Governor of Ekiti State, Ayodele Fayose, was absent as the governors of the states of the federation paid a visit to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Friday.
The governors visited Buhari to welcome him back from his over 100 days medical vacation in London.
It was the first time they were all meeting him together.
Their visit came shortly after the leaders of the All Progressives Congress, APC, and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, paid Buhari a similar visit.
However, during the visit, Fayose, known to be an unrepentant critic of President Buhari and his administration was absent.
During their visit, the governors expressed happiness with the way the president had treated them in general irrespective of their different party affiliations.
Speaking on behalf of his colleagues in his closing remark, the Governor of Ebonyi State, Dave Umahi, expressed gratitude to the president for the way he had treated them all.
His words: “As state governors we have so much to thank you for.
“You have treated all governors equally, irrespective of party affiliations.”
He said without his assistance to the governors in the areas of budget, Paris Club refund and agriculture, governance would have been difficult for them.
The governor also praised Vice President Yemi Osinbajo for acting with utmost patriotism while the president was away.
“In your absence, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo demonstrated high level of loyalty to Nigeria and Mr. President,” he said.
In his response, the president thanked the governors for finding time amidst their tight schedule to meet with him.
He also spoke well of Osinbajo.
“Indeed, I am grateful for the way Vice President Yemi deployed his energy and intellect to take charge while I was away.”
The governors were led to the president by Chairman, Nigeria Governors Forum, Abubakar Yari of Zamfara State.
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