Politics
APC Governors Call For Collaboration To Tackle Nigerian Cash Crisis
Amidst the ongoing cash crisis and controversy surrounding the naira redesign policy, All Progressives Congress (APC) governors held a crucial meeting with the party leadership in Abuja to discuss the situation and find a resolution.
At the important meeting held on Sunday at the national headquarters of the All Progressives Congress, no less than 10 governors were in attendance.
The meeting was between the state chief executives and the National Chairman of the party, Senator Abdullahi Adamu.
This significant gathering took place just one week before the presidential and National Assembly elections scheduled for Saturday, February 25th.
Several governors, including Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), Abdullahi Sule (Nasarawa), Muhammad Inuwa Yahaya (Gombe), Mai Mala Buni (Yobe), Abubakar Badaru (Jigawa), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger), Yahaya Bello (Kogi), Simon Lalong (Plateau), and Biodun Oyebanji (Ekiti), as well as members of the National Working Committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) were present at the meeting.
However, the absence of several governors, including Abdullahi Ganduje (Kano), Atiku Bagudu (Kebbi), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and most of their counterparts in the South, was noted.
In addition to the aforementioned attendees, representatives from the governors of Imo and Katsina states were also present.
The party’s presidential candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, later joined the meeting at 4.45pm.
Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, addressed journalists before the closed-door meeting on Sunday, stating that the meeting was important and an emergency.
He said “it is my privilege to welcome you to this important and emergency meeting. We have found a situation where there is a pressing need to get together as standard bearers of our states in Nigeria who were elected on the platforms of our great party, the APC.
The programme’s agenda included ‘Interactions’ and ‘Preparations for the general election,’ but according to Senator Abdullahi Adamu’s speech, the discussion also covered the current friction between the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), and some aggrieved governors over the naira redesign policy.
Over the last four weeks, this policy has caused considerable hardship for many Nigerians.
Contrary to an order of the Supreme Court that the Federal Government should suspend the February 10 deadline for swapping the old naira notes with new ones, the Central Bank of Nigeria refused to shift the deadline.
The apex court order followed a suit filed by Zamfara, Kogi and Kaduna state governments against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami.
States including Lagos, Ondo, Ekiti, Kano, Sokoto, Ogun and Cross River have also joined the suit as co-plaintiffs.
The situation was further exacerbated by the President’s declaration that only the old N200 should co-exist with the new naira notes. This policy has caused significant hardship for many Nigerians, with the recent protests being an expression of their frustration.
Following the President’s broadcast, Governor Nasir El-Rufai of Kaduna State addressed the people of his state, stating that the directive to reintroduce only the old N200 banknote was wrong and not a viable solution to curb the cash crunch in the country.
An angry Governor El-Rufai did not mince words during his address to the people of his state. He stated that the old N1,000 and N500 notes were still legal tenders in Kaduna state, and that the aim of the naira redesign was to scuttle the general election and pave the way for an interim government.
Following the conclusion of the APC NWC and governors’ meeting, which ended at 7:15 pm, journalists were invited into the venue, where the chairman addressed them regarding the outcome of the discussion.
During his address to journalists after the meeting, Senator Abdullahi Adamu lamented that while the naira redesign was a good move, the timing and pain it had caused Nigerians made it necessary for both the CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele, and the Attorney General of the Federation, Abubakar Malami, to avoid misleading the President.
He said, “I’m sure you are quite aware of the fact that a meeting comprising the APC governors was held today and the leadership of the NWC of our great party was summoned.
“We had a discussion and at the end of the discussion, we have resolved as follows: That this resolution is without prejudice or whatsoever to the case that is lying at the Supreme Court at this point in time. This has to do with the issue of currency redesign.
“That the meeting is urging his Excellency, Mr President, to intervene in resolving issues that are causing this great difficulties to the economy,”
According to reports, during the meeting, many of the governors present expressed their opinion that there was a need to urge the President to obey the court order.
According to a report, Governor Bagudu of Kebbi state, who spoke first after the chairman’s opening address, rallied other governors and the APC NWC to reject the CBN policy during the meeting.
The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has declared the removal of the reinstated Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, as illegal, unconstitutional, null, and void.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, the court also set aside all proceedings and resolutions passed by the House on January 13, 2025, the day Obasa was removed from office.
Obasa had dragged the Lagos State House of Assembly and Mojisola Meranda — who was appointed Speaker following his removal — before the court, challenging the legality of the action.
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In its ruling, the court held that the process leading to Obasa’s removal did not comply with constitutional provisions, rendering the exercise invalid.
The judgment effectively reinstates Obasa as the legitimate Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, while invalidating all legislative actions carried out during Meranda’s brief tenure.
