•Seek consensus candidate
Governors
elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party from the northern states
may have finally dumped the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor
Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, after several weeks of bickering over the
headship of the forum when his tenure ends in May.
elected on the platform of Peoples Democratic Party from the northern states
may have finally dumped the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Governor
Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State, after several weeks of bickering over the
headship of the forum when his tenure ends in May.
The
northern states’ PDP governors also rejected the presidency’s choice for the
NGF chairmanship, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, in favour of a
neutral candidate ahead of the election in May to choose a new chairman.
northern states’ PDP governors also rejected the presidency’s choice for the
NGF chairmanship, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State, in favour of a
neutral candidate ahead of the election in May to choose a new chairman.
This was
as the chairman of the newly-formed PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill
Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, took heavy fire from his colleagues over his
comments that he was on a mission to cleanse the “Judases and traitors” within
the NGF.
as the chairman of the newly-formed PDP Governors’ Forum, Governor Godswill
Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State, took heavy fire from his colleagues over his
comments that he was on a mission to cleanse the “Judases and traitors” within
the NGF.
Governors
of the 36 states of the federation have been divided over the leadership of
their forum following President Goodluck Jonathan’s indisposition to the
continuation of Amaechi as the forum’s chairman. An attempt by the pro-Jonathan
governors to remove Amaechi during a meeting of the forum on February 20
failed, as most of the governors sided with the Rivers State governor. But the
problem assumed more complicated proportions four days later, when Akpabio
emerged chairman of a new splinter group in the NGF, PDP Governors Forum. It
was formed during a meeting between Jonathan and the PDP governors, held at the
instance of the president at the State House, Abuja.
of the 36 states of the federation have been divided over the leadership of
their forum following President Goodluck Jonathan’s indisposition to the
continuation of Amaechi as the forum’s chairman. An attempt by the pro-Jonathan
governors to remove Amaechi during a meeting of the forum on February 20
failed, as most of the governors sided with the Rivers State governor. But the
problem assumed more complicated proportions four days later, when Akpabio
emerged chairman of a new splinter group in the NGF, PDP Governors Forum. It
was formed during a meeting between Jonathan and the PDP governors, held at the
instance of the president at the State House, Abuja.
The
formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum was an obvious measure to cut the ground
from under Amaechi’s feet ahead of the NGF election, where most of the
governors were thought to be readying to re-elect him.
formation of the PDP Governors’ Forum was an obvious measure to cut the ground
from under Amaechi’s feet ahead of the NGF election, where most of the
governors were thought to be readying to re-elect him.
THISDAY
gathered that the northern governors’ decision to abandon both Amaechi and
Shema was to avoid open confrontation with Jonathan, who already has a position
on the choice of a new chairman for the forum.
gathered that the northern governors’ decision to abandon both Amaechi and
Shema was to avoid open confrontation with Jonathan, who already has a position
on the choice of a new chairman for the forum.
At a
meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, attended by Shema and the governors of Jigawa
State, Sule Lamido; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako; Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari;
Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; Kogi State, Idris Wada;
and the deputy governor of Gombe State, the northern governors resolved to
present a candidate that would be acceptable to the larger body of governors.
meeting on Wednesday in Abuja, attended by Shema and the governors of Jigawa
State, Sule Lamido; Sokoto State, Aliyu Wamako; Kebbi State, Usman Dakingari;
Adamawa State, Murtala Nyako; Bauchi State, Isa Yuguda; Kogi State, Idris Wada;
and the deputy governor of Gombe State, the northern governors resolved to
present a candidate that would be acceptable to the larger body of governors.
The
meeting took place at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, but the state governor,
Gabriel Suswam, was not present. Suswam was said to have excused himself and
left the meeting when the northern governors in attendance, who were all
Muslims, except him, appeared to be preparing to hold their afternoon prayers
and requested to conduct the prayers together at the venue.
meeting took place at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge, but the state governor,
Gabriel Suswam, was not present. Suswam was said to have excused himself and
left the meeting when the northern governors in attendance, who were all
Muslims, except him, appeared to be preparing to hold their afternoon prayers
and requested to conduct the prayers together at the venue.
It was
learnt that as Suswam left his colleagues to enable them keep their religious
obligation, the prayer session was turned to an impromptu political meeting where
a decision was taken not to support Shema, who was also there.
learnt that as Suswam left his colleagues to enable them keep their religious
obligation, the prayer session was turned to an impromptu political meeting where
a decision was taken not to support Shema, who was also there.
The
northern governors in attendance promptly conveyed their decision to Shema.
According to a source, it was Darkingari who informed Shema of the position of
the governors before he was asked to briefly excuse them. The source said the
northern governors also took a decision not to support Amaechi.
northern governors in attendance promptly conveyed their decision to Shema.
According to a source, it was Darkingari who informed Shema of the position of
the governors before he was asked to briefly excuse them. The source said the
northern governors also took a decision not to support Amaechi.
