The
President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday night
cut the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, to size by splitting the forum into another faction called the
PDP Governors’ Forum.
President Goodluck Jonathan-led Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday night
cut the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), Governor Chibuike
Rotimi Amaechi, to size by splitting the forum into another faction called the
PDP Governors’ Forum.
Accordingly,
Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was unanimously elected as
chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors’ Forum. In a meeting well attended
by the PDP leadership, the governors under the party’s platform and President
Goodluck at House 7 of the presidential villa, Abuja.
Akwa Ibom State governor, Chief Godswill Akpabio, was unanimously elected as
chairman of the newly formed PDP Governors’ Forum. In a meeting well attended
by the PDP leadership, the governors under the party’s platform and President
Goodluck at House 7 of the presidential villa, Abuja.
Rivers
State Governor Amaechi, who was also present, later stormed out of the meeting.
State Governor Amaechi, who was also present, later stormed out of the meeting.
After
the meeting, which started at about 8pm and ended at about 12:05 this morning,
a very elated national chairman of the party, Bamanga Turku, led all the PDP
governors to address journalists after the president and vice president Namadi
Sambo had left the venue.
the meeting, which started at about 8pm and ended at about 12:05 this morning,
a very elated national chairman of the party, Bamanga Turku, led all the PDP
governors to address journalists after the president and vice president Namadi
Sambo had left the venue.
Tukur
said that the formation of the PDP Governors Forum was borne out of necessity.
said that the formation of the PDP Governors Forum was borne out of necessity.
“Let
me present to you the newly elected chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum,
Governor Godwill Akpabio,” he declared.
me present to you the newly elected chairman of the PDP Governors’ Forum,
Governor Godwill Akpabio,” he declared.
With
all the PDP governors in attendance and some PDP leaders standing behind him,
Akpabio said the party at the meeting decided to form its own governors’ forum
because of the emerging political trend in the country, citing the new
political merger, the All Progressives Alliance (APC), as the reason why PDP
decided to consolidate.
all the PDP governors in attendance and some PDP leaders standing behind him,
Akpabio said the party at the meeting decided to form its own governors’ forum
because of the emerging political trend in the country, citing the new
political merger, the All Progressives Alliance (APC), as the reason why PDP
decided to consolidate.
He,
however, stated that the new PDP governors’ forum would not in any way affect
the operation of the Nigeria Governors Forum, currently chaired by Rivers State
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also a PDP governor.
however, stated that the new PDP governors’ forum would not in any way affect
the operation of the Nigeria Governors Forum, currently chaired by Rivers State
Governor Rotimi Amaechi, who is also a PDP governor.
Asked
why the ruling party had to wait for 14 years before forming its own governors’
forum, he answered that things happen in line with current trends, noting that
even the new development called global warming had necessitated some measures
that were not there in the past.
why the ruling party had to wait for 14 years before forming its own governors’
forum, he answered that things happen in line with current trends, noting that
even the new development called global warming had necessitated some measures
that were not there in the past.
He
added that other parties, the ACN, CPC and APGA, could form their own
governors’ forum, and choose their own leaders.
added that other parties, the ACN, CPC and APGA, could form their own
governors’ forum, and choose their own leaders.
Akpabio
said that his election was borne out of the urgent need for the party to
re-strategise.
said that his election was borne out of the urgent need for the party to
re-strategise.
He
explained that the new body would not in any way.
explained that the new body would not in any way.
He
said the Governors Forum still subsist and other political parties also have
the right to form a similar organ.
said the Governors Forum still subsist and other political parties also have
the right to form a similar organ.
Denying
that there was a move to remove Amaechi, who was also at the meeting but later
left, from the position of Chairman of Governors Forum, Akpabio said, “There
was no move to remove the Rivers governor as chairman of the Governors’ Forum.
There was never a discussion to remove him. His tenure will end by April,
though he has the right to recontest.”
that there was a move to remove Amaechi, who was also at the meeting but later
left, from the position of Chairman of Governors Forum, Akpabio said, “There
was no move to remove the Rivers governor as chairman of the Governors’ Forum.
