President Muhammadu Buhari has served governors owing salaries a red card ahead of the March 2, governorship election. Buhari, who is also seeking re-election on the platform of the governing All Progressives Congress (APC), urged the voters to consider competence in exercising their franchise.

The president, who disclosed this on the Hausa service of the Voice of America, which was aired yesterday morning, said he saw no justification in governors collecting bailout funds from the Federal Government and still failing to pay wages.

The president was quoted as saying: “I wonder how these governors are able to sleep knowing that they have refused to pay workers their wages.

“These workers have families to cater for, they pay rent, pay school fees, hospital bills and food for their families.”

Buhari said the Constitution gives governors the independence to spend their funds without interference and that is why some are abusing that privilege by refusing to work for the people. The president advised Nigerians to use their voting rights to make sure that they only vote for people who would deliver.

On the fight against corruption, which is a cardinal programme of his administration, the president said unlike before, he now uses democratic means.

He said being democratic in fighting corruption is slow but assured that the objectives will eventually be achieved.

•Excerpted from a Daily Sun report