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Tag: Jang

  • Jang, 15 others open office

    Jang, 15 others open office

    The cracks in the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) got wider yesterday, with 15 members lining behind Plateau State helmsman Jonah Jang as he opened the secretariat of his faction.

    Jang lost the Forum’s chairmanship to Rivers State Governor Chibuike Amaechi by 16 votes to 19 in last Friday’s election but claimed victory. He is popularly believed to have been the President’s candidate, despite Dr. Goodluck Jonathan’s insistence that he had no interest in the election.

    At the ceremony in Abuja were: Idris Wada (Kogi); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna); Liyel Imoke (Cross River) and Ibrahim Shema (Katsina).

    Others are: Theodore Orji (Abia); Peter Obi (Anambra); Steve Lawani Deputy Governor (Benue); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Garba Umar (Taraba acting governor); and Deputy Governor of Gombe State.

    Jang cut the tape to open the secretariat building tucked in a serene environment in Maitama District.

    Shortly after the ceremony, the governors moved into the building where they held a meeting that lasted about two hours.

    Jang told reporters after the meeting that the need to move the secretariat of the NGF from the Rivers State Governor’s Lodge informed the acquisition of the new secretariat.

    The governor added that his faction was making moves to unite all the 36 governors and bring them under a single umbrella of the NGF under his leadership.

    Also speaking after the meeting, Dickson said the faction would ensure that the NGF is insulated from adversarial politics.

    According to him, the Forum would no longer be made to antagonise President Goodluck Jonathan; neither would it be used for personal aggrandisement as it used to be.

    He flayed what he described as the grandstanding of the NGF under Amaechi.

  • Video shows how Jang lost NGF poll

    Video shows how Jang lost NGF poll

    Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi won last Friday’s election of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) with 19 votes , an amateur footage of the election released yesterday has proved.

    Amaechi was reelected chairman after he defeated his only challenger, Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang , who had 16 votes.

    Osun State Governor Rauf Aregbesola captured most of the proceedings of the election on his mobile phone, it was learnt.

    When the arrowhead of the opposition against Amaechi, Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio realised the proceedings were being taped, he charged angrily at Aregbesola. The Osun State governor asked Akpabio to stay away from the camera if he did not like it. Kwara State Governor AbdulFatah Ahmed also tried dodging the camera.

    Despite the protest, Aregbesola found a way to continue the recording, even after promising that he would stop.

    At a point in the video, one of the governors complained about the air-conditioning system. Another wondered what some women in an adjacent room were doing there and he was told they were staff of the NGF.

    It also showed Imo State Governor Rochas Okorocha battling with cold and taking a piece of toilet roll to clean his nose.

    The video showed the intense maneuvering by the governors on both sides, documenting how the 35 governors voted, the counting of votes and the declaration of result by the Director-General of the Forum and Presiding Officer, Asishana Okauru.

    There was so much noise at a point. Ekiti State Governor Kayode Fayemi stood and said: “DG, can you start counting.”

    The recording is the first documentary evidence of a transparent process in which Delta State Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan played the role of the Presiding Officer. He was standing by Okauru all through the sorting and counting of the votes and giving instruction to the DG on how to handle the ballots. He went back to his seat after the counting showed that Amaechi had won.

    After the exercise, Okauru declared Amaechi the winner — to the disappointment of the pro-Jang governors.

  • NGF: Jang blames crisis on governors’ ‘presidential ambitions’

    NGF: Jang blames crisis on governors’ ‘presidential ambitions’

    Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, the newly elected chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), has blamed the crisis rocking the forum on the presidential ambition of some of its members.

    Jang, who addressed journalists at Jos airport shortly after his arrival from Abuja, said that some of the governors wanted to be the President in 2015.

    “The crisis in the governors’ forum is simply as a result of 2015 elections; some governors want to contest the presidential election but only God knows who will be the President,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying on Sunday.

    Jang, however, called for unity among the governors, pledging to lead the forum “with the fear of God.

    “As chairman of the forum, I will work with all members, particularly the former Chairman, Governor Rotimi Amaechi; I wish to appeal to him to fully support me just like I supported him during his tenure,’’ he said.

    Jang described his election “as the will of God’’, saying that God’s plans would always prevail over the thoughts and schemes of man.

