Governor of Rivers State and Chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum,
Rotimi Amaechi, is leaving nothing to chance as he consolidates his victory in
the forum’s election held on 24 May.
Today, Amaechi who has fixed a meeting of the forum for tomorrow at the
Rivers State Governors’ Lodge, Abuja, is set to meet former President Olusegun
Obasanjo in Abeokuta in company of the Kano State Governor, Rabiu Kwankwaso.
Though Amaechi is yet to arrive for the meeting with Obasanjo as at the time
of filing this report, P.M.NEWS gathered that the meeting earlier
fixed for yesterday could not hold because the governor failed to show up.
Sources close to the Rivers State governor disclosed that Amaechi is seeking
Obasanjo’s support in his battle with President Goodluck Jonathan who is
determined to remove him as the Chairman of the Governors’ Forum.
Governor Amaechi yesterday circulated a notice of meeting of the Governors’
Forum for Wednesday at the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja at 8p.m. The
meeting which is held monthly usually precedes the National Economic Council,
NEC, meeting in Abuja.
But curiously, the Presidency also fixed a dinner to be held with all the 36
governors on the same day and at the same time.
Some political observers view the dinner as an attempt by the Presidency to
prevent the meeting of the governors from taking place.
Though the disagreement between President Jonathan and Amaechi precedes the
Governors’ Forum election, the president tried all he could to prevent Amaechi
from being re-elected chairman of the forum but failed as 19 governors voted
for him on 24 May.
To remove the support base of Amaechi who is also a member of the party, the
Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Governors’ Forum was hurriedly formed by the
Presidency. It was led by the Akwa Ibom State Governor and a close ally of
President Jonathan, Obong Godswill Akpabio.
Despite the maneuovres by the Presidency to influence the outcome of the
election held on 24 May, Amaechi won with 19 governors throwing their weight
behind him while 16 governors supported Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State,
Jonathan’s nominee for the chairmanship of the forum.
Thereafter, the party suspended him for alleged anti-party activities.