There was never a discussion to remove him. His tenure will end by April,
though he has the right to recontest.”
He
also denied that the new development would cause a crack in the larger forum,
saying: “There will be no crack. Other parties are also meeting. There will be
no crack but it will strengthen the forum”.
also denied that the new development would cause a crack in the larger forum,
saying: “There will be no crack. Other parties are also meeting. There will be
no crack but it will strengthen the forum”.
Earlier,
at about 7:30pm when the governors started trooping in, in good numbers to the
venue of the meeting, ministers of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke and her
aviation counterpart, Mrs Stella Oduah, were seen walking down to the venue,
with their security details, drivers and other aides following them.
at about 7:30pm when the governors started trooping in, in good numbers to the
venue of the meeting, ministers of Petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke and her
aviation counterpart, Mrs Stella Oduah, were seen walking down to the venue,
with their security details, drivers and other aides following them.
It
had been reported in the media that President Jonathan’s men were plotting to
remove Governor Amaechi as NGF chairman.
had been reported in the media that President Jonathan’s men were plotting to
remove Governor Amaechi as NGF chairman.
At
about 7:30pm, the governors started trooping in, in large numbers to the venue
of the meeting, but before journalists could start taking the roll call of who
and who were at the meeting, they were asked to leave House 7 on the ground
that it was a private meeting.
about 7:30pm, the governors started trooping in, in large numbers to the venue
of the meeting, but before journalists could start taking the roll call of who
and who were at the meeting, they were asked to leave House 7 on the ground
that it was a private meeting.
Our
correspondent reports that as State House Correspondents were leaving the
place, ministers of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and her aviation
counterpart, Mrs Stella Oduah, were seen walking down to the venue, their
security details, drivers and other aides following them.
correspondent reports that as State House Correspondents were leaving the
place, ministers of petroleum, Diezani Allison-Madueke, and her aviation
counterpart, Mrs Stella Oduah, were seen walking down to the venue, their
security details, drivers and other aides following them.
Details
of the meeting were sketchy at the time of filing this report, but LEADERSHIP
gathered that it was not unconnected the allegation widely reported that
President Jonathan’s men were plotting to remove Rivers State governor Chibuike
Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
of the meeting were sketchy at the time of filing this report, but LEADERSHIP
gathered that it was not unconnected the allegation widely reported that
President Jonathan’s men were plotting to remove Rivers State governor Chibuike
Amaechi as the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF).
The
governors are expected to meet today at 4pm elect their next chairman in a
context that has governors Godswill Akpabio ( Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson
(Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) as the major
contenders of the governors’ top seat currently being occupied by the Rivers
governor.
governors are expected to meet today at 4pm elect their next chairman in a
context that has governors Godswill Akpabio ( Akwa Ibom), Seriake Dickson
(Bayelsa), Gabriel Suswam (Benue) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina) as the major
contenders of the governors’ top seat currently being occupied by the Rivers
governor.
LEADERSHIP
learnt from dependable sources at the presidency yesterday night that President
Jonathan summoned the meeting to enable them settle the looming crisis within
the ranks of the PDP governors ahead of today’s meeting to avoid embarrassment
for the ruling party.
learnt from dependable sources at the presidency yesterday night that President
Jonathan summoned the meeting to enable them settle the looming crisis within
the ranks of the PDP governors ahead of today’s meeting to avoid embarrassment
for the ruling party.
“The
president wants to mediate as a father in this unsettling affair. It is not
about him taking sides. It is about putting the PDP house in order,” said the
source who pleaded anonymity.
president wants to mediate as a father in this unsettling affair. It is not
about him taking sides. It is about putting the PDP house in order,” said the
source who pleaded anonymity.
Amaechi
was elected the chairman of the governors in June 2011 in Ilorin, the Kwara
State capital, succeeding former governor Bukola Saraki.
was elected the chairman of the governors in June 2011 in Ilorin, the Kwara
State capital, succeeding former governor Bukola Saraki.
NGF split ahead of election today
Meanwhile,
Governors, under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), are set to have a
showdown today as they vote for a new chairman and the executive members of
other organs of the forum, including a Board of Trustees (BoT).