    “I have never aspired to be the chairman of the forum; I never put my name forward to contest for the position of the forum. All I did was to ask God for His will to prevail,’’ he said.

     

  • Jang is NGF chairman, 18 governors insist

    Jang is NGF chairman, 18 governors insist

    • Poll was not fair, we averted physical combat, says Mimiko

    Eighteen pro-Jang governors yesterday insisted that the Plateau State governor won Friday’s election as Chairman of Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) regardless of the fact that he had 16 votes against the 19 for Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State.

    In a communiqué at the end of the “inaugural meeting of the Forum under Jang leadership, “the 18 governors pledged to move to unite the Forum and work in the interest of the country.”

    Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, who emerged the factional Vice Chairman of the Jang-led NGF, read the six-point communique.

    He said the Forum “is committed to continued peer review as well as productive and collaborative engagements of governments at all levels.

    “The Forum will continue to encourage and collaborate with President Goodluck Jonathan in his efforts aimed at restoring peace and security to the country.

    “The Forum resolved to secure a befitting secretariat in Abuja to move away from the usual Governor’s Lodge they used to hold the meetings.”

    The communiqué was signed by Jang; Idris Wada (Kogi); Gabriel Suswam(Benue) ; Sullivan Chime(Enugu); Martin Elechi (Ebonyi); Theodore Orji (Abia) ; Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo);Ramalan Yero (Kaduna);Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta);Peter Obi(Anambra); Acting Governor of Taraba, Garba Umar; Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Abdufattah Ahmed (Kwara); and the Deputy Governor of Gombe State, Thaan J. Rubianu.

    Mimiko, who spoke with newsmen after reading the Communiqué of the meeting, said: “Go and ask those who claimed to have conducted election. The ridiculous situation that happened yesterday (Friday), a situation where Governor Amaechi said he was going to preside over an election which he was a candidate.

    “ The option opened to us would have been to be physical, but as responsible people, we couldn’t but we made it clear to them that what they did was inappropriate, probably that was in line with their decision to divide the governors forum.

    “But I assure you that we are coming together again. Under 24 hours’ notice, Jonah Jang called a meeting yesterday (Friday) and we have 18 governors attending this meeting. I am sure if he had sent the notice earlier, we would have up to 30 governors here. I couldn’t have participated as a candidate in an election that is patently illegitimate and immoral.”

    On why the governors stayed at the election venue to the end only to complain later, he said: “It depends on what you mean to the end. All through that meeting we continued to make a point that Amaechi had to step down, that his tenure had ended. Even in ordinary village meeting, when tenure ends, the next thing to do is to call for a resolution of the house to elect a temporary leadership who would preside over the election agreed by all.

    “Amaechi insisted he was going to be chairman of that election in which he was candidate, he produced some papers that he called ballot papers, there was no way we could trace the source, we don’t know whether they were pre-marked or whatever.

    “The question you should ask is this: yesterday he said 19 people voted for him, today at this meeting in this short notice, 18 people signed, and attended a meeting called under 24 hours. Something must be wrong with the ballot of yesterday.

    “ We kept emphasising the point that it was wrong for Amaechi as an out gone chairman who was also a candidate to preside and pick the method of election. When they refused to listen and they said they were continuing with it, what do you expect us to do?”

    Other governors who spoke at the briefing included Shema, Obi, Yuguda, Imoke, Suswam and Akpabio.

    The Chairman South -East Governors Forum, Dr Peter Obi, who until Friday was the vice-chairman of the NGF, said: “A new vice-chairman has emerged. As you know, we in the South -East have always worked together as governors. We have seen it in the last election and yesterday again, the South-East together supported the candidacy of Jang. We all in the meeting here signed.”

    The Chairman of the South –South Governors Forum, Governor Liyel Imoke said: “As chairman of the South- South Governors Forum, we also participated in the process that led to the emergence of Governor Jonah Jang.

    “Of course the South –South has always stood behind this administration, we would continue to do that and we would continue to support the new chairman and his vice to succeed. We team up with the Governor to make sure that there is no bad signal in the governors’ forum and forge ahead to ensure that we have a united country moving forward.

    The vice chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Governor Gabriel Suswam, said: “Yesterday (Friday), the meeting of the northern governors unanimously adopted the new leadership led by Governor Jonah Jang and the northern governors forum is strongly behind the new leadership of the Nigerian Governors Forum led by Governor David Jonah Jang and supported by Governor Mimiko, the Iroko.

