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Tag: NGF

  • 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.”

  • Amaechi is a traitor and will be treated as such –Asari-Dokubo

    Amaechi is a traitor and will be treated as such –Asari-Dokubo

    • ‘No! I’m not. Our rivals are bad losers’ – Amaechi

    • Obio/Akpor LG secretariat: No going back on workers’ warning strike – Rivers labour leaders

    Former militant and leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force (NDPVF), Alhaji Mujahid Asari-Dokubo, yesterday described Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as a traitor to the cause of the Niger Delta by seeking re-election as Chairman of the Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF).

    Many supporters of President Goodluck Jonathan including Asari-Dokubo regard Amaechi’s decision to contest the election which he won as a slight on the President.

    Asari-Dokubo, speaking on a phone-in radio programme in Port Harcourt, accused the governor of confronting the President, a fellow Niger Delta citizen and working against his interest for s second term in office in 2015.

    He declared that the re-elected chairman of the NGF (Amaechi) would be treated like a traitor, having been confronting President Jonathan, his kinsman from the Niger Delta, who wants to seek re-election in 2015.

    But the Rivers State Commissioner for Agriculture, Emmanuel Chinda, dismissed Asari-Dokubo’s claim and said opponents of the governors are bad losers.

    Chinda said it is Asari-Dokubo and a few others who are creating problems between President Jonathan and the Rivers governor for their selfish interests.

    The former militant said of the governor: “Amaechi and his ambition must be tied to the ambition of his people. In Kano, Amaechi said he would run as vice-president, if invited. I speak with all sense of responsibility. The oppressed people of the Niger Delta, through President Jonathan, will win in 2015. We will win clearly and convincingly.

    “Amaechi is a traitor and he will be treated like a traitor. Amaechi is not more Ikwerre than me. It is about liberty to rule. Amaechi wants to take us back to slavery. It will not be possible. The era of Northern godfathers is gone.

    “President Goodluck Jonathan will win in 2015. If they do not allow him to win, they will not be able to handle the consequences. End must come to the suppression, oppression, repression and marginalisation of the people of the Niger Delta.”

    Meanwhile, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Rivers State, Dr. Chris Oruge, and his Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) counterpart, Chika Onuegbu, have declared that there is no going back on the workers’ two-day warning strike from tomorrow.

    The strike is to back up the workers’ demand for the withdrawal of policemen occupying the secretariat of Obio/Akpor Local Government of the state as fallout of the crisis rocking the PDP in the state.

    A high court has also ordered the police to vacate the premises.

    The labour leaders said the police action is obstructing their members from earning their daily bread.

    They said: “We (labour leaders) have no business with politics. We are focusing on the rights and privileges of the workers. We do not want police of occupation and dictatorship. Police also have no power to ban peaceful demonstrations and protests. They should not drag labour into political crisis.”

  • Amaechi and the NGF: An election so disgraceful, so contemptible

    If anything indicates very starkly the hard temper of Nigerian democracy, last Friday’s election of chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) showed why and how. A day to the election, indeed hours before, no one, not even any of the governors, was sure who would win the election, in view of the base emotions that sometimes propel Nigerian politics. But it was always clear that whoever won would find it difficult to rally all the governors behind himself. Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State won by 19 votes to Plateau State’s Jonah Jang’s 16 votes, showing how divided and divisive that pressure group has become and how keenly the election was fought for a post that carries no constitutional significance, and is indeed superfluous to the needs of the country, not to talk of the desperate needs of the people of the 36 states.

    It was not as if the sorely tried winner was intrinsically divisive or even controversial. The problem with him, and which his victory evinced, was how, due to no fault of his, he was perceived in the presidency as an upstart and a troublemaker. In saner climes, his commitment to development, his doggedness, his courage and his eloquent grasp of issues should make him a rising star in his party. It is indeed no credit to the image of President Goodluck Jonathan that he and his men virtually demonised the Rivers governor, cast him in the shape of a radical and rebellious outcast, and were prepared to gleefully and unconstitutionally subvert Rivers State and deliberately divide and destroy the NGF.

