By Salisu Sani-Idris
President Bola Tinubu warns that he will intervene if governors refuse to comply with the Supreme Court judgment on Local Government autonomy.
Tinubu issued the warning on Friday night while addressing the 15th National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting of the All Progressives Congress (APC), held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
He stressed that the Supreme Court remained the nation’s highest legal authority and insisted that governors must comply with and respect its judgment on local government autonomy.
” The Supreme Court has carved it for you; it says give them their money directly.
“So, if you wait for my executive order because I have the knife, I have the yam, I will cut it.
” Before FAAC, we will do the arithmetic, we know the percentage and I will send it to their accounts. I am just being very respectful and understanding with my governors.
” Otherwise, if you don’t start to implement it FAAC after FAAC, you will see deduction from the source, ” President Tinubu said.
On the State Police, Tinubu directed the National Assembly to summon the Inspector General of Police to look into the ramification to institute controls and prevent abuses.
” We are going for State Police. We will do the Forest Rangers, we will arm them. We will defeat those terrorists and bandits. We must, ” the President said.
Speaking on the APC e-membership registration, Tinubu urged the leadership of the party to ensure fairness in the exercise, saying ” allow it, don’t elbow, don’t shut the door against the people.
” You are in charge now, if you fail to do so, we will take it away. We know how to do it. We will do it on your behalf, ” he said.
Earlier, Vice-President Kashim Shettima, acknowledged the role of President Tinubu in building culture of opposition that brought APC to power, adding that ” APC is fortunate that President Tinubu is not in opposition today.
” Long before power calling, he stood when it was unfashionable to stand. Organised when it was dangerous to organise and funded democracy when silent was silver.
” He ( Tinubu) is the kind of fighter you pray never stand across the ring from you twice.
“His experience is not just history, it is the armor of this party forged in resistance, sharpen by survival and perfected by victory,” Shettima said.
Also, the National Chairman of APC, Prof. Nentawe Yilwatda, said the party remained united, resilient and forward-looking with strong roots throughout the six geopolitical zones.
He assured that the party would consolidate its progress and continue to provide meaningful leadership to Nigerians with unwavering support.
Yilwatda reiterated the party’s steadfast backing for the bold and comprehensive reforms being implemented by President Tinubu’s administration. (NAN)