The Chairman of Progressive Governors’ Forum and Imo State Governor, Hope Uzodimma, has exonerated President Bola Tinubu from the current economic hardship ravaging the country.
The governor insisted it would be unfair for anybody to blame the President, describing the biting hardship as a global phenomenon not limited to Nigeria.
Uzodimma made the statement when he came on a solidarity visit to the secretariat of the APC in Abuja, to commiserate with the National Chairman of the ruling party, Dr Abdullahi Ganduje, over the loss of his mother-in-law.
He was accompanied by Governors Bassey Otu of Cross River, Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo and Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti.
He said, “We don’t need to overflog 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. President Bola Tinubu is also bringing out policies to ensure that, given the kind of economy and situation he met on the ground, he has started the treatment.
“By the grace of God, I am very confident that very soon, Nigerians will be jubilant about how he has managed to navigate the waters.
“We have to visit the secretariat to be in touch with the leadership of the party, national chairman and members of the National Working Committee and, above all, to commiserate with him who just lost his mother-in-law; and also show solidarity with the chairman and managers of our party.”
The PGF chairman expressed optimism that the APC would wrest power from the Peoples Democratic Party-led government in Edo State at the September 21 governorship election.
The governor also disclosed that some of the APC governors would also monitor the polls in Edo and Ondo states to show solidarity for their governorship candidates.
He said, “Of course you know, I am the chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum. When I speak, I speak on behalf of my colleagues, the 20 governors and a party like APC that controls 20 of the 36 states. If an election is a game of numbers, it means the majority will win.
“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 an asset, politically speaking?”
Ganduje welcomed the delegation, saying he felt honoured by their visit.
“There is no doubt that we are highly delighted when we got the information that they (governors) are coming. So, I think it is a blessing to us. We have confidence in them.
“We will do all it takes to ensure that we maintain good relationships with our governors all over the country and help to protect their interests. There is no doubt that they are also assisting the party and making us proud as an institution,” he said.