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Tag: Jang

  • No date yet for Lar’s burial, says Jang

    No date yet for Lar’s burial, says Jang

    HOPES that the remains of late Chief Solomon Lar will arrive from the United States of America (USA) were dashed at the weekend.

    A family source said the delay was because the graveyard where Lar is expected to be buried is not yet ready.

    The family elder said: “Though members of the family have all agreed that Chief Lar will be buried in his Langtang home, they have not chosen which part of his compound he will be buried.

    “The family is expecting the arrival of the wife of Chief Lar from US today.

    “She will be the one who will identify which part of the compound he will be buried.

    “As soon as the site is known, the construction of the grave will commence immediately.”

    The Plateau State governor, Jonah Jang, also declared that no date has been fixed for the arrival and burial of the first civilian governor of the state.

    He stated that the burial has been put on hold until further notice.

    Lar died in the United States of America on October 9 at 90.

    Jang spoke yesterday while receiving his Nasarawa State counterpart, Tanko Almakura, who led a government’s delegation on condolence visit.

    He said: “I have agreed with the family of Baba Lar on the burial arrangements. I am expecting the wife, Ambassador Mary Lar, to arrive any moment from today and her arrival has to do with the burial plans.”

    On why the burial plan is on hold, Jang said: “Solomon Lar is not someone you will bury in a hurry. The federal government is interested.

    “The national executive of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is interested. The political associates and friends of Baba Lar are interested. So the burial of Chief Lar will be a national one.”

    He went on: “But the date of the burial has to be approved by the federal government.

    “There will be a national burial committee. Plateau and Nasarawa States will have a joint burial committee for Baba Lar.

    “I have been notified that Mr. President will travel out of the country by Monday and we have to wait until he comes back because whatever date agreed between me and the family will have to be at the convenience of Mr. President.

    “So, as it is, no date yet for burial. The planning committee will continue with the arrangement until Mr. President returns.”

  • Jang intervenes as Assembly moves to impeach Speaker

    An attempt by members of the Plateau State House of Assembly to impeach their Speaker, John Clark Dabwan, has been put on hold following the intervention of Governor David Jonah Jang.

    The lawmakers had split into two factions over the choice of a replacement for the embattled Speaker. Majority of the lawmakers preferred Istifanus Caleb Muansat of Pankshin South Constituency as the new Speaker. But others, backed by the government, allegedly rooted for Titus Alarm, from Bokkos Constituency.

    Twenty-one of the 24 members of the Assembly had appended their signatures for the removal of Dabwan as Speaker, but their plans failed when they could not find an acceptable replacement for Jang.

    A member of the Assembly, who spoke in confidence, said: “Majority of the members had agreed to impeach the Speaker, but the problem now is an attempt by the executive to impose its candidate on us. We have to resist the government’s influence on the House.

    “We are impeaching the Speaker because he is too loyal to the executive. So, we will not allow the government to choose the new Speaker for us.

    “We agreed last week for the House to resume sitting on Tuesday (yesterday) to change and install Caleb Munasat as our new Speaker, but the intervention of the government is holding us back.

    “We are going to resist any candidate of the government. This time round, we are ready to install a popular candidate of the House. We will give no room for any Speaker selected by the government.”

    It was learnt that Jang did not oppose the move by the lawmakers to remove their Speaker. But the governor was said to be uncomfortable with the names the lawmakers suggested as replacement.

    The position of the Speaker was zoned to Plateau Central, comprising Mangu North, Mangu South, Bokkos, Pankshin North, Pankhin south, Kanatana, Dengi and Kanke constituencies.

     

  • Jang must be stopped

    ouglas Adams, an author, in one of his books, provoked a thought when he said: “Anyone who is capable of getting himself made president should on, no account, be allowed to do the job.”

    I have followed the recent event that led to the schism in Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF); the election where 16 governors ‘defeated’ 19 majority; the ‘emergence’ of the Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang as the chairman of the forum and struggle of Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi to unite members in the face of federally-induced provocation.

    That Mr Jang could parades himself as the chairman of the forum despite video evidence that shows how he was trounced by Amaechi suggests that the former is only desperate to gratify his personal ambition, while also doing the bidding of the presidency, which is believed to be at loggerheads with the government of Rivers State.

    Jang’s action smacks of executive rascality and undemocratic tendency. Truly, anyone who loses election becomes bitter and aggressive. This is not to say that the rationality of democracy be sacrificed for anyone’s personal interest.

