By Charles Adingupu
As parochial and conflicting interests threatened to tear political parties apart, President-elect, Asíwájú Bola Tinubu, has urged progressive Governors and the leadership of the All Progressives Congres, APC on the need to remain United and work for the advancement of the party.
Tinubu who made this declaration in a meeting with the All Progressives Congress governors on Thursday in Abuja, urged them to work with the party leadership and lawmakers on the election of principal officers of the National Assembly.
“We thank God Almighty for our electoral victory. It was tough and turbulent.
“The challenge before us is working in unison with the party leadership and the National Assembly over the election of their principal officers. And I charge you to unite in spirit and faith and work in line with the party,” he said.
The President-elect told the governors and former governorship candidates of the party that “whether you return or not, this is our government.
“Once we know what we are doing and communicating as elected leaders and loyal party men, we will conquer the challenge.”
He reiterated his earlier admonitions that, as leaders, they were elected to serve the people and humanity with fairness and justice.
Sounding emotional, he expressed gratitude to God that he, “the first Muslim minority from the South-West got the blessing of Allah to be elected president.”
Dismissing speculations about his health, the President-elect said “all speculation has been perished and their purveyors brought to shame.”
Earlier, the Chairman of the Progressive Governors who doubles as the governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, and led the delegation, said the visit was to congratulate Asiwaju Tinubu over his election victory, and extend good will to him at the end of the Ramadan Fast.
Bagudu who also stated that the visit was to welcome Tinubu back from his recent travel and celebrate with him, disclosed the Governors’ readiness to work on any assignment the President Elect may to give them.
On the task with respect to the election of presiding Officers for the National Assembly, the Chairman assured that the governors would continue to discuss and work with the party and Lawmakers to arrive at the best decision will benefit the country.
Among those in attendance were Vice President-elect, Kashim Shettima and Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), Ben Ayade (CrossRivers), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
There were also the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe and APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.