APC alleges: Jonathan, PDP plan to empty treasury

By The Citizen

Governors on the platform of All Progressives Congress, APC, yesterday met with the President-elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, lamenting that the outgoing government of the People Democratic Party, PDP, would be leaving behind an empty treasury.

The governors also raised alarm that the Federal Government may not be able to pay salaries for April and May.

The APC governors led by their chairman, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State, disclosed that they have come to notify the incoming President about the parlous state of the economy.

Okorocha, who spoke after a closed-door meeting of the APC Governors Forum, noted that states have been finding it difficult to pay workers salaries as a result of the terrible state of the economy.

He said: 'One of the issues that became of concern to all of us is the state of the Nigerian economy which is really in bad shape.

'We have come to notify the incoming President of the challenges ahead of him. As it stands today, most states of the federation have not been able to pay salaries and even the Federal Government has not paid April salary and that is very worrisome.

'By May and June, that (salary) will be in cumulative of three months.

'Most governors are not able to pay salaries and there is no magic any governor can do to pay salaries under the present situation.

'We wonder with the huge expectation from Nigerians and people who have voted us into power, we are hoping that the President-elect will do whatever is humanly possible to bring about a bailout not only for the states but the Federal Government at least for people to get their salaries and turn around the economy.

'We have seen the reason to work together and support Mr. President and we have also called on all our brothers in other political parties to come along with us to build the Nigeria of our dream.'

Buhari, in his response, told the governors that the high expectation by Nigerians from his government is making him nervous.

'I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day,' he said.

The President-elect however maintained that security remains high on his agenda, noting that 'if there is no security, there is no development.'

He lamented what he called the destruction of social infrastructures especially education, but assured that he would do everything within his power to make sure every part of the country is safe.