Almost 48 hours after governors under
the aegis of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum elected a new chairman, the
battle over the control of the 36 member body still rages.
On Saturday, the incumbent chairman of
the Forum, who is the Governor of Rivers State, Mr. Rotimi Amaechi and
his challenger, Plateau State governor, Mr. Jonah Jang, both claimed to
have won the poll.
The Director-General of the NGF, Mr.
Asishana Okauru, had on Friday announced Amaechi as winner of Friday’s
election after polling 19 votes to Jang’s 16.
Minutes after the announcement, the Akwa
Ibom State Governor and Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party
Governors’ Forum, Godswill Akpapio, addressed the press announcing
Jang’s victory.
A new twist was added to the drama on
Saturday, when Jang and members of the NGF who pledged allegiance to his
leadership held their inaugural meeting in Abuja.
After the meeting, Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko, who was introduced as vice-chairman, read a communiqué to the media.
Mimiko while reading the document said the meeting was attended by 18 governors.
He also noted that Jang as the new
chairman of the body had “vowed to unite members of the forum, work for
the interest of the forum and the country.”
The Ondo State governor, who spoke on
behalf of the group, said the forum re-stated its commitment to continue
being a platform for peer review and collaborative engagement with all
levels of governments.
He said the forum also “resolved to secure a befitting permanent secretariat outside any governors’ lodge.”
All the governors, who spoke at the end of the briefing, insisted that they endorsed Jang for the election.
Those who spoke were: Gabriel
Suswam(Benue), Liyel Imoke (Cross River), Akpabio, Yisa Yuguda, Shema
and Peter Obi (Anambra State).
While speaking on the issue, Akpabio
said, “Yesterday, even before the formal meeting of the governors’
forum, it was agreed the chairmanship of the forum be zoned to the PDP
which is the party with the largest number of governors in the forum.
“There was a meeting of the PDP
Governors’ Forum. The decision of the Northern Governors’ Forum was
announced and you need to know that as Nigerians, that chairmanship of
the forum should be two years in the South and two years in the North.
“That has been the resolution of the
governors. And so it was incumbent upon the northern governors’ forum to
meet to bring out the leadership before presenting it to the governors’
forum.
“Yesterday, Governor Aliyu Babangida who
is the chairman together with Governor Suswam of Benue came up with
Jang as the new chairman and presented him to the PDP governors’ forum
and accordingly, the PDP governors’ forum formally adopted Jang.
“The PDP Governors’ Forum would work with Jang as chairman and Mimiko as vice-chairman of the NGF.”
Liyel Imoke, who is the Chairman of the
South-South Governors’ Forum also said, “The South-South governors
participated in the process that led to the emergence of Jang.
“Of course the South-South had always
stood behind this administration, we will continue to do that and we
will continue to support the new chairman and his vice to succeed.
“We team up with the governor to make
sure that there is no bad signal in the governors’ forum and forge ahead
to ensure that we have a united country moving forward.”
Suswam, who is the vice-chairman of the
Northern Governors’ Forum added, “Yesterday (Friday), the meeting of the
northern governors unanimously adopted the new leadership led by Jang
and the northern governors are strongly behind the new leadership of the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum led by Jang and supported by Mimiko, the
Iroko.”
Similarly, Katsina State Governor,
Ibrahim Shema, who attended the meeting said, “Until yesterday (Friday)
morning, myself and Governor Yuguda of Bauchi and Amaechi of Rivers
scheduled to vie for the election.
“But in the interest of peace and
prosperity, we honoured the governors’ forum as myself and Yuguda
decided to step down to allow the Northern Governors’ Forum to produce a
candidate acceptable to all of us.
“And the northern governors on their own
decided to adopt a consensus candidate in the person of the Governor of
Plateau State who was presented to the PDP Governors’ Forum and was
graciously accepted and they applauded the effort of both myself and
Yuguda for making sure that the governors’ forum continue to serve the
interest of this nation.
“Our position is that we stepped down to honour this nation and this forum so that we can have a united front.”
In the same vein, “Yuguda said, “19 of them endorsed Jang.”
Answering questions on whether they were
sure that those who endorsed Jang voted for him during the election,
Mimiko said, “Go and ask those who claimed to have conducted election.”
Meanwhile, there was confusion in Rivers
State on Saturday as the Peoples Democratic Party in the state
recognised Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, as the new chairman of
the Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
The state PDP, had in a briefing with
journalists on Saturday in Port Harcourt, congratulated Jang on his
victory during the forum’s election on Friday.
State Publicity Secretary of the party,
Mr. Samuel Nwanosike, lauded the Chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum,
Godswill Akpabio, for his contribution towards ensuring that Jang
achieved victory during the exercise.
