that with sincerity.” he said

He added: “Last and not the least, we offer to work with Mr. President continuously to ensure that we increase economic performance, security of our country and social cohesion.”

He also said the Progressive Governors Forum used the occasion to thank President Buhari for celebrating the Democracy Day, which was in consistent with the promise he made.

He said that it was a major element reflective of his democratic ideals in ensuring that an issue which was so important to many Nigerians has been finally addressed in a way.

He said: “Well, we as progressive governors will push so that that legislation and cooperation between states and federal government will intensify, we will be more active during investments in all areas that can provide employment and incomes will rapidly increase.

“We will collaborate more to ensure that security is enhanced particularly when it involves state borders.”

At the meeting were Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, Godwin Obaseki of Edo, Dapo Abiodun of Ogun.

Others are Babagana Zulum of Borno, Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Simon Lalong of Plateau, Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, Mai-Mala Buni of Yobe, and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa.