Why governors met with President, by Kefas
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has given reasons for the recent meeting between the governors and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. The President met with the governors last Thursday evening, giving
Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas has given reasons for the recent meeting between the governors and President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The President met with the governors last Thursday evening, giving them the authority over the process of candidates’ selection.
The move, political analysts noted, may affect lawmakers who had hoped they would secure automatic return tickets to national and state assemblies.
For lawmakers who may currently have strained relationships with their governors, their fate may be hanging in the balance.
Addressing reporters in Lagos at the weekend, Kefas said the governors’ meeting with the President was aimed at strengthening governance and ensuring that policies remain people-centred across the country.
According to him, the discussions centred on how to promote stability and prevent unnecessary political tension as Nigeria heads to the polls next year.
“Our meeting with Mr. President was to make sure that we have a system that is people-oriented. To have a system that will work. And we don’t want to overheat the system,” he said.
The governor explained that the meeting provided an opportunity for consultations and consensus-building among political leaders.
“So, that’s why we are trying to discuss, to deliberate, to find a way on how to make things work without problems, just like the way we did the congresses and the convention,” Kefas said.
He dismissed speculations of conflicts among governors and federal lawmakers, saying the discussions were a part of routine political engagements.
“It’s politics. Governors are not fighting with anybody,” he said.
But Kefas faulted some lawmakers’ governance style, saying some of them only remember their constituents when an election is approaching
“Some of them, it is only when an election is coming that you see them coming around. In fact, they’re supposed to be more in their constituencies and go to Abuja when they have meetings. But a lot of them go and sit down there (in Abuja). They don’t go home,” Kefas said.