Likewise, Plateau State Commissioner for
Information and Communications, Mr. Abraham Yiljap, said the election
of Jang as the new chairman of the forum will convince all Nigerians
about the state of peace pervading in the state.
He said, “Jang will bring into the NGF a
sense of purpose and focus as he is the only governor in Nigeria who
has occupied that office four times in a lifetime and that sense of
purpose can be seen in how he has handled the affairs of the state,
especially during those turbulent days.”
Reacting to Mimiko’s position on the NGF election, Amaechi maintained that the election was transparent and he was the winner.
Amaechi, who spoke through the state
Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari,
said it was not possible to rig an election among equals, adding that
the exercise went on without any controversy.
On the position of the state PDP, the governor added that the party in Rivers State did not have the locus standi to speak on the conduct or outcome of the election since they were not members of the forum.
He said, “You don’t rig an election
among equals. You don’t rig an election and win by three votes. If
anybody should complain, it should be Amaechi because his opponent
picked the form few hours to the election.
“On the state PDP not recognising
Amaechi as the winner of the NGF election; the truth is the state PDP
has no locus standi on this matter. It is a matter among equals.
“I believe the governors who own the
forum know who their chairman is. The fact is that the people in Port
Harcourt and Rivers as a whole are excited over the victory.”
In a related development, Human rights
lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana, has berated governors opposing the re-election
of Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, as the chairman of the
Nigerian Governors’ Forum.
He said their stance amounts to self embarrassment because Amaechi’s victory complied with the forum’s electoral rules.
Governors in Amaechi’s camp include
Babatunde Fashola (Lagos); Babangida Aliyu (Niger); Kayode Fayemi
(Ekiti); Rauf Aregbesola (Osun); Abiola Ajimobi (Oyo); Ibikunle Amosun
(Ogun); Adams Oshiomhole (Edo).
Others are Aliyu Wamako (Sokoto); Rochas
Okorocha (Imo); Umaru Al-Makura (Nasarawa); Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano);
Sule Lamido (Jigawa); Kashim Shettima (Borno); Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe);
Abdul-Aziz Yari (Zamfara) and Murtala Nyako (Adamawa).
It was not clear as at press time who the Governor of Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari, was supporting.
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You cannot stand against the interest of your own people,, this fire will consume you Rotimi.
ReplyDeleteDearest Emex no fire anywhere will consume Rotimi this is just the rehearsal of what will shortly happen see the result APC 19 states PDP 16 states hahahahaaa. Emex what do you think a house divided among itslef will surely collapse. pdp has exusted our patience so let them gooooooooo.
DeleteShame to ALL our governors. Only 36 in number they cannot put their house in order. Only 36 in number, they cannot organize a credible election. How come an election involving only 36 people can be 'rigged'? How then can we trust them to give us credible elections in 2015. How are they doubting what their Director General announced as the result of the election. By the way how has this forum helped in developing this nation? How has it helped to solve our problems especially insecurity? Shame on you all. I weep for this nation. May God help us
ReplyDeleteI really don't understand what Emex was trying to say or can't you read it that Rotimi clearly won the election? I advise Jang & his group to bury their selfish interests, accept and work with the re-elected Chairman, Amaechi, to better the country.
ReplyDeleteThe NGF is a representaion of the politics played in d country.
ReplyDeleteThey thought that amechi might nt win, so they allowed the election to be held. Now, he won and they came up with rigging issues.
ReplyDeleteWell, my advise to akpabio is that he must not distroy all his good work with this NGF politice.
They should just allow amechi to continue, he has won the election
1. It is apparent that comments are not moderated. I am disappointed that comments like those of Rotanna Alozie have been allowed. People should leave printable comments that make positive contributions& not abusive words.
ReplyDelete2. It is obvious that the NGF is a divided house, otherwise how can its representative announce Amaechi as winner and Jang and his faction announce separately that he, Jang, is the winner? It is a pointer to the fact that Nigeria is really sick! Even our governors are not straightforward in their dealings with one another. No wonder Nigerians all over are suffering deprivations.
i d rather vote a lame and weak gej any day, anytime than vote in a northerner .they r so treacherous and sees power as their birth right.
ReplyDeleteon amaechi, his arrogance and stubbornness will be his undoing, his state university is the worst in this nation, all thanks to him on the imposition of charlatans at the hems of affairs.
The NGF is a mere forum not known to law or recognised by any law in Nigeria.The Governors are no more interested in delivering dividends of democracy to their people especially the second term Governors. They now delight in wasting our money on such things as the NGF which has never made any pronouncement on any serious national issue in this country. Allah will judge us.
ReplyDelete