    The import of the NGF election is not that some governors are miffed by their candidate’s loss, or that the president’s objectives seem for now to have been truncated. (Dr Jonathan is famous for not taking no for an answer). The import is that much more than the president, the country’s 36 governors theoretically form the bulwark of Nigerian democracy, yet many of them have become ardently contemptuous of the elementary principles of democracy. Though they represent the country’s collective political achievement and ideological stability, they have shown a disgraceful incompetence to manage an election in which only 35 people voted. How could a group of top politicians who find it difficult to summon the common sense to win or lose a small election with dignified calmness superintend state and national elections in which tens of millions of Nigerians would vote? How could a group of senior politicians who find it difficult to acknowledge their colleagues’ point of view find the grace and wisdom to tolerate dissent in their own states?

    It does not bother me who won or lost, though, because of the president’s meddlesomeness, I would rather his candidate lost; but I am worried that the governors played infantile politics, politics without principles, politics without nobility, politics without character. I am in fact deeply disturbed that a man of Governor Godswill Akpabio’s moderate accomplishments and admirable eloquence (he talks nineteen to the dozen) should lend his exertions and modest gifts to anomalous and ignoble ends. Where is his soul, and can he call it his own even if it were thrust under his nose? Not only is he disputing what was apparently a transparent election, he has taken incredible and laughable steps to make the NGF self-destruct. Had he offered himself entirely to, say, a great president, we would still have condemned his servility; but at least his faults would be redeemed by the great and noble purpose he wilfully and reckless spent it on. Unfortunately, he has devoted his every talent to the wrong cause and the wrong man.

    Amaechi has won, but I fear he will not be able to unite the association behind himself, nor be able to deploy the group for any meaningful democratic end. I also fear that the presidency, which has become a vindictive and sterile bastion of futile politics, will rededicate itself to destroying Amaechi. Nineteen governors voted for Amaechi; he will be lucky to get more than 20 to stand with him whenever he needs them. More, because of 2015, and because Dr Jonathan cannot rise to a profound level, the presidency will make Amaechi’s remaining years in office a living nightmare. And given the shallowness of the Nigerian mind and the immaturity of their politics, it is not guaranteed that Amaechi will find the kind of support his hard work as a governor and his character as a person merit. And contrary to what he thinks, his victory has not tested and proven Nigerian democracy. His victory, which cannot be divorced from the politics that preceded it or the shenanigan that followed, has only shown how irresponsible and reckless most of those who govern the country have become.

  • NGF chair: South-South govs’ dump Amaechi

    NGF chair: South-South govs’ dump Amaechi

    • We‘re not aware –CPS

    Governors of South South states are set to dump Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State at this week’s election of a new chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF).

    Amaechi is the current chairman of the forum but the Presidency does not want him back on the seat on account of political differences.

    The Presidency, according to sources, is intensifying its mobilisation of support for its anointed candidate, Governor Ibrahim Shema of Katsina State.

    Only Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State is said not to be sharing the position of his counterparts on the Amaechi issue.

    The Nation reliably gathered that the Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih, and the Chief of Staff to President Goodluck Jonathan, Chief Mike Oghiadome, have in the last few weeks, put pressure on PDP governors, particularly in the South East and the South-South to support Shema at the election slated for May 23.

    A source privy to the plan revealed: “Anenih has visited Cross River about three times recently and may have succeeded in convincing Governor Liyel Imoke, who is the Chairman of the South-South Governors Forum, to dump Amaechi.

    “Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State has also been cajoled to back Shema, but the Presidency’s foot soldiers have not bothered to lobby Oshiomhole because his position to vote for Amaechi has not changed. For Governors Godswill Akpabio and Seriake Dickson of Akwa Ibom and Bayelsa States, representing, their loyalty to the president is unquestionable.”

    In the South East only Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo is backing Amaechi.

    The Presidency, whose points man in the zone is Governor Peter Obi of Anambra State, has been assured of the support of Theodore Orji (Abia); Sullivan Chime (Enugu) and Martins Elechi (Ebonyi).

    The South East and South South governors, at a recent meeting in Asaba, Delta State, asked their colleagues and Nigerians to give maximum support to the Jonathan government in the implementation of its transformation agenda.

