In the spirit of national unity, Governors Atiku Bagudu of Kebbi and Muhammad Badru Abubakar of Jigawa state, on Saturday, paid their Cross River State counterpart, Professor Ben Ayade a Christmas visit.
Also on the entourage of the governors was former Jigawa Governor, Saminu Turaki and Chairman of the Board of TETFund, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim Imam.
Governor Bagudu described Ayade as a dear brother and colleague whose achievements were worthy of celebration.
According to him, “we came to felicitate his Excellency, Governor Ben Ayade and the people of Cross River State. We are here to show respect to a very dear friend and colleague who has proved himself worthy of being respected.
“Despite the distance, we were desirous of coming to celebrate with him and show respect to him and the people of Cross River State and to celebrate his achievements.
“What has been happening in Cross River State is enough evidence that we have beacons of light across the land and that when we support them, greatness and Prosperity will come.”
Bagudu said the Progressive Governors’ Forum, which is the forum of Governors of the All Progressives Congress, APC, “holds him in high esteem and we are here on a personal relationship with Governor Ayade. We respect him; we celebrate his achievements and particularly, all of us in the Progressive Governors’ Forum, we reckon with his achievements and we pray that he will continue to go higher and higher.”
The Kebbi State Governor enjoined Nigerians to work towards building a country that holds a bright future for all.
“We have a great country, we should enjoy ourselves, we should work for a country of our future, our children and our great grand children. It is what President Buhari had been doing.
“We would work hard to overcome all challenges so that Nigeria can be greater so that it can take its rightful place among the comity of nations”, Bagudu said.
Responding, Governor Ayade said he was delighted to receive his colleagues from the North, describing their visit as good for the unity of Nigeria.
Read him; “This is why APC is a perfect example for the unity of this country. Here you have my brothers from the North coming to celebrate Christmas with us in Cross River. When you have Muslims from the North coming to fellowship and celebrate with us in the South on Christmas day, I think this is the biggest message this country must take home.”
The Cross River state governor reiterated his determination to sign into law, a grazing bill that is beneficial to both herders and farmers, adding, “this country can be united. This is why I made a very strong statement that I cannot legislate into illegitimacy, a trade of the people.
“People have been normad and herdsmen and have been moving about with their cattle. I cannot one day just make it Illegal. We are one people, one nation.”
He said the Governors’ visit on Christmas Day underscored “the APC government’s stand for the unity, indissolubility and indivisibility of the country.”
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