With permutations for 2027 elections already play high on the cards of Nigerian politicians, Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo is banking on Edo and Delta States to team up and swing victory for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
Biztellers reports that his calculation is informed by the massive defection of notable politicians into the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in both States.
Gov Okpebholo made the assertion while welcoming the Chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Chiedu Ebie, who led the members of the Unity Group to join the APC.
Notable among other party stalwarts at the occasion were the National Chairman of the APC, Abdullahi Ganduje and the party’s South-South leaders.
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According to Okpebholo “just like Edo, Delta is ready to witness practical governance under APC.”
Beaming with joy, Gov Okpebholo added, “It is our turn to shine in the South South. It is now your turn in Delta. It is happening here, as it happened in Edo State. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is doing very well for the nation. He is repairing the foundation of the country for better prosperity. Because of that, in Edo State, we have started. We said 2027 is already possible. It is also possible here in Delta. I am here to welcome my brother, Chiedu Ebie.
“Chiedu is an intelligent young man who knows when to move. It is time for Delta to move, and it is starting here with Ika people.”
Receiving the decampees, Alh Ganduje, described the Delta Unity Group as great fighters of democracy, who have provided a strong vehicle that will lead APC to the Delta State Government House in 2027.
According to the APC national Chairman, “we have the three Senators now. We have members of the House of Representatives and State Assembly members, and over 60 percent of the followers of PDP have now joined the APC. We are assured of taking over this State come next election.
“We are not surprised because of the timber and caliber of politicians you have in Delta State in the APC. What we require now is unity. Unity of purpose and unity to win election. So we can provide quality governance to the people of Delta State.
“Very soon, we will organize a stakeholders meeting for all those major stakeholders because they are all good people. They are all wise people. They are all intelligent people, and they are all democrats. So, all of them will be convened for unity, like the Delta Unity Group.”
On his part, the Chairman of the NDDC Governing Board, Ebie, noted that their conviction to join the party was borne out of the love for good governance and party inclusiveness which the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has demonstrated.
Earlier, while at the Palace of the Dein of Agbor, Dr Benjamin Ikenchukwu, the Keagborekuzi the first, called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to ensure peace and security across the country for the needed development in the country.
Present at the rally were Senator representing Delta North, Ned Nwoko; Chairman House Committee on NDDC, Hon. Teke Ibori-Swenu; former Deputy Senate President, Omo Agege, among other party big wigs.
Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo has assured that his administration would do everything within its powers to take care of Edo State civil servants and make them happy.
He made the pledge on Friday when he received Executives of Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC), Edo State Chapter, led by its Acting State Chairman, Comrade Bernard Egwekhide.
Egwekhide said they were in Government House to congratulate the Governor on his recent victory at the governorship election tribunal that affirmed his victory in the September 21, 2024 governorship election.
On his part, the Governor said whatever Edo State workers are enjoying in the state is the responsibility of his administration to do because it is worker friendly.
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Okpebholo said, “Whatever we are doing, which is favouring Edo workers, is done because it is our responsibility as a government. Edo people voted for us to work for them, and that is what we are doing to ensure life is made better for our people, including the workers.
“We embrace transparency in all what we do as a government to enable the people to trust us as we are not afraid of criticism. Positive criticism will put us on our toes to work harder for Edo people.
“The renewed hope agenda of the president has given us room and platform to perform and serve Edo people better as we embark on practical governance.
“We are doing everything in the State to ensure peace, unity, growth, and development. That is why we ensure smooth collaboration amongst the three tires of government. In all we do in the State, we ensure the three Senatorial zones are carried along.”
The NLC acting chairman, Egwekhide, commended the Governor for his developmental strides and the friendly environment created for Edo State workers to operate.
He said the visit was necessary as the body had come to congratulate the Governor for his deserved victory at the election petition tribunal in Abuja.
According to him, “Workers in Edo State are proud of you for the developmental strides in the State. You have created a friendly relationship between your administration and Edo workers as you have always taken steps to favour Edo State workers.
“Without asking, workers received their 13th month. You raised the subvention of Ambrose Ali University (AAU) from N41 to N500 million. You regularized casual workers in Edo State. You increased what is due pensioners monthly from N50 million to N1 billion naira for both local and State pensioners.”
He noted that a committee has been set up to look into the compulsory pension scheme, which has become a burden on retired civil servants, adding that the report will be submitted to him for his action.
“We thank the governor for several employments given to our people in the very short time in office,” he added.
In a related development, Gov Monday Okpebholo also received the new branch controller, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Edo State, Apanke Utande who was on a courtesy visit to Government House, where the Governor urged him to collaborate with his administration to improve the lives of Edo people.
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