    Oshiomhole was absent at the parley.

    A source disclosed that Okorocha, who had been tipped off on the agenda of the meeting, deliberately came late and only took part in the photo session with his colleagues.

    Before the meeting ended, The Nation learnt that Anenih addressed the governors and impressed it on them on the “implications of allowing the president to be humiliated if Amaechi is re-elected as NGF chair.”

    In his reaction to the claim that South-South governors have decided not to support Amaechi, the Chief Press Secretary to the Rivers State governor, David Iyiofor, in a terse SMS to The Nation simply, said, “I’m not aware.”

  • Governors to hold ‘Share Fair’ for South West

    Governors to hold ‘Share Fair’ for South West

    The Nigeria Governors’ Forum has concluded plans to hold its second Governance Share Fair for South West states.

    The News Agency of Nigeria gathered that the fair is being organised by the NGF in collaboration with the United Kingdom Department for International Development (DFID) and State Partnership for Accountability, Responsiveness and Capability (SPARC).

    A source told NAN that the fair, slated to take place in Lagos between May 15 and May 16, is a knowledge sharing and learning event designed to help states benefit from their experiences.

    The event, which is packed with presentations, discussions and opportunities to meet and mingle with state counterparts, is also expected to stimulate interest in future collaboration and development of new programmes in states.

    Participating states are expected to make presentations on various areas of governance reform and share same through extensive interactions and deliberations.

    The governance share fair is expected to be attended by all South West governors with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola as the host.

    State Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, Directors and Deputy Directors from participating states will also attend the event.

    The NGF Chairman, Gov. Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers, will declare the event open while each of the participating states will have a stand in the information market place to show case their achievements.

     

  • Northern Governors’ Forum condemns killings in Nasarawa, Benue states

    Northern Governors’ Forum condemns killings in Nasarawa, Benue states

    The Northern States Governors’ Forum has expressed shock and sadness over the killing of policemen and other security agents by a militia, known as Ombatse, at Assakio village in Nasarawa State.

    The forum’s Chairman and Governor of Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu, said in a statement that “no grievance can justify such a dastardly act against law enforcement agents.’’

    The statement signed by the Governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo, condemned the killing of many farmers and destruction of property by Fulani herdsmen in Agatu Local Government Area of Benue.

    Aliyu called on security agencies to ensure that the perpetrators are caught and brought to justice, to prevent a recurrence.

    He said it was unacceptable that security agents should become easy target for criminal elements.

    He called on the authorities to commence the prosecution of 10 of  those, who allegedly perpetrated the Agatu mayhem.

  • Court to hear suit seeking NGF’s dissolution on June 18

    A Federal High Court in Abuja has slated hearing for next month in a suit challenging the propriety of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

    Justice Ademola Adeniyi chose June 18 for hearing after the case was first mentioned before his court last week. The long date is to enable parties file and exchange necessary processes.

    Named with NGF, in the suit filed by Tijani Ali Danjuma, is the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)

    The suit marked: FHC/ABJ/CS/165/13 was filed by the plaintiff’s lawyer, Tubotamuno Dick. The suit is seeking, among others, an order de-registering the NGF on the ground that it was “erroneously registered by the CAC.”

    The plaintiff, who argued that the NGF was an illegal body, formulated four questions for the court’s determination; seeks three declarative reliefs and an order.

    Danjuma, the Northern Coordinator, Network for Defence of Democracy and Good Governance (NDDGG) wants the court to determine whether, by virtue of the provision of Section5 sub-sections 2, 3, 176, 183, 185, 187, 306 and 308; and the Oath of Office of Governor of a state, as set out in the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, the term “governor” refers to an “office” or a ” person.”

    •Whether an “office” can have fundamental human rights as provided under Chapter Four of the Constitution, particularly in relation to the right to freedom of association as provided under Section 40 for it (the office of governor) to qualify as Trustee under Section 592 of the Company and Allied Matters Act (CAMA) 2004 and for it to be registered as an Association under Part C of CAMA?

