The members of the Progressive Governors Forum of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the National Chairman of the party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje on Monday had a close door meeting at the National Secretariat of the party in Abuja.
The governors that were at the meeting are: PGF chairman and Imo State governor, Senator Hope Uzodinma, Cross River State governor, Senator Bassey Otu, Ekiti State governor, Abiodun Oyebanji and Ondo State governor, Lucky Aiyeditawa.
After the meeting, the PGF Chairman, Hope Uzodinma fielding questions from journalists on their visit said, “How can you ask a man who came to his house why he is in his house.
“We are here, you know of course we are governors of APC. APC produced us and we are in Abuja for a meeting and of course in obedience to the discipline of party loyalty, we have to visit the Secretariat to touch with the leadership of the party; chairman and members of the National Working Committee (NWC) and above all, commiserate with the Chairman who also lost his mother-in-law; and also show solidarity with the chairman and managers of our party.
“Those who are serving us – the national leadership of our party – providing service, they are managing our party day to day, they are looking after the policies of the party, they’re in charge of the administration of the party and of course, we members of the party and also critical stakeholders are committed to following and encouraging them as a way of showing support and that is solidarity.”
On the preparations of the party for the governorship election in Edo and Ondo States, Uzodinma said “Of course you know, I am the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF) and when I speak, I speak on behalf of my colleagues, 20 governors.
“A party like APC that is in control of 20 states out of 36 and also has produced a president and members of the Federal Executive Council is the majority party and if election is game of numbers, it means majority will win.
“So when we get to Edo because we are majority party for instance, on the 20th of this month the National campaign council will be inaugurated in Edo State and it is expected that most of us, the members of the Progressives Governors Forum will be in attendance. Which other party can provide or boast of such asset, politically speaking.
“So, we don’t need to over flog the horse, the truth of the matter is that the APC has done very well in Nigeria. What is happening currently, is a global economic problem.
“We in Nigeria under our own leadership, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is also bringing out policies to ensure, given the kind of economy he met, given the kind of situation he saw when he came, he has started the treatment and by the grace of God, I am very confident that very soon Nigerians will be jubilating about how he has managed to navigate the waters.”
On his part, the APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Ganduje responding to their visit said, “There is no doubt, we are highly elated we anticipated today when I got the information that they are coming.
“So, I think it is a blessing, a big blessing to us. So, we are so happy about it and we have confidence in them. We will do all it takes to ensure that we maintain good relationship with our governors all over the country and we will help to protect their interests and there is no doubt that they’re also assisting the party, they are making the party to be proud as an institution.”