Abdullahi Adamu, National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has admitted that the removal of fuel subsidies is putting Nigerians in a difficult and challenging situation.
He spoke yesterday at the party’s national secretariat in Abuja during a meeting of the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) and governors under the umbrella of the APC Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF), led by its newly elected Chairman, Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State.
Imo, Uzodimma, Yobe, Mai Mala Buni, Kogi, Yahaya Bello, Nasarawa, Abdullahi Sule, Niger, Mohammed Umar Bago, Kaduna, Ubah Sani, Gombe, Mohammed Inua Yahaya, and Kebbi, Nasir Idris were among the ten governors in attendance.
Adamu told the governors that they had emerged from a difficult period, admitting that the removal of the fuel subsidy would be extremely difficult for Nigerians, particularly state governors where it matters the most.
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He also told them to be prepared to carry their crosses in their respective states, while assuring them that the party will not only provide them with every necessary support to help them succeed.
“Anything we want to say to you is to adhere to the manifesto as much as you can,” Adamu said. We have a general framework for the country’s governance, and you represent those who fly the party’s flag, and it is expected that whatever you do, you will keep the party’s manifesto in mind.
“You, as the chief executive officers of the states, must key into this manifesto, but there are peculiarities, and priorities you must have established, and you are bound to do everything in your power to meet the expectations of those who voted for us.”
“We are in a very difficult period, and you have arrived at a very difficult time.” Even with the timing of the fuel subsidy removal, this will be extremely difficult for us, particularly for you because you are where it counts the most. From the standpoint of national politics, you are the federation’s shock absorbers. You are surrounded by people. You wake up with them and work with them. As a citizen of this country, you should have a better understanding of their suffering. As governors of this great country’s federating units, you will face a lot of expectations.
“As far as the party is concerned, we will provide you with all the assistance you require.” If you have a problem, please contact us and we will provide you with the best advice we can. But, whatever we do, you are the one who is wearing the shoes and knows where it pinches.
“Two years are allotted for actual governance.” Before you know it, the tribunals will be over, it will be two years, and posters and billboards will be flying, as well as newspaper publications. Fortunately or unfortunately, this is a tradition in our democracy. We must be prepared for this. So you don’t have time to waste.
“You are fortunate to have a president who will listen to you. He has arrived with the same desire to deliver as before. So you are fortunate. But, whatever you do, remember that you will bear your cross.
“As a party, we will not stand in the way of a good programme.” If anyone does this, please bring it to our attention so that we can put a stop to it,” he said.
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“It has been our intention to have the opportunity of receiving our governors immediately after the gubernatorial and states Houses of Assembly elections,” Adamu explained. However, immediately following the elections, our president-elect travelled abroad and was gone for about five weeks.
“We thought it was best to have him on the ground before holding such an important meeting as that of the governors and the party.” By the time he returned, the debate over power sharing in the National Assembly had taken the wind out of our sails.
“So we got engaged in trying to see how best we can reach some understanding, and before we got over that, we had inaugural activities, and we are better placed now to settle down, to invite our governors,” he explained.