    If Jang had only showed his bitterness without trying to pull down the whole edifice, one could identify with him. But the governor has been making utterances and causing actions, which show that he is out to soil the image of the country among the comity of nations. He is parading himself as NGF’s ‘elected’ chairman with 16 votes against 19 garnered by Amaechi.

    I tend to ask myself what kind political legacies is he leaving for the youths in Plateau State, who are still dazed by illegal impeachment of former Governor Joshua Dariye by eight members of the 24-membered legislature. Should we take electoral fraud as legacy the Plateau people are contributing to the cause of Nigerian democracy?

    Jang’s actions are nothing but rebellious and undemocratic. If one may ask, in whose interest is Jang acting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or President Goodluck Jonathan or himself? Seeing Jang and Amaechi trading words day in day out have become embarrassing.

    If a video clearly shows how Amaechi floored Jang to emerge as chairman of the NGF, then why would later is fighting tooth and nail to make himself the chairman, even when as his rival came from the same political party with him? If not doing the bidding of the presidency, then Jang must be in a world of his own to have formed a parallel NGF

    Listening to him on Channels Television, Jang described Amaechi as “a son”because he was sure that Amaechi has not got to 50 years old. This is puerile and an attempt to turn a rather serious issue into a comedy. Jang claimed all is well with the NGF after saying that “it is not his problem” if Amaechi also parades himself as the chairman of the forum. The NGF, to a reasonable extent, is being torn apart because of puerile attitude of an old man and it could be worse if not addressed on time.

    Just as the saying goes, two captains cannot steer the same ship. It is impossible to have two chairmen. This conflict has led to verbal attacks and we hope it would not turn bloody. Let Jang know that he is not recognised as NGF chairman and he must be stopped for his childish attitude result into a serious political situation.

    Wilberforce, 400-Level Language Arts, OAU Ile-Ife

     

     

     

     

  • Assembly not probing Jang over SURE-P, says Speaker

    Assembly not probing Jang over SURE-P, says Speaker

    •ALGON: our SURE-P project ’ll take off soon

    The Plateau State House of Assembly has said it is not probing Governor Jonah Jang over the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) fund.

    Assembly Speaker John Clark Dabwan spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, when he was reacting to reports on the alleged probe.

    He said the Assembly was investigating the status of the SURE-P funds as well as its level of implementation at both federal and state levels.

    Speaking through the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Diket Plang, the Speaker said the Assembly was not in doubt about the ability of the Executive to ensure a prudent management of state’s funds.

    Dabwan said: “The action of the House in finding the status of the SURE-P in the state was to ensure we protect the interest of the state in the Federal Government’s programme. Indeed, we need to commend the state government for the transparent manner it has protected the fund it received from the Federal Government.

    “We are aware of various kinds of SURE-P projects going on in other states, being sponsored by the Federal Government. We need to know why nothing of such is happening in Plateau State.

    “The Ad Hoc Committee of the House has not concluded its assignment. It has only submitted an interim report. The committee will go to Abuja to make more enquiry from the relevant federal agencies.

    “So far, we are satisfied with what we got from the Plateau State government concerning the state’s share of SURE-P. But we have to also know what the Federal SURE-P will do for Plateau and how soon we expect that.

    “So, our overall interest is to make sure we protect the interest of Plateau State both in state government’s and Federal Government’s programmes.”

    The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Davo Mang, told the Ad Hoc committee that the N5 billion received by the state was intact.

    Mang said: “It is true that the cash has not been spent because it has not been appropriated by the House of Assembly. While the SURE-P cash is kept in normal current account of the state government, that of the local governments goes to their accounts.”

    The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Paul Wai, explained why the funds had not been spent.

    He said: “The delay in the take-off of the SURE-P programmes at the local government level is due to late submission of the programme’s outlines by the committee of the local governments.

    “All the local governments were asked to submit project plans that are peculiar to their communities. The implementation of the SURE-P in the local governments is largely dependent on programme outlines of the local governments.

    “The SURE-P funds are controlled by the Joint Account Committee of the state and would be managed the way any state fund is managed. That is, it will be used for all sectors of the state’s economy.”

    The state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Emmanuel Loman, gave reasons for the delay in the implementation of the SURE-P in the local governments.

    He said: “The local governments would not rush into wasting public funds carelessly. We have to plan for it; we are still planning for it.

