The President-Elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has urged All Progressives Congress (APC) governors to join hands with the party leadership and lawmakers on the election of principal officers for the National Assembly.
Tinubu stated this on Thursday when he hosted the governors under the auspices of the Progressives Governors’ Forum (PGF), in his residence in Abuja.
He said: “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.”
The President-elect, who promised to carry everyone along, 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 Southwest got the blessing of Allah to be elected President.”
Dismissing speculations about his health, the President-elect said: “All speculation has perished and their purveyors brought to shame.”
The Chairman of the forum and governor of Kebbi State, Alhaji Atiku Bagudu, said the visit was to congratulate Tinubu over the election, extend goodwill to him over the end of Ramadan fast and welcome him back from his recent travel and celebrate with him.
He also said the governors were ready for any assignment the President-elect may give them.
On the election of presiding officers of the National Assembly, he pledged that the governor would continue to discuss and work with the party and the lawmakers to arrive at the best decision in the interest of the country.
Among those in attendance were Vice President-elect Kashim Shettima, Governors Simon Lalong (Plateau), Nasir el-Rufai (Kaduna), Aminu Bello Masari (Katsina), Hope Uzodinnma (Imo), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Babajide Sanwo-olu (Lagos), Ben Ayade (Cross Rivers), Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq (Kwara), Dapo Abiodun (Ogun) and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti).
There were also the Deputy Governor of Ebonyi State, Kelechi Igwe and the APC governorship candidate in Kano State, Alhaji Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.