A
governor who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said, “Basically, many
people have read different meanings into why the governors did not elect a new
chairman last Monday. The truth of the whole matter is that some of us, the
northern governors, believe that because of the crisis and controversy so far,
it is not in the interest of the forum to openly support the candidacy of
Governor Ibrahim Shema or support the continued stay of Governor Amaechi as the
chairman.
governor who spoke to THISDAY on condition of anonymity said, “Basically, many
people have read different meanings into why the governors did not elect a new
chairman last Monday. The truth of the whole matter is that some of us, the
northern governors, believe that because of the crisis and controversy so far,
it is not in the interest of the forum to openly support the candidacy of
Governor Ibrahim Shema or support the continued stay of Governor Amaechi as the
chairman.
“Common
sense tells us that both of them should go for a governor that is not biased to
be elected to become the new chairman, if the forum is to continue to have its
respect among the governors, particularly, the non-PDP governors.
sense tells us that both of them should go for a governor that is not biased to
be elected to become the new chairman, if the forum is to continue to have its
respect among the governors, particularly, the non-PDP governors.
“PDP has
the highest number of governors and, therefore, it would be fair not to do
anything that would suggest that the presidency has hijacked the forum.”
the highest number of governors and, therefore, it would be fair not to do
anything that would suggest that the presidency has hijacked the forum.”
He said
it was to preserve the dignity of the forum that the governors were seeking to
present a consensus candidate, explaining that it was “first to calm the
tension in the polity and, secondly, to allow the incumbent to complete his two
years tenure as chairman.”
it was to preserve the dignity of the forum that the governors were seeking to
present a consensus candidate, explaining that it was “first to calm the
tension in the polity and, secondly, to allow the incumbent to complete his two
years tenure as chairman.”
The
governor also said that some of his colleagues were already reaching out to
Amaechi to persuade him not to present himself for re-election, though he is
entitled to re-election.
governor also said that some of his colleagues were already reaching out to
Amaechi to persuade him not to present himself for re-election, though he is
entitled to re-election.
“What
some of us are doing is to provide a situation of no victor no vanquished for
both the presidency and Amaechi. The presidency is biased in supporting Shema
against Amaechi, therefore, the best way out is to ensure that both of them are
eased out through a consensus candidate that is acceptable to the forum.
some of us are doing is to provide a situation of no victor no vanquished for
both the presidency and Amaechi. The presidency is biased in supporting Shema
against Amaechi, therefore, the best way out is to ensure that both of them are
eased out through a consensus candidate that is acceptable to the forum.
“PDP has the highest number of governors and in the history of
the forum, we have never subjected ourselves to election of our chairman so far
and it is not in the interest of the governors to do so now. This is why some
of us are canvassing for a consensus chairman,” the governor disclosed.
He also said Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State was reaching out to the
other opposition governors to support the quest for a consensus candidate,
while the same idea is being pushed among the South-west governors.
the forum, we have never subjected ourselves to election of our chairman so far
and it is not in the interest of the governors to do so now. This is why some
of us are canvassing for a consensus chairman,” the governor disclosed.
He also said Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State was reaching out to the
other opposition governors to support the quest for a consensus candidate,
while the same idea is being pushed among the South-west governors.
“We hope
that between now and May when the election to choose the chairman of the forum
would hold, a consensus governor from the north would have emerged as the
chairman. Already, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum is from the
South-south state of Akwa Ibom and it would not be fair to have the chairman of
the forum coming also from the same zone.
that between now and May when the election to choose the chairman of the forum
would hold, a consensus governor from the north would have emerged as the
chairman. Already, the chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum is from the
South-south state of Akwa Ibom and it would not be fair to have the chairman of
the forum coming also from the same zone.
“The
appointment of Akpabio as chairman of the PDP governors is a tactical coup
against Amaechi because two of them are from the same zone,” the source said.
appointment of Akpabio as chairman of the PDP governors is a tactical coup
against Amaechi because two of them are from the same zone,” the source said.
Meanwhile,
the remarks by Akpabio describing his mission as one to weed “Judases from the
governors’ forum” are causing disaffection among the PDP governors. One of
them, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the comments by Akpabio were
counterproductive.
the remarks by Akpabio describing his mission as one to weed “Judases from the
governors’ forum” are causing disaffection among the PDP governors. One of
them, who pleaded anonymity, told THISDAY that the comments by Akpabio were
counterproductive.
He said,
“We have been receiving telephone calls among ourselves. We are asking, who are
the Judases that Akpabio is talking of. If is true that he said that, then it
is a careless talk and in the next meeting of the PDP governors, it will be
part of the agenda. Some of these talks tend to overheat the polity and,
therefore, cannot be tolerated.”
“We have been receiving telephone calls among ourselves. We are asking, who are
the Judases that Akpabio is talking of. If is true that he said that, then it
is a careless talk and in the next meeting of the PDP governors, it will be
part of the agenda. Some of these talks tend to overheat the polity and,
therefore, cannot be tolerated.”
Source: Thisday
