Nigeria Governors’ Forum has hailed President Muhammadu Buhari for giving the country a new National Development Plan.
Speaking to State House Correspondents on behalf of his colleagues, shortly after the launch of the document on Wednesday, Kebbi State Governor, Atiku Bagudu, said the Development Plan 2021-2025 is all inclusive and would help the country consolidate on the gains of previous ones.
“Well, let me just clarify that I’m here to represent the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Governor of Ekiti State, Kayode Fayemi, who was unavoidably absent. And we congratulate the President for launching the 2021-2025 Development Plan as ably introduced by the Minister of National Planning.
“We have an economic recovery growth plan that expired last year, which has achieved the objective of, among others, helping Nigeria exit twice from recession. And now we have a plan in place for 2021-2025 that is further aimed principally at ensuring that the gains have been consolidated and Nigerians are being continuously included.
“This government more than any other has taken deliberate, active steps to include all economic groups and support them more than has ever been done in order that they achieved their economic objectives, in order that the country’s economy continue to provide for all and we will witness more prosperity. And we congratulate and I’m sure all of us in the 36 states and FCT are very, very happy,” he said.
The Governor told Journalists that all the States were duly consulted at all stages of producing the plan.
“We have been consulted by some of us who are members of the various committees. It’s a consultative program and we appreciate both the President and the Vice President because under them particularly the National Economic Council, which is the major economic decision making body of the Federation, has been quite inclusive and is not a monologue, states are being given the pride of place,” Bagudu added.
Commenting on a recent attack in his State, the Governor advised Nigerians to be cautious about security issues.
“I think Nigerians; we have to be contextual, about security issues. We are part of the human race and as long as the problem is not solved, anywhere, you cannot escape it sometimes.
“Many gains have been made, that is the thing but there will always be that isolated or sporadic issue somewhere, what is important is for us to strengthen each other, strengthen our communities, support our communities, support our security agencies, support measures that will ensure that we will dominate rather than those who do not wish us well,”he said.
On the chances of his party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2023, the Governor was emphatic that the party will soar high.
He said: “First, let us know that the distinction between democracy and possibly other forms of government is that there will be differences of opinion and the hope that such differences of opinion will from time to time bring out the best or move society forward.
“We have been a party that recognizes that there will never be one voice. And we don’t pray that there will be one voice. We pray that people should be able to express themselves, bring different ideas, even when they conflict those ideas within the systems created by the democracy sit and iron them out.
“To suggest that because there is dissent or differences in opinion, that it will affect the portion of our party, I think that is quite far-fetched. We are a party that recognizes that for us to continue to deliver, we must debate, we must compete, and we must bring ideas to government. But mind you, remember that particularly in the last two years under the current caretaker committee Chairman, Mai-Mala Buni, three serving Governors, one serving Deputy Governor, a number of serving Senators, members of the National Assembly former this, former that have joined the party. And that is the best evidence that this party is continuing to deliver on the promises that Nigerians have trusted us with, under the leadership of President Muhammadu Buhari.”
Nnenna.O
