Kebbi State Governor, Senator Atiku Bagudu, has said that governors are not at loggerheads with National Assembly members over the amendment of the Electoral Act to accommodate direct primary for all political parties as was being insinuated.
Bagudu said the divergent views being exhibited by the governors and federal lawmakers on the matter of direct primary was just democracy in action.
This was as his Sokoto State counterpart and Vice Chairman, Nigeria’s Governors Forum (NGF), Aminu Tambuwal, has canvassed for oneness among Nigerians irrespective of party, ethnicity, and religious inclination.
Bagudu and Tambuwal accompanied by the Jigawa State, Abubakar Badaru spoke at various locations in Ekiti State on Friday, while commissioning road projects initiated by Governor Kayode Fayemi to mark the third anniversary of his administration.
The roads are the Ijan-Igbemo-Ilupeju, Aramoko-Erinjiyan, and Oye-Ayede-Isan-Otun roads.
Speaking about development and party politics, Bagudu said: “We are very proud of the achievements of Governor Fayemi in Ekiti. He has initiated quality projects that can stand the test of time for his people and this is a hallmark of a good leader.
“I had also spoken about the issue of direct primary severally. The divergent opinions we had was democracy in action. The governors and the people had shown their concerns and that was what we did.
“We are not fighting the parliamentarians or anybody over direct primary, we were just making our views and concerns known on the matter”.
Tambuwal, the Chairman of the People’s Democratic Party Governors’ Forum, had while commissioning Aramoko-Erinjiyan road, said Nigerians should associate freely with one another regardless of political inclinations, religion and ethnicity.
“The fact that good governance knows no political party makes me come down from Sokoto State to celebrate with my brother, Governor Fayemi to commission this road.
“You can see how we relate with each other and ourselves, it is about our people. Road infrastructure has value addition in the lives of our people, this is a good road project.
“Governor Fayemi even said it was constructed by a local contractor; this is good because we have to build the local contractors even when we patronise the multinationals.
“This road is important for the growth of agriculture, tourism, commerce, and transport. We also know the value of the Ikogosi warm spring in the tourism development of this country. This road will make it easy for us to access tourism for people all over the globe, this is nothing but good governance.
“The fact that Governor Fayemi is providing good leadership has made the other 35 governors under NGF have confidence in his leadership and personality”.
In his remarks, Governor Fayemi said the commission of the road projects was part of the fulfilment of his campaign promises in 2018 to the people of Ekiti State that he would make road Infrastructure a priority.
He said his relationship with Governor Tambuwal should be a lesson to other Nigerians that leadership should be about the development of a country and its people and not about politicking alone.