    The Chairman of the PDP governors forum, Governor Godswill Akpabio said: “Yesterday (Friday), even before the formal meeting of the Nigeria Governors Forum, it was agreed the chairmanship of the NGF be zoned to the PDP which is the party with the largest number of governors in the forum.

    “There was a meeting of the PDP Governors’ Forum. The decision of the Northern Governors’ Forum was announced and you need to know that as Nigerians that chairmanship of the forum should be two years in the south and two years in the north. That has been the resolution of the governors. And so it was incumbent upon the Northern Governors’ Forum to meet to bring out the leadership before presenting it to the governors forum. Yesterday, Governor Aliyu Babangida who is the chairman together with Governor Suswam of Benue came up with Governor Jang as the new chairman and presented him to the PDP governors’ forum and accordingly, the PDP Governors’ Forum formally adopted Governor Jang.”

    Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina spoke on how the northern governors resolved the whole matter.

    He said: “Until Friday morning, myself and Governor Yuguda of Bauchi and Amaechi of Rivers were scheduled to vie for the election.

    “ But in the interest of peace and prosperity, we honoured the governors forum as myself and Yuguda decided to step down to allow the Northern Governors Forum to produce a candidate acceptable to all of us and the northern governors on their own decided to adopt a consensus candidate in the person of the Governor of Plateau State who was presented to the PDP Governors forum and was graciously accepted and they applauded the effort of both myself and Yuguda for making sure that the governors forum continue to serve the interest of this nation.

    “ Our position is that we stepped down to honour this nation and this forum so that we can have a united front.”

    Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State said: “Just like my colleague the Governor of Katsina has said, we were contestants but in the spirit of uniting our country and move it forward, we decided we should step down for Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau state to be our consensus candidate of the 19 Northern Governors Forum.

    “So 19 of us have endorsed him and we left that venue and went to where the PDP Governors forum where our chairman and vice chairman of the Northern Governors Forum, Aliyu Babangida of Niger State and Suswam presented him as a candidate supported by 19 northern governors and the PDP governors at that meeting also endorsed him and – some of whom are from the south-south, and south- east endorsed him at their own level. So you can see that we have had a very credible and smooth transition. Having said that, I pray that the Almighty Allah would continue guiding us, continue guiding the new leadership as presented by Jonah Jang and also his deputy Dr Mimiko.”

  • Jonah Jang gives Plateau varsity N2b

    • School matriculates 430 freshers 

    The Plateau State government has given the Plateau State University, N2billion, for infrastructural development.

    Its Vice-Chancellor, Prof Doknan Danjuma Sheni said at the matriculation of students for the 2012/2013 academic session at the school campus in Bokkos that funds would be used to construct projects in all faculties.

    “I am glad to reveal to you that the governor of Plateau State Da Jonah Jang has graciously approved over N2 billion for the development of the university. The governor said the approved sum is for the commencement of massive infrastructural development of the school which will commence almost immediately.

    “The sum will be deployed immediately for the construction of the university main gate, fence, administrative block, and Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Works has already commenced with the construction of Faculty of Management Sciences, lecture hall and Entrepreneurship Centre,” he said.

    Sheni admonished matriculating students to shun cultism and face their studies with seriousness.

    “Today’s event could be likened to an initiation ceremony for our new undergraduates and will mark their formal acceptance into the university. I therefore wish to formally welcome you all into the university community.

    “The university under my management is in agreement with the state government to provide the most conducive atmosphere for our students to have smooth memorable studies.

    “We have a duty to tailor your mind to only those things that are aimed at fostering the attainments of your academic and social goals,” he said.

  • Jang decries poor health care

    Plateau State Governor Jonah David Jang has scored the Federal Government low in the provision of medical services to the citizens.

    He said despite the establishment of teaching hospitals and medical centres, provision of medical services is below average.

    Jang spoke yesterday when he received the National Committee of Medical Directors in Nigeria at the Government House, Jishe, Jos.

    Said he: “I hail the Federal Government for its efforts at the tertiary health care level through the establishment of teaching hospitals and medical centres. However, the provision of medical services is still far from average.

