Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole yesterday said no state had received the ‘bailout’ cash yet.
He also said President Muhammadu Buhari was sad that some states could not pay salaries, adding that Buhari would deal with challenges.
Oshiomhole spoke to reporters at Sabongida-Ora in Owan West Local Government Area after attending a reception in honour of Inspector General of Police, Solomon Arase.
He explained President Buhari did not want to preside over a country whose workers were not paid salaries.
According to him, “who gets what has to be a matter of creativity, of priority and of proper costing and prudent management. The good news is that the President is there to stand by us beyond cash giving.”
Oshiomhole added: “Nobody has got any dime but there is always a time lag between when you conceptualise a solution, when you reach a conclusion and when it begins to manifest. No governor has got any money under the bailout but we are working together to see that it is done in a way that the benefit is a target group.
“The media has been occupied with bailout. There are conversations going on between the governors and the federal authorities and President Buhari has been positive in recognising that he doesn’t want to preside over a country whose workers are not paid.”
Oshiomhole, who also spoke about Buhari’s trip to the United States of America, said Nigerians would start seeing the benefit within the next 18 months.
He said: “Our visit was beautiful. I think in the history of our country, America has not felt the amount of warmth with a President. I have not seen an American President talking in the manner President Obama did. When a President says to you in the next 18 months, use me; we will go as far as you allow us to go because we recognise that if Nigeria’s problems are solved, the African continent will be stable. We fix Nigeria; we have fixed Africa.
“The world, using President Obama’s language, believes that our President is a man of integrity. It is about integrity. Once the people do not trust you It does not matter what your intentions are but if they trust you, they are more likely to follow you through challenges to claim ownership of the public policy you introduced in order to deal with the problems that confront us. Obama said they want to do less talking and more actions. The visit was good for Nigeria.”