    “We have identified various programmes, such as youth empowerment, women’s programme and others that majority of our people will benefit from. I mean, there must be the right reasons to spend this money. We don’t want to waste it. The identified projects will soon take off in all the local governments as soonhe Plateau State House of Assembly has said it is not probing Governor Jonah Jang over the Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) fund.

    Assembly Speaker John Clark Dabwan spoke yesterday in Jos, the state capital, when he was reacting to reports on the alleged probe.

    He said the Assembly was investigating the status of the SURE-P funds as well as its level of implementation at both federal and state levels.

    Speaking through the Chairman of the House Committee on Information, Diket Plang, the Speaker said the Assembly was not in doubt about the ability of the Executive to ensure a prudent management of state’s funds.

    Dabwan said: “The action of the House in finding the status of the SURE-P in the state was to ensure we protect the interest of the state in the Federal Government’s programme. Indeed, we need to commend the state government for the transparent manner it has protected the fund it received from the Federal Government.

    “We are aware of various kinds of SURE-P projects going on in other states, being sponsored by the Federal Government. We need to know why nothing of such is happening in Plateau State.

    “The Ad Hoc Committee of the House has not concluded its assignment. It has only submitted an interim report. The committee will go to Abuja to make more enquiry from the relevant federal agencies.

    “So far, we are satisfied with what we got from the Plateau State government concerning the state’s share of SURE-P. But we have to also know what the Federal SURE-P will do for Plateau and how soon we expect that.

    “So, our overall interest is to make sure we protect the interest of Plateau State both in state government’s and Federal Government’s programmes.”

    The Commissioner for Finance, Mr Davo Mang, told the Ad Hoc committee that the N5 billion received by the state was intact.

    Mang said: “It is true that the cash has not been spent because it has not been appropriated by the House of Assembly. While the SURE-P cash is kept in normal current account of the state government, that of the local governments goes to their accounts.”

    The Commissioner for Local Governments and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dr Paul Wai, explained why the funds had not been spent.

    He said: “The delay in the take-off of the SURE-P programmes at the local government level is due to late submission of the programme’s outlines by the committee of the local governments.

    “All the local governments were asked to submit project plans that are peculiar to their communities. The implementation of the SURE-P in the local governments is largely dependent on programme outlines of the local governments.

    “The SURE-P funds are controlled by the Joint Account Committee of the state and would be managed the way any state fund is managed. That is, it will be used for all sectors of the state’s economy.”

    The state Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Emmanuel Loman, gave reasons for the delay in the implementation of the SURE-P in the local governments.

    He said: “The local governments would not rush into wasting public funds carelessly. We have to plan for it; we are still planning for it.

    “We have identified various programmes, such as youth empowerment, women’s programme and others that majority of our people will benefit from. I mean, there must be the right reasons to spend this money. We don’t want to waste it. The identified projects will soon take off in all the local governments as soon as all arrangements are concluded.

    “In any case, this fund is for the state to spend on areas of needs. Besides, Plateau State’s major need is security. The state could have spent this fund on solving its security problems but the government is very cautious in spending public funds. That is why the cash remains intact, until government finds the right reason to apply it.”

    as all arrangements are concluded.

    “In any case, this fund is for the state to spend on areas of needs. Besides, Plateau State’s major need is security. The state could have spent this fund on solving its security problems but the government is very cautious in spending public funds. That is why the cash remains intact, until government finds the right reason to apply it.”

     

  • NGF crisis: Amaechi, Jang renew battle

    NGF crisis: Amaechi, Jang renew battle

    •Rivers Gov asks members to shun rival’s meeting today
    •Five northern govs back Amaechi

     

    A fresh muscle-flexing has ensued between the Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), Governor Rotimi Amaechi and Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State over the leadership of the group.

    Although Jang, whose claim to the NGF chair is disputed by 18 of the 36 governors, sparked the fire on Friday after inviting all the governors to a meeting of his faction of the Forum, Amaechi stoked it yesterday.

    He asked his colleagues to ignore Jang’s invitation.

    He said Jang remains an impostor and cannot convene the meeting slated for today.

    There were indications yesterday that the five Northern governors who are trying to salvage the nation’s democracy had joined Amaechi to dissuade their fellow Northern governors from attending the meeting.

    The Jang faction, backed by the Presidency, is determined to go ahead with the Abuja deliberation.

