Latest: Seven APC governors, urges President Buhari to contest for 2019 elections

Seven governors of the All Progressive Congress (APC) have asked President Muhammadu Buhari to contest for the presidential seat in 2019.

The governors held a meeting with the president today at the Aso Rock presidential Villa in Abuja.

Those present at the meeting are Nasir El Rufai of kaduna, Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano, Yahaya Bello of kogi and Abubakar Bello of Nicer states.

Others present at the meeting are Simon Lalong of plateau, Ibrahim Geidam of Yobe and Jibrilla Bindow of Adamawa state.

The governors, except Mr. Lalong of plateau state attended the Friday Muslim prayers with the president at the villa. They later had lunch together.

Mr. El-Rufai spoke briefly with journalist after the meeting, he said they were at the Villa because they are "politicians".

"Those of us you see here want the president to contest the 2019 election; we have no apologies for that, " he said.

"We believe in Mr. President, and on the plans he have, we want him to continue running the country in the right direction. People can speculate about 2019; we have no apologies."

Mr. El-Rufai told newsmen that the governors, mostly first termers, are all interested in "continuity and stability".

"We wang the president to continue with that, " he said.

Mr. El-Rufai said they were at the state house "by coincidence ".

" We went to pray and decided to felicitate with the President and we feel satisfied that anytime we see him, be is getting better and better.

On the ongoing strike by the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, over his decision to sack teachers, Mr. El-Rufai said his stands remain the same on the issue and that there is no going back.

He also added that the government's decision is a "well thought out position"

"It took us one and half year before we made the decision and we will not change it, " he said.

On the clash between labour leaders and security agencies on Thursday, the governor said he did not ask the police to stop the workers, saying "I was not even in Kaduna".

"Nobody is depriving them the right to protest, it's in the constitution, provided you don't take laws into your hands or violate the law," he said.

He however said there was concern over the volatile security situation in the country.

"And the last time they did such a thing they attacked the State House of Assembly, the legislature, for which they have filed criminal charges. So this is the concern, the concern is break down of law and order and not protest or strike, " he said. "They are free to do so but it will not change our position on the issue, it remain the same. "

Mr. El-Rufai said his government had already announced its decision to pay three months severance package to sacked teachers in line with the public service rule.

He also said that a provision has been made for those retiring to go through retirement training.

"Those that are interested in agriculture, we have reserved land for them to farm and those that want to go into trading, we have micro credit to support them " but they are not suitable as teachers". They can do other things and the government is ready to support them, " he said.

The governor of Kano State, Mr. Ganduje, who spoke briefly on the president handling the farmers/herders clashes, said the president had already held a meeting with key persons concerned and that "a suggestion has been put forward by the Minister of Agriculture concerning the (cattle) colony and I'm sure eventually that is the answer.