In a significant development, Hope Uzodinma, the governor of Imo State, has been chosen as the new chairman of the Progressive Governors Forum (PGF), the unified body of governors elected under the All Progressives Congress (APC). The selection took place during a meeting between the governors and the party’s National Working Committee (NWC) at the APC national secretariat in Abuja.
While the details of the closed-door meeting remain undisclosed, it was part of the ongoing consultations regarding the party’s zoning arrangement for the leadership of the 10th National Assembly. Governor Uzodinma refrained from discussing the National Assembly leadership directly, emphasizing the party’s commitment to engage and convince stakeholders.
Governor Uzodinma assured that the PGF would collaborate closely with the party’s leadership to implement its policies and programs. He emphasized that the government, both at the federal and sub-national levels, is led by the APC and that the forum’s purpose is to bolster the party’s activities and the government’s agenda. Governor Uzodinma expressed confidence in the capabilities of the APC governors to effectively market the government’s policies, stressing the party’s dominance and its commitment to delivering on its manifesto promises.
Regarding the removal of fuel subsidy, the newly appointed PGF chairman acknowledged that all the presidential candidates during the 2023 campaigns had pledged to eliminate fuel subsidy. He highlighted that the focus now is on implementing the program in a manner that minimizes the burden on the people, expressing trust in President Muhammadu Buhari’s ability to make decisions in the best interest of the nation.
APC National Chairman, Abdullahi Adamu, addressed the governors, acknowledging the challenging times the country is currently facing after the removal of fuel subsidy. He urged the governors to align their actions with the APC manifesto and tackle the specific challenges in their respective states head-on, despite the prevailing circumstances.
The meeting was attended by several APC governors, including Uzodinma (Imo), Mai-Mala Buni (Yobe), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Mohammed Bago (Niger), Uba Sani (Kaduna), Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Nasir Idris (Kebbi), and Dapo Abiodun (Ogun).
The APC chairman assured the governors of the party’s full cooperation and encouraged them to seek advice when needed. He emphasized that they bear the responsibility of governing their states and understanding the challenges faced by the people, while also acknowledging the support provided by President Buhari.
Adamu expressed gratitude to the attending governors and announced that another meeting would be scheduled soon to discuss governance issues with the federal government.