    The summoning of the meeting created fresh tension yesterday following suggestions that security agencies had been mobilised to provide security at the meeting.

    Some mobile policemen were sighted on guard at the Maitama, Abuja office of the Jang faction.

    More policemen and plaincloth security men are likely to be deployed at the venue today.

    It was gathered that some elements in the presidency encouraged Jang to convene the meeting as part of the moves to whittle down Amaechi’s alleged grip on the Forum.

    A source said: “The forces in the presidency backing Jang believe that this time around, they will be able to secure the confidence of the majority of the governors.

    “They are after a simple majority of 19 or 20. They have spent the last few weeks to lobby governors to see reasons why they must dump Amaechi.

    “You know, Jang had failed twice to earn the backing of more governors than the 16 following him. The anti-Amaechi forces want to use this third attempt to demonstrate that Jang is now in control of the NGF.”

    But to serve as bait for the governors, Jang in a notice claimed that the Forum would discuss input into the ongoing constitution amendment.

    The notice for the meeting reads: “The Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum, Gov. Jonah Jang of Plateau State has summoned an emergency meeting of members of the forum.

    “The meeting will be held on Sunday, August 11, 2013 at the NGF Secretariat, 2 Nana Close, off Erie Crescent, Nile Street, Maitama, Abuja at 7.30 PM.

    “The agenda for the meeting is: Constitution Amendment.”

    Amaechi and his supporters were invited to the meeting by Jang.

    It was learnt that the agenda would cover autonomy for the 774 local governments in the country, oil theft in the Niger Delta, local government financial autonomy that was killed by the Senate but endorsed by the House of Representatives and dwindling oil revenue which may affect revenue allocation to states and LGAs.

    Governor Amaechi, in a terse message last night, said: “I have not convened any emergency meeting. Again, I want Nigerians to know that Jang is an impostor, having tried to steal my victory. He was not elected by the majority of governors, who were in attendance during the election on May 24.

    “On what basis does he summon a meeting of the NGF? Nigerians should tell Jang to respect himself and desist from impersonating me.

    “I am already in touch with the National Assembly leadership on constitution amendment and at the appropriate time, we will take position on some of their recommendations.”

    Information available to The Nation at press time suggested that most members of the Progressive Governors Forum would boycott Jang’s session.

    Also, some governors elected on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), led by the five Northern governors trying to salvage the nation’s democracy, seem unlikely to attend today’s meeting.

    A governor from the North-West said: “Why will Jang call a meeting at a time some of our colleagues are trying to facilitate peace and reconciliation between President Goodluck Jonathan and Amaechi.

    “We have always suspected that some of our colleagues do not want this cold war between the President and Amaechi to end.

    “Is it in the interest of any Nigerian to heat up the polity again? This is why some of us are opposed to Jang’s leadership.

    “The last discussion the five Northern governors had with the President was that he would convene a meeting of the 36 governors to resolve the NGF crisis amicably.”

    One of the five governors, Admiral Murtala Nyako (Adamawa State), who spoke through his Director of Press and Public Affairs, Ahmed Sajoh, said he won’t attend Jang’s meeting.

    Nyako said: “As far as we are concerned, Jang cannot call a meeting of the NGF because he is not the chairman and there was no time that we elected him as such. That is our position.”

  • 2015: Middle Belt won’t back President now, says Jang

    2015: Middle Belt won’t back President now, says Jang

    •’Victims of 2011 post-election violence to get their dues’

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang yesterday said the Middle Belt, under the aegis of Middle Belt Forum (MBF) will not support President Gooodluck Jonathan’s second term ambition until he decides to run.

    Some elders of the Southsouth and Middle Belt under the aegis of Congress for Equality and Change (CEC) led by Elderstatesman, Chief Edwin Clark and former Senate President, Ameh Ebute last month backed Jonathan’s ambition to retain his seat in 2015.

    Speaking with State House correspondents at the end of a closed door meeting with Jonathan yesterday, Jang said the Middlebelt will only make its position known after the President makes his intentions known.

    He said: “Southsouth forum is the zone of the President, so if they have started making the noise, it is good because he is their President, ours is to support. But you don’t start shouting before the man says this is where I am going.”

    “So, when he talks, supposing he says he doesn’t want to go, so allow the man to talk . When he talks, if people are supporting, we shall come out to support him,” the Plateau governor said.