    “The poor rate of medical services is not because the country lacks qualified doctors. It is endowed with tested professionals, but will they work with their five fingers?

    “We have qualified doctors and manpower, but we lack modern facilities in our health institutions. I learnt some of the best in the medical profession in America are Nigerians, which means we have the best brains, but the problem is the facilities and working environment.

    “This is what corruption is doing to us. Unless we have serious moral orientation, corruption will cripple this country. We can’t be patronising hospitals abroad with huge money when we should have our own here.”

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Jang employs 500 teachers to reverse mass failure

    Following continuous mass failure of pupils in WAEC and NECO across the country, annually, the Plateau State Governor, Jonah David Jang, has begun moves to improve performances of candidates in the state with the employment of 500 teachers.

    The move is to stem the tide of perennial failure of students in major examinations, according to the Plateau State Commissioner of Education, Nanle Dashe.

    Speaking with journalists in his office Dashe said: “It is a fact that performances of candidates from Plateau State in WAEC and NECO, have been very poor in the last few years. But this decline in WAEC/GCE performances is a national disaster and not peculiar to Plateau State. It is indeed a national disaster in our education system.

    “But that does not mean we will sit down and watch the ugly trend; hence Governor Jonah Jang has directed that in order to improve performances of candidates from its schools, 500 teachers should be recruited.

    “These 500 teachers are mainly to teach Mathematics and English Language because even the few students that do well in their WAEC often fail Mathematics and English Language.

    ‘So the state government has set up an agenda for its school whereby these new teachers will be those that are professional on these two core subjects. At the same times, relevant teaching materials are going to be purchased for this purpose.

    “Enough provisions have been made in the 2013 budget to take care of this programme and very soon, WAEC/NECO will start recording higher performances from candidates from Plateau State. Plateau used to be the best-rated performance in the north and second in the country. This new effort is to return the state to such glorious period and this government has put all necessary machinery in place to achieve that”, he said.

  • Jang orders rehabilitation of flood victims

    Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang yesterday directed the Governing Council of the state Disaster Management Agency to begin rehabilitation of flood victims.

    The 29-member governing council is chaired by Deputy Governor Ignatius Longjan.

    The governor urged members to handle the exercise with the fear of God.

    Jang spoke at the Government House in Jos, the state capital, at the inauguration of the governing council.

    He said: “This Governing Council of the state Disaster Management Agency is very dear to the hearts of this government and people of the state. As pioneer members of this council, therefore, much is expected of you to commence your work immediately.

    “Your inauguration today means you have to commence the rehabilitation of flood victims immediately. We have the fund and relief materials on ground for distribution.

    “While you are being guided by law, I urge you to bring in vigour and ingenuity into the management of the agency. You should be driven by the management perspectives of consistency, persistency and resilience, if result must be achieved.”

    The governor expressed his administration’s sympathy with victims of floods.

    He urged the governing council to do the job with the fear of God.

    “The assignment is as tasking as it is challenging. There are funds on ground already as well as assorted relief materials to be distributed to victims of the recent floods.

    “I expect you to commence your assignment immediately, avoid being selfish and operate with the fear of God,” Jang said.

    Jang signed into law the executive bill establishing the State Emergency Management Agency as passed by the House of Assembly.

     

  • We must believe in Nigeria as a nation – Jang

    We must believe in Nigeria as a nation – Jang

    Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State on Monday said that Nigerians’ belief in nationhood was the first step in the efforts toward greatness.

    “We are on a journey which also comes with challenges, but we must remain resolute and optimistic as a nation because we shall surely overcome and come out stronger to the shame of our detractors,’’ Jang said in Jos.

    Jang, who was speaking at the nation’s 52nd independence anniversary, said that Nigerians “must do away with vices such as corruption, sectionalism and other unpatriotic traits for the nation to get to its destiny.’’

    “Even as it is now, there is every reason for us to be thankful for our journey to nationhood so far because we have made progress and have witnessed transformation as a country.’’

    “Nigerians should not to dwell on the negative side but to appreciate the positive strides in other spheres of our lives.

    “It is these positive aspects that will propel the nation to the path of progress,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the Plateau governor as saying in his address on Monday.

    Jang urged Nigerians to continue to pray for President Goodluck Jonathan and other leaders in the efforts to build a united and prosperous Nigeria despite all odds.