The fight for the control of the Nigeria
Governors’ Forum between Rivers Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, and Plateau
Governor, Jonah Jang, took a different turn on Friday as pro-Ameachi
governors, represented by Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola, went to
court to stop Jang from parading himself as the chairman of the NGF.
Fashola, who filed the suit at the
Federal Capital Territory High Court in his capacity as a member of the
forum, asked the court to declare that Jang is not competent to be
called the elected chairman of the NGF.
Apart from Jang, other defendants in the
suit are the Director-General of the NGF, Asishana Okauru; the Sole
Administrator purportedly appointed by Jang, Osaro Onaiwu, and the
Registered Trustees of the NGF vested with the power to administer and
manage the trusts of the NGF.
In the writ of summons filed by a former
Lagos Attorney General, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and former West
African Bar Association President, Femi Falana (SAN), Fashola maintained
that 35 governors participated in the election that returned Amaechi as
the NGF chairman.
He, therefore, asked the court to stop
Jang from parading himself “as the elected chairman of the NGF in any
manner whatsoever and howsoever.”
Fashola is also seeking a declaration
that the first defendant (Jang) is not competent to relocate the
secretariat of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum from No. 1, Deng Xiaoping
Street, Off AIT Junction, Asokoro Extension, Abuja to No. 2, Nana Close,
by Ene Crescent, Off Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja or to any other place.
The plaintiff revealed that Okauru had
been under pressure from Jang to handover the assets and documents of
the NGF to him (Jang).
He therefore asked the court to declare
that Okauru “is not competent to handover the assets and documents of
the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to the first defendant, his agents, privies
and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.”
Apart from these, the Lagos State
governor also asked the court to declare that the second defendant
(Okauru) is not competent to use the name Nigeria Governors’ Forum in
respect of any other organisation which does not have the 36 governors
as members and/or in any other manner inconsistent with the constitution
of the governors’ forum.
He is also seeking an Order of Perpetual
Injunction restraining Okauru from handing over the property and
documents of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to Jang, his agents, privies
and servants in any manner whatsoever and howsoever.
In addition to these, Fashola asked for,
“an Order of Injunction restraining the third defendant from parading
himself as the Sole Administrator of the forum in any manner whatsoever
and howsoever.”
In the statement of claim, Fashola stated that he would rely on the NGF’s registered constitution at the trial.
He averred that the election into the
post of the chairman of the NGF took place at the Rivers State Lodge,
Asokoro, Abuja on Friday, May 25, 2013.
“The governors of Abia, Adamawa,
Anambra, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Bayelsa, Benue, Borno, Cross River, Delta,
Ebonyi, Edo, Ekiti, Enugu, Gombe, Imo, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina,
Kebbi, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Nasarawa, Niger, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, Oyo,
Plateau, Rivers, Sokoto, Taraba, and Zamfara states took part in the
said election.
“The four candidates who submitted
nomination forms for the election were the governors of Bauchi, Katsina,
Plateau and Rivers states. The nomination forms will be relied upon at
the trial of this suit. Before the said election, the governors of
Bauchi and Katsina states withdrew from the election leaving the contest
for the governors of Plateau and Rivers states. Thereafter, the 35
governors voted for the candidates of their choice.
“At the end of the voting, the Governor
of Rivers State, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, scored 19 votes while his
rival, the Governor of Plateau State, Mr. Jonah Jang, scored 16 votes.
“Consequently, Governor Chibuike Rotimi
Amaechi of Rivers State was declared the winner of the election. At the
trial of this suit, the plaintiff will rely on the video recording of
the election which has been broadcast by the AIT and Channels Television stations.”
The Osun State Governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola, told SUNDAY PUNCH on Friday that pro-Amaechi governors were fully behind Fashola.
Speaking through his Commissioner for
Special Duties and Regional Integration, Mr. Ajibola Basiru, Aregbesola
said Fashola, as a member of the NGF, had the right to challenge any
illegality by the forum.
Aregbesola said, “Any action to further
entrench democracy is supported by Osun. This suit is one of such
actions. Jang’s action is ridiculous. Recent developments have shown
that he didn’t win the election.
“When he wanted to inaugurate the
forum’s secretariat in Abuja, he sent invitation cards to governors and
only 16 governors, including himself, honoured the invitation. If you
truly won an election and you feel you are being denied your mandate,
you go to court. You don’t resort to self-help.”
Similarly, Governor Kayode Fayemi of
Ekiti State said he was fully in support of his Lagos State counterpart
action’s to stop the pro-Jang governors from operating through the court
action.
Fayemi, who spoke through his Chief
Press Secretary, Mr. Olayinka Oyebode, said Amaechi won the NGF election
which was credible and that the opening of another secretariat was
illegal.
He said, “Mr. Governor is fully in
support of the court action. He is aware of it and he is throwing his
weight behind Governor Fashola on this matter.”
Reacting to Fashola’s court action, the
Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Prof. Shedrack Best, said if
pro-Amaechi governors were in the majority, there was no need for a law
suit.
“If Governor Fashola claims that his
camp has the majority, he does not need to go to court. Let him call
them and showcase them.”
Ondo State Governor, Olusegun Mimiko,
who is in Jang’s camp, also said governors were free to stop being
members of the forum “because it is a free association.”
He said, “We are not proud of what has
happened. We are saying we must sit for what is just. It is an
association of equals. It is a voluntary association. Anybody can pull
out without any consequences.