    On the visit, the former Information Minister, Prof. Jerry Ghana said: “This session was designed for exchange of ideas in an interactive manner with Mr President. We brought leaders from 14 states in the Middle Belt.”

    “We are very delighted and honored that the delegation was led by the former Governor of Plateau State, Chief Solomon Lar. Essentially, we came to see Mr. President to appreciate what he has been able to do so far as contained in his mid- term report.”

    “We appreciated the area of achievement and we also pointed out areas that needed further attention so that their completion will give tremendous credibility to this government and also help those of us who are supporting the government from the part of the Middle Belt the credibility to speak about government.”

    Also yesterday, the President promised that the Federal Government will monitor the disbursement of the N5.7 billion which was recently approved for victims of the 2011 post-election violence in nine states, a statement by the president’s spokesman, Dr Reuben Abati said.

    Replying to concrns raised by the middle belters, led by Chief Lar, Prof. Jerry Gana and Jang, Jonathan said the Federal Government will do all within its powers to ensure that the money goes to genuine victims.

    “The Middle Belt has a key role to play in Nigeria. You have played a crucial role in keeping us united. I urge you to continue in that spirit,” Jonathan added.

    Other members of the Middle Belt Forum included General Zamani Lekwot, Gen Joshua Dogonyaro, Gen Atom Kpera, Chief Fidelis Tapgun, Senator Ibrahim Mantu, Senator Jonathan Zwingina, Senator Ameh Ebute, Senator Joshua Dariye, Rev. Jolly Nyame, Gen Ishaya Bamaiyi, Dr. Bala Takaya, Ambassador Dan Suleiman, Hon. Margaret Ichei and Joe Gadzama.

     

     

  • Group to Suswam, Jang: stop destabilising Taraba

    A socio-political group, Taraba Justice Forum (TJF), has alerted the public to the alleged destabilising roles of Plateau and Benue State Governors Jonah Jang and Gabriel Suswam in the political drama in Taraba State.

    The group urged well-meaning Nigerians to prevail on the governors to stop overheating the Taraba State political space.

    In a statement yesterday by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Bala Yaya, the group described as morally shameful and politically unhelpful “the picture show” recently embarked upon by Suswam and by Jang five months ago.

    It alleged that the two leaders were promoting divisions and undermining the constitution by meddling in Taraba politics.

    The statement reads: “We all remember that Governor Jang months ago came back with pictures published in several newspapers. Now it is the turn of Governor Suswam with pictures also syndicated in major newspapers. We are waiting for the video clip of Governor Suswam’s visit to be aired on NTA. We hope this time around the audio will be available unlike the last time when the audio not available on NTA was fully aired on AIT.

    “We wonder why it is difficult for the ailing governor to directly address the people of the state on public television. We are at a loss as to why these governors cannot take NTA, Channels and AIT to the USA to interview the governor on his sick bed. In fact, Governor Suswam could have helped his friend by taking these broadcast stations along instead of joining in the shameful pictorial politics that has only serve to expose the lies and deceit of those behind them.”

     

  • While Jang was away

    Plateau State has no doubt become Nigeria’s killing field. Hardly any day passes without news of bloodbath in one part of the state or the other. The way they have kept at it relentlessly for about ten years, you would think that the place is populated by savages. But no matter how blood-drenched the once-beautiful table land has become, every single life cut down needs to be accounted for and accorded a proper rite of passage. But not anymore in Plateau State; they have become blood weary. Mass slaughter and counter slaughter have become something of a way of life and nobody seems to care anymore.

    Last Thursday, when Governor Jonah Jang was busy in Abuja leading his renegade team of governors to some worthless, politically-motivated dinner in Aso Rock, his enclave was burning. Some blood-thirsty marauders suspected to be Fulani cattle herdsmen invaded Langtang South Local Government Area of the state and wreaked havoc on the land to their heart’s content. For hours, they operated unhindered and unchallenged as if Nigeria was an ungoverned jungle; killing, maiming and razing houses. The savages had come on bikes and were said to have chased down even escapees dealing them gruesome death blows as if they were wild animals. About 32 dead bodies were counted when the dust settled.

    According to report, chairman of the Provincial Church Council of COCIN, Rev. Nandip Miri, lost his aged father and brother in the attack. While the chairman, Management Committee for Langtang LGA, Mr. Narman Darko was said to have confirmed the death of 32 people and the torching of about 100 houses in three villages. Some of those killed were said to be students writing the National Examinations Council (NECO) exams.

