In a figurative-laden manner, President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday described the country as one big family, though Nigerians are sleeping in different rooms.
This was the outcome of a meeting between Tinubu and governors of the 36 states of the federation, known as Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), led by its chairman, AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq of Kwara State, at the State House, Abuja.
A statement by Abiodun Oladunjoye, the Director of Information to the President quoted him saying, “We are a family occupying one house and sleeping in different rooms. If we see it that way and push forward, we will get our people out of poverty. A determined mind is a fertile ground for delivering results.
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“Present in this room is our diversity in culture and politics, but we are one nation. The unity and stability of the country rest upon us,’’ he stated.
The President, therefore, called on the governors to support the decision to end fuel subsidy payments in the country.
He also called on the governors to collaborate with the Federal Government in tackling the menace of poverty in the country, saying the level of impoverishment was unacceptable.
Tinubu advised the political leaders to downplay their differences and jointly focus on alleviating the sufferings and pains of the people.
“We can see the effects of poverty on the faces of our people. Poverty is not hereditary; it is from society. Our position is to eliminate poverty. Set aside partisan politics; we are here to deliberate about Nigeria and nation-building,” he said.
The president said good governance would safeguard the future of democracy.
“We are in a democracy, and we have to nurture the democracy. It is a hard-earned system and not easy to manage. If anyone thinks it is easy, look at other nations over a hundred years in democracy.
“We have managed ourselves very well to have a democracy. We have campaigned and arrived at our present destination. We must work for our people,” President Tinubu told the governors while assuring them he would maintain an open-door policy.
The President said he was prepared to share ideas, strengthen institutions, and create bottom-up frameworks that will improve the livelihood of Nigerians.
“What do we do in the face of crushing poverty? What do we do with our development goals? We took the bull by the horns by removing the elephant in the room before the nation sank.
“We need synergy to fight other vices like corruption. We are trying to get smugglers out of the way. How do we work together to galvanise the economy and put resources in place? We must think and perform. After removing subsidy, there must be savings accruing to the Federation Account,” he noted.
President Tinubu said the education sector must be improved as part of efforts to reduce poverty and destitution.
“How do we address the unacceptable level of poverty? How much are we investing in education, the only tool against poverty? I am ready to collaborate with you,” he said.
The President also drew attention to the security problems in some states, admonishing the governors that all efforts should be put in place to tackle the security situation without thinking it’s only for those facing it.
The Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara State, AbdulRasaq, thanked the President for the invitation to deliberate on the challenges of poverty and security, promising that the governors would support the Federal Government in meeting human development targets.
“The NGF will follow the tradition of working constitutionally and harmoniously with you,” he said.
Meanwhile, Tinubu has directed the National Economic Council (NEC) led by Vice President Kashim Shettima, to begin the process of working on interventions to cushion the impact of subsidy removal on Nigerians.
12 Governors absent, 24 in attendance
The governors who attended the meeting, which commenced at about 12.40 p.m, included those of Zamfara, Kano, Taraba, Kogi, Ogun, Nasarawa, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Lagos, Rivers, Osun, Jigawa, Benue, Taraba, Delta, Enugu, Rivers, Oyo, Plateau, Kebbi, Abia, Imo and Bauchi.
The deputy governors of Niger and Edo are representing their states.
Those not present before the commencement of the meeting are Governors of Katsina, Kaduna, Gombe, Borno, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Anambra, Ekiti, Ondo and Sokoto States.
Also attending the meeting are Vice-President Kashim Shettima and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume.
President Tinubu had last Friday met with the governors of his ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), known as the Progressive Governors’ Forum (PGF) at the State House, Abuja.
President meets major oil marketers
This is even as the independent major oil marketers have pledged to donate no fewer than 100 high capacity buses to the federal government for mass transit operations.
The cheering news was dropped by the Governor of Ogun State, Dapo Abiodun, who led the representatives of some major oil marketers on a courtesy visit to President Tinubu at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.
Addressing State House correspondents after the closed door meeting, Abiodun said the marketers were in the Presidential Villa to express solidarity with the President for his bold decision to end the subsidy regime.
He noted that Tinubu’s action showed his determination and courage to remove the hermorage that had bedeviled the country for decades.
The governor said that while there would be some discomfort on the part of the people, the move would eventually pay off as there can be no gains without pain.
Also speaking at the briefing, spokesperson of the major oil marketers, Dame Winifred Agbani said the courtesy visit was to express their joy for the removal of fuel subsidy, adding that they have waited for too long for the removal of subsidy on petroleum products to happen.
According to her, Nigeria has already spent in five months over N2 trillion on subsidy and by year’s end will spend over N6.7 trillion mark, pointing out that the country cannot sustain it anymore.
She revealed that the marketers are aware that the removal of subsidy will hurt Nigerians in the short term but will benefit the masses in the long run.
She therefore announced the intention of the major oil marketers to donate 50 to 100 mass transit buses as a way to help the success of the initiative, hoping that other well meaning corporate bodies can do the same.
Those who came with Agbani, who is the Chairman of North West Oil and Gas Ltd are Raymond Ogbeche of Rain Oil Limited; Chris Igwe, OFR of Mainland Oil and Gas Ltd and Chairman of MOMAN.
