Dwindling allocations worrisome, say APC govs

Governors of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on Wednesday expressed concern over dwindling revenue from the federation account.

Rochas Okorocha, governor of Imo state, said the governors, who met in Ilorin, Kwara state, were worried that some states were finding it difficult to pay salaries.

He said: “We looked at the dwindling revenue from the FAAC to the states on a monthly basis. This has made   it difficult for most states to pay salaries.

“This has become of a very serious concern to us as governors and we felt that issues that affect the lives of our people must never be politicised.

“We refuse to accept that this nation is broke. I thank God that the federal government is not broke and   if the nation is not broke, what is due to the states as revenues should be paid to them.

“This idea of cutting down what should go to states does not in any way promote democracy and democratic dividends. So, we, as progressive governors, do call on the federal government to look into the issue of dwindling resources or convince us as to why the states should not get what is due to them.

“We do not know why our colleagues in the PDP are not talking about this matter.”

The APC governors also declared their support for consensus method as one of the ways to produce the party’s presidential candidate and candidates for other elective offices.

The party however added that it would not impose any presidential aspirant of the party on its leadership during the forthcoming presidential primary of the party.

“There will be no imposition of candidate in our party because our forum has not adopted any candidate. We shall encourage consensus and dialogue within the leadership of the party  and aspirants to see how we come up with a candidate but where that is not possible, like true progressives, we shall have a free and fair primaries from the APC.

“Our forum is in full support of consensus as one of the ways to produce our presidential candidate or any candidate in the party for as long as it is done with regards to respect to internal democracy,” he said.

While encouraging Nigerians to pray for a successful, free and fair general election in 2015, Okorocha said that APC was prepared to provide the presidential candidate that would liberate the country from its present condition.

The forum also honoured Kayode Fayemi, former governor of Ekiti state, holding  a valedictory session for him.

The APC governors in attendance were Abdulfatah Ahmed of Kwara state, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Kashim Shettima of Borno state, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe state, Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano state, Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state and Rochas Okorocha of Imo state who doubles as the chairman of the forum.

Members of the Progressive Governors Forum who were absent include Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, Aliyu Wammakko of Sokoto state, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun, Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state, AbdulAzeez Yari of Zamfara state and Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state.