Governors elected under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) yesterday raised the alarm over the worsening economic situation in the country; they advised the incoming government to set up a strong economic team to address the challenge.

The progressive governors, who met with the president-elect Muhammadu Buhari yesterday at Defence House, Abuja, described the worsening economic situation as worrisome.

The governors had also met on Monday at the Imo State governor’s lodge, Asokoro, where they fine-tuned their position which they would present to the president-elect.

Addressing journalists shortly after the meeting, chairman of the Progressive Governors’ Forum and governor of Imo State, Rochas Okorocha, said the challenges facing the incoming government were enormous and needed to be tackled head-on. He lamented the inability of some state governments to pay the arrears of salaries due to lack of money in the treasury.

He said: “We came here to pay a courtesy call on the president-elect, who will be sworn in on the 29th of this month as the president and commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and also to familiarise ourselves, both the new governors and the governors-elect.

“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 (salaries owed) will be three months. 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.”

While assuring the president-elect of their support Okorocha said: “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.”

Asked if they were able to suggest to the president-elect the measures he should take to turn around the economy in the shortest possible time, he stated: “What we have done so far is to inform him about it (the economic situation) and we gave useful suggestions. I think Mr President (referring to Buhari) will come up with a know-how team that can arrest the ugly situation.”

Speaking on the issue of power sharing and ministerial appointments he said: “That is too early to discuss, but as a party we shall all work together to make sure that equitable distribution of positions and infrastructure in Nigeria.”

Governors and governors-elect present at the meeting include Rochas Okorocho,Imo; Tanko Al Makura, Nasarawa; Rauf Aregbosohola, Osun; speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambawal, Sokoto; Abdufattah Ahmed, Kwara; Sen Atiku Baguda,Kebbi; Nasir el-Rufaai, Kaduna; Abubakar Ganduje,Kano; Simon Lalaong, Plateau; Sen Bindow Jibrila, Adamawa; Bar Abubakar Mohammed, Bauchi; Kasim Shetima, Borno, and Niger State deputy governor-elect, Kakangi.

Also at the meeting were the APC national chairman, Chief John Oyegun and vice president-elect Prof Yomi Osibanjo.

Governors and governors-elect absent were those of Lagos, Edo, Ogun, Oyo, Kano, Rivers, Benue , Katsina and Jigawa .

In his response, Buhari pleaded with the APC governors to give the incoming government a chance to rebuild the country’s treasury.

Buhari said: “Thee expectation is too high and I have started nervously to explain to people that Rome was not built in a day. If we can bring back the treasury; and the salary not being paid in spite of the revenue we earned from 1990 till date, for this to be corrected, please give the incoming government a chance.

“Here, I’d like to recall what happened during the Abacha regime which led to the emergence of PTF. The Abacha regime was a military regime and it thought that the only way was to increase the prices of petroleum products, but they were not taking Nigerians for a ride. They would have said that if Nigerians decide too riot, they had the guns and so they can have their way. They decided to tell Nigerians that they were going to increase prices of petroleum products and the money we get, we will put aside for development. That was how PTF came.

“So, this time around, under this system, to bounce back with the issue, especially with the backlog of salaries which are of immediate concern to individuals and states, I think we should look for a better way to address the issue and think of how to persuade people to give us a chance to organise the economy immediately and get something to pay salaries.”

The president-elect further averred that while security remains his first agenda, because if there is no security, there is no development, when he assumes office, he will make sure the people “give us a chance to stabilize the security.”

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