Governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) have written President Muhammadu Buhari to express their grievances over the lopsidedness in his numerous appointments including the recent nomination of Ambassadors designate.
The decision is part of the agreement reached at an emergency meeting held between the APC governors and the president last week Monday at the presidential villa, Abuja. Governor of Benue State, Dr. Samuel Ortom, in an interview with State House Correspondents yesterday, disclosed that protest letters over the appointment issues were presently before the president for consideration. Ortom, however, insisted that it was the prerogative of Buhari to choose whomever he wants to serve in his government.
“It is the prerogative of Mr. President to do appointments, but where there is need, we always give support. We have written where we have reservations and it is being attended to,” the governor said. The issue of the ambassadorial appointments had featured prominently during the meeting with the president.
New Telegraph had exclusively reported that most of the APC governors are angry with the president for excluding them in the selection of the nomination of ambassadors designate whose names are currently with the Senate for confirmation. Most of the 23 APC governors are angry because they had no input as to who represents their respective states in the list of 46 ambassadorial nominees.
The source added that in instances where governors and party leaders were asked to submit nominees, their lists were not considered. Speaking on why he was at the presidential villa, Ortom explained that his meeting with the president was to help address some of the security challenges faced in the state.
He said the Benue State Government has been partnering with security agencies and have received support from the Federal Government to tackle the level of crime and clashes between herdsmen and farmers.
“We have been having security challenges, but thank God with the collaboration with some security agencies in my state and with the support of Mr. President, I can say that is relatively calm. Today, the issue of herdsmen and farmers we have been able to, through dialogue, agree to work together in a manner that there will be win-win,” Ortom said.
The Benue State governor noted that one of the best ways to end clashes between farmers and Fulani herdsmen was to adopt ranching. Ortom disclosed that the state was also planning the construction of Cargo Airport in Markudi to assist in the export of the huge agricultural produce from the state to other parts of the country and for export.
The airport project, according to him, will be executed through 85 per cent contribution from a consortium of private sector with Benue putting in 15 per cent. Also speaking on security issues, Governors Badaru Abubakar (Jigawa) and Ahmed Abubakar (Bauchi), who also met with the president, said they were making efforts to stop the excesses of Fulani herdsmen.
– New Telegraph
