President Bola Ahmed President Tinubu has commended Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State for his efforts to peacefully resolve the political challenges in the state.
The president gave the commendation yesterday while speaking during a meeting with the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) at his residence in Lagos.
Tinubu, who acknowledged the presence of Governor Fubara of Rivers State at the meeting, said: “I thank you for your statesmanship. I listened to your broadcast and your emphasis on peace. It is only with peace that effective governance can thrive, and governance has commenced in earnest under my watch.”
On the 2024 budget proposals before the National Assembly, the president informed the governors that he had a review meeting earlier in the day on certain elements in the Appropriation Bill, with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, and the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu.
He stressed the need for joint responsibility and closer collaboration between the federal and sub-national governments to foster rapid infrastructural development in every part of the nation.
“I want us to discard federal, state, or rural road classifications. We must regard development as a joint responsibility. Let us prioritise our children. The school feeding programme must return quickly, beginning from the local government to the state and federal governments.
“We must be ready to protect our children and prepare them for the future,” he stated.
Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and Kwara State governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq reaffirmed state governments’ support for the bold decisions and reforms initiated by President Tinubu’s administration.
“These are challenging times. It is not a walk in the park. Removing fuel subsidies had a great structural effect on the economy of the states. But we are confident that we will overcome these challenges and bounce back better,” he said.
Vice President Kashim Shettima and Chief of Staff to the President Femi Gbajabiamila were among government officials who received members of the NGF.
Members of the NGF on the visit also included Hope Uzodinma of Imo; Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Godwin Obaseki of Edo; Abba Yusuf of Kano; Hyacinth Alia of Benue; Caleb Mutfwang of Plateau, and Umar Dikko Radda of Katsina.
Others were Lucky Aiyedatiwa, acting governor of Ondo; Ahmed Usman Ododo, governor-elect of Kogi; Dapo Abiodun of Ogun; Ahmad Aliyu of Sokoto; Uba Sani of Kaduna; Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, and Francis Nwifiuru of Ebonyi.
