President Muhammadu Buhari on Tuesday night met with the expanded national caucus of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to discuss issues concerning the party and the state of the nation’s economy.
Briefing State House correspondents after the meeting, which started around 8.35 p.m. and lasted for about four hours, the APC National Chairman, Mr John Odigie-Oyegun, said the meeting also discussed the challenges facing the APC-led federal and state governments.
According to him, the meeting also deliberated upon the more effective and efficient ways of implementing the 2016 budget, when finally approved by the National Assembly.
“Basically we are expecting the budget to be out and once the budget is out implementation of our promises to Nigerian people will begin and these are all the issues or part of the issues which we discussed and that are what is critical to us, delivering on our promises to the people of this nation.
“So, we are waiting for the budget.
“As a party and as a caucus, we discussed all the issues and all challenges that have occurred since elections and decided on a course of action.”
On the recovered stolen funds, the chairman stated that the funds would be expended judiciously through necessary legislative approval, as and when necessary.
He said that the president would soon address the nation on how much was recovered.
Odigie-Oyegun dismissed the insinuation that his position as APC national chairman was under threat.
He announced that the party had appointed groups to look into political crises facing the APC across the states of the federation.
According to him, the crises are normal and are being resolved by the national leadership of the party.
Those who attended the meeting included Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo, Senate President Bukola Saraki, Speaker, House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara, and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar.
Others at the meeting were caucus members of the party, including the former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, many serving and past state governors as well as National Assembly members. (NAN)