“A situation where a chairman of a forum of equals decided to contest election while holding the position is not right.
“Some of us argue that he (Amaechi) was
there by consensus and we expected that he should step down. Immediately
he indicated his interest, I said he must dissolve the house then elect
a pro tem chairman. Yes, it has always been a consensus issue and we
know that the PDP endorsed Jang. If somebody planted a camera somewhere
because it was his own house or because of lack of respect for others,
it is too bad.”
Efforts to speak with the Publicity
Secretary of the PDP, Mr. Olisa Metuh, on Friday were futile. When one
of our correspondents called him on the phone, there was no response
from Metuh. Subsequent calls made to his phone were not picked.
Jang who is believed to have the backing
of President Goodluck Jonathan had lost the chairmanship election to
Amaechi by 19 votes to 16.
He, however, refused to accept defeat and instead proclaimed himself as the authentic chairman of the forum.
Jang also appointed a sole administrator in place of the director-general of the forum.
Few days after Amaechi won the election with the support of opposition governors, the PDP suspended him as its member.
Jang’s faction of the NGF also opened a parallel secretariat in Abuja on Thursday.
PUNCH
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NGF free association... Good point. Why didn't Gov. Amaechi step down first before recontesting in d election? It was against d spirit of fairness and equity. He cannot be an umpire in his own game. Why is he crying foul now?
ReplyDelete@ anon 5.03am,u are a mooron.where in this country has any incumbent stepped down for an election he iss participating in..all d govs never stepped down when they contested for their 2nd term, I beg to be corrected
DeleteOde ni e. Do incumbent step down when contesting for elections..did d govs themself step own when seeking 2nd term in office. Get ur facts right
DeleteThat's not in the NGF's constitution. Will Jonathan and all governors step down before 2015 general elections? Is that a new rule in PDP?
Delete. . . Heeeeeey, this one na Padi-Padi Government. Well, lets see if justice would prevail. PDP is too power-desperate.
ReplyDeleteThen why don't the president step down before re contesting.
ReplyDeleteGood for them.
ReplyDeleteRiggers are complaining about rigging.
ReplyDeleteSomebody shuld pls ask Mimiko d date he stepped down bfr d Ondo gubernatorial election dat just took place.
ReplyDeleteBecoming a vice chairman of an illegal faction has suddenly bcm his aspiration. He is jst one of my most recent disappointment. Hmmm
@Anonymous, did Goodluck step down when he contested for Presidenty, did any of the Governors step down when they contested!!!!Common sense
ReplyDeleteAbi oo! Pls smebdy shuld ask dem if dey stepped dwn bfr contesting their re-election.
ReplyDeleteWhat I don't understand is that President Jonathan is supporting such ilegality. This is an embarazment to our national image. It is an insight into what PDP truely is. I am dissapointed in them and I wonder how 2015 election will be with all these bad loosers. God help Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteWhen has NGF become a government of its own?
ReplyDeleteAs for me, I don't see the forum different from any free association or club. And they should for no reason compare themselves or empower themselves as a A SPECIAL ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT.
I think Mimiko has given the way forward,
1. It is just a free association that PDP is over empowering and giving undue publicity
2. If they cannot operate as an association, it should be dissolved
3. If not, it will soon become another Arm of Government in Nigeria for the majority PDP to abusively gain control and further their evil desire in Nigeria
God will surely scatter every gathering that will not work for good of the poor masses of Nigeria. And if their focus is corruption, the Lord will confuse them and break them into more factions with more chairmen, two chairmen is just the beginning
Govnr Amaechi did not n cannot declare any interest. What was mettedout to him is injustice in d highest order. He won d election n d President shld better support him b4 he d President loses his credibility with d masses. Nobody can full us with any form of propaganda or politics. Former President Obasanjo didnot wrestle power with d Governors why GEJ? LEAVE THEM N DO UR WORK AS PREDIDENT!!!!.
ReplyDeleteWat a world?? D son of a fisherman 4rm Otueke has suddenly bcum power-drunk dat he nw 4got hw he went 2 sch wit torn clothes, witout sandals & no sch bags. I regret dashing GEJ my wonderful vote, it 'll neva happen again.
ReplyDeleteChief Awolowo mst b ashamed & disappointed of having some 1 like 'milkos' sori Mimiko as a tribesman. (The black sheep of d family ). Bravo Gov. Fashola !!!
Anonymous is an uneducated moron and fools. May be we ask Jonathan u are supporting to step down in Aprin 2015. Idiot like his mentor fisherman who want to turn himself to lord.
ReplyDeleteGEJ is trying Ď„̅☺ bring back Ď„̅☺ flame d effort of Musa Yar adua
ReplyDeleteWhat an insolence all because of second term agenda
I am most disappointed with gov Mimiko bcos he is in a wrong camp. I wonder what has come upon him! Did he or any of his cronies step down before they were elected the second time? second what has GEJ done to warrant his second tenure. Though I didnt vote but I was solidly behind him then but I also will never make such a mistake again.
ReplyDeletePDp accept defeat and stop continuously embarrassing ur dent image. Weldone Gov. Fashola
ReplyDeleteIt is clear GEJ is not there for the poor masses, the position has entered his head,mimiko pls return home and leave this People Destroying People party. Fashola go on soun!!! Common association they cant run, how can they run Nigeria? Jang, give this tin to the winner i beg! Abah! Trash!!
ReplyDelete