Governors, under the aegis of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), are set to have a
showdown today as they vote for a new chairman and the executive members of
other organs of the forum, including a Board of Trustees (BoT).
From
the outcome of last night’s formation of a new group, the PDP Governors’ Forum,
it appears the hopes of the incumbent chairman and governor of Rivers State,
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to retain his seat might be put to serious test.
the outcome of last night’s formation of a new group, the PDP Governors’ Forum,
it appears the hopes of the incumbent chairman and governor of Rivers State,
Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, to retain his seat might be put to serious test.
According
to sources, the meeting, whose major agenda are voting in new chairman and
filling out other positions, would commence by 4pm.
to sources, the meeting, whose major agenda are voting in new chairman and
filling out other positions, would commence by 4pm.
Amaechi
is seeking a second term as chairman of NGF as his current tenure expires by July
this year.
is seeking a second term as chairman of NGF as his current tenure expires by July
this year.
LEADERSHIP
gathered that while an earlier plot to remove Amaechi was strongly linked to
the 2015 election, the current move to oust him as chairman is against the
background of demands for accountability in the running of the forum’s activities.
gathered that while an earlier plot to remove Amaechi was strongly linked to
the 2015 election, the current move to oust him as chairman is against the
background of demands for accountability in the running of the forum’s activities.
LEADERSHIP,
however, gathered that the pro-Amaechi group planned to meet in Abuja at 8pm to
strategise ahead of the election.
however, gathered that the pro-Amaechi group planned to meet in Abuja at 8pm to
strategise ahead of the election.
A
source noted that the pro-Amaechi governors, led by the governor of Jigawa
State, Sule Lamido and that of Kano, Rabiu Kwakwanso, would try to reach out to
their colleagues to support Amaechi’s leadership.
source noted that the pro-Amaechi governors, led by the governor of Jigawa
State, Sule Lamido and that of Kano, Rabiu Kwakwanso, would try to reach out to
their colleagues to support Amaechi’s leadership.
The
source said barring any hiccups in their strategy, Amaechi is set to emerge a
consensus candidate as he enjoys the backing of 30 governors, including most of
the opposition governors.
source said barring any hiccups in their strategy, Amaechi is set to emerge a
consensus candidate as he enjoys the backing of 30 governors, including most of
the opposition governors.
For
the governors who had earlier given a vote of confidence in his leadership in
January, they are angered by the interference of the presidency in the affairs
of the governors.
the governors who had earlier given a vote of confidence in his leadership in
January, they are angered by the interference of the presidency in the affairs
of the governors.
However,
anti-Amaechi governors, led by Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, and
financially backed by his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio, were
said to have also met on Saturday night, to stop Amaechi from returning as
chairman, with some of them allegedly threatening to split, or leave, the
forum.
anti-Amaechi governors, led by Katsina State governor, Ibrahim Shema, and
financially backed by his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio, were
said to have also met on Saturday night, to stop Amaechi from returning as
chairman, with some of them allegedly threatening to split, or leave, the
forum.
The
governors, who reportedly enjoy the backing of the presidency, are miffed that
Amaechi is leveraging on his position to advance his presidential ambition as a
possible running mate to Governor Lamido ahead of the 2015 election, an
ambition which pits him against President Goodluck Jonathan, who is believed to
be angling for a second term.
governors, who reportedly enjoy the backing of the presidency, are miffed that
Amaechi is leveraging on his position to advance his presidential ambition as a
possible running mate to Governor Lamido ahead of the 2015 election, an
ambition which pits him against President Goodluck Jonathan, who is believed to
be angling for a second term.
According
to reports, some of the strategic options available to them include a court
action to stop the NGF from going ahead with the election in the event Amaechi
would win, and the demand for a caretaker committee, or an interim chairman, to
run the affairs of the NGF until the planned litigation is over.
to reports, some of the strategic options available to them include a court
action to stop the NGF from going ahead with the election in the event Amaechi
would win, and the demand for a caretaker committee, or an interim chairman, to
run the affairs of the NGF until the planned litigation is over.
Source:
Leadership
Leadership