    It is true that carnages of this magnitude have become commonplace in Plateau State but it still does not exonerate the chief security officer’s dereliction of duty in carousing in Abuja and pretending to be chairman of the inconsequential Nigerian Governor’s Forum (NGF) while his state is bedeviled by one of the worst fratricidal crises to happen in Nigeria since the end of the civil war. The pattern of violence has been long defined to the point of predictability. In a few days’ time, there is bound to be a reprisal attack of mind-numbing magnitude – on and on, the orgy of bloodletting has continued. How could a large gang of armed bandits move into a community and attack for hours on end without the state’s security agencies rousing from slumber?

    Governor Jang has failed hopelessly in dealing with the problem. In fact, after six years in the saddle, he seems to now live in denial if not abeyance, hoping the killings would stop or that the press would get tired of reporting them just the way he has deadened his conscience over them. It is a shame that people seek positions for which they have no clue about the inherent responsibilities. As far as Jang is concerned, there is no solution to the ‘complex’ problem scourging his domain; or on the other hand, he has escaped into the nether regions of effete helplessness.

    This column wonders how a man who is assailed by such soul-searing problem as we have in Plateau State would have the time or resource to engage in the banality known as NGF. What is Mr. Jang thinking of? It is either he is extremely soulless, heartless or both. And as for the Federal Government’s attitude to the blood count on the plateau, we say hmmn!

     

  • Drama as Amaechi, Jang greet, sit side-by-side

    Drama as Amaechi, Jang greet, sit side-by-side

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi and his Plateau State counterpart Jonah Jang were seated together during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting yesterday. Governors were made to sit alphabetically, according to their States’ names.

    The sitting arrangement was unlike those of the NEC meetings before the acrimonious Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) election. Amaechi used to sit close to the Chairman of the NEC meeting, Vice President Namadi Sambo. Amaechi always spoke for the NGF.

    Since Amaechi won re-election in May by beating Jang 19 votes to 16, Jang has led a faction of the NGF.

    Besides, opening a parallel NGF office in Abuja, Jang has declared himself chairman of the forum, His proof: he was the consensus candidate of 19 governors before the election.

    The NEC meeting was the first opportunity for the two governors to sit at a round table.

    Amaechi, who arrived at the meeting before Jang, on getting to his seat, said: “So, we are sitting together; authentic and the fake chairman.”

    Amaechi and Jang only greeted and shook hands with each other when Jang arrived a few minutes later.

    When Edo State Governor Adams Oshiomhole arrived, he said jokingly while facing television cameras and pointing to Amaechi: “This is my Chairman.” Pointing to Jang, he said: “This is PDP extension faction chairman.”

    Noticing the sitting arrangement for Rivers and Plateau governors, Niger State Governor Babangida Aliyu said: “This is nice o. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic here.”

    The meeting began as soon as the Vice President arrived.

  • Drama as Amaechi, Jang sit together at NEC meeting

    Drama as Amaechi, Jang sit together at NEC meeting

    Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi and his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang, sat together during Thursday’s National Economic Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, as governors were made to sit alphabetically according to their states.

    The sitting arrangement was changed as previous NEC meetings before the election always positioned Amaechi close to the Chairman of the NEC meeting, Vice- President Namadi Sambo, where the Rivers governor always highlight the Nigeria Governors’ Forum position on issues.

    Since Amaechi was re-elected as NGF chairman in May after beating Jang by 19  to 16 votes, the Plateau governor has led a faction of the forum.

    Apart from opening a parallel office of NGF in Abuja, Jang has declared himself chairman of the forum just as he maintained that he was the consensus candidate of 19 governors before the election.

    Since that controversial election, Thursday’s NEC meeting was the first time the feuding duo would sit on a round table.

    Amaechi arrived at the meeting before Jang and on getting to his seat said: “So we are sitting together, authentic and the fake chairman.”

    The two governors then greeted and shook hands with each other when Jang arrived few minutes later.

    When Edo State governor, Adams Oshiomhole, arrived, he jokingly said in front of television cameras and pointed to Amaechi: “This is my chairman,” and said to Jang: “This is PDP faction chairman.”

    On his arrival and noticing the sitting arrangement for Rivers and Plateau governors, the Niger State Governor, Babangida Aliyu said: “This is nice o. Somebody is trying to be diplomatic here.”

    The meeting commenced as soon as the vice president arrived the meeting.