    •Whether, assuming that the office of the governor of a state is the person occupying it, can he constitutionally or legally form an association under Section 40 of the Constitution, using the office whilst he holds it?

    •Whether the 2nd defendant (CAC) was not in error when it misdirected itself and registered the 1st defendant as an association in 1999?

    The plaintiff is also praying the court to declare that “governor,” as established by Section 178 of the Costitution, is an office and not a person as to have fundamental human rights as established under Chapter Four of the Constitution, and enjoy the right to freedom of association as provided under Section 40 of the Constitution, to qualify it as trustee under Section 592 of CAMA, to register an association under Part C of CAMA.

    He wants the court to declare that assuming he office of governor of a state is the person occupying the office, he can still not constitutionally or legally use the office to form an association while he holds it.

    Dajuma is also seeking a declaration that CAC should de-register or dissolve the NGF in accordance with the provision of Section 608 of CAMA.

    Danjuma, in a supporting affidavit, argued that it was wrong for governors, who had swore to serve their states diligently, to be devoting part of the time and resources meant for their states to the running of NGF and its affairs.

    He contended that it was not only unlawful for the governors to contribute their states’ resources to the running of NGF, the governors’ devotion of the time meant for the service of their states to the forum’s activities negated the oath of office they took. Danjuma said the suit was necessitated by the need to ensure that the governors give undivided attention to the affairs of their states and utilise the states’ funds for their development needs. The defendants have objected to the suit and prayed the court to dismiss it for, among others, being incompetent.

    In a motion on notice filed for it by Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), the NGF argued that the plaintiff’s claim is not justiciable and that the court lacks the jurisdiction to adjudicate on it. NGF further contended that Danjuma lacks the locus standi to file the suit; it is an abuse of court process, it discloses no reasonable cause of action against it; that the claim is hypothetical, academic and speculative; and that it is status barred by virtue of the Public Officers Protection Act.

    It also argued that the suit is caught by the doctrine of estopel and the principle of waiver andvacquiescence. The NGF argued, in a supporting affidavit, that since April 1999 when the forum was registered, a period of more than three months, under the Public Officers Protection Act, has lapsed and a period of over 13 months has also lasped.

    The forum also argued that, having failed to challenge its legitimacy, when it advertised its aims and objectives, preparatory to its registration, the plaintiff having failed to object within the rquired 28 days can no longer do so now.

    “Having failed to object to the registration of the association as stipulated by the relevant statute, the plaintiff has waived the right to do so and is estopped from doing so now.

    “The plaintiff has acquiesced and waived his right, if any, to object to the registration and continued existence of the NGF. The plaintiff’s claim, challenging the legality of the 1st defendant (NGF) is coming after almost 14 years since its inception.The suit is statute barred by virtue of the Public Officers Protection Act,” NGF argued.

    In its notice of preliminary objection, the CAC raised similar issues argued by NGF and prayed the court to decline jurisdiction.

    The first defendant equally filed a counter-affidavit to the plaintiff’s originating summons. It denied that its members have abdicated their primary responsibilities by virtue of their membership of the forum.

    It also denied that its members divert states’ resources to finance its activities.

    NGF argued that instead, its existence has contributed to the attainment of good governance in the country.

    Responding to issues raised by the defendants, the plaintiff filed a further affidavit in response to the NGF’s counter-affidavit and a reply to the CAC’s objection.

    Danjuma argued among others, that the suit can not be statute barred because he was not challenging the forum’s registration, but its “constitutionality and legality.”

    On the argument that he lacked the locus standi to institute the action, Danjuma stated that as a citizen of Kaduna State, who participated in the last election as an electorate, and his state governor being a member of the NGF, he was qualified to sue and challenge the legality of a forum, whose activities are sustained by resources the state and attention of the governor, both meant solely for his state.

     

  • Much ado about NGF

    Much ado about NGF

    Abraham Harold Maslow (1908-1970), the American psychologist, spoke of a hierarchy of needs.

    While basic needs (breathing, food, water, sleep etc) occupy the base of the pyramid, self-actualisation (the creative swagger of a man/woman who has made good) perches at the summit.

    Between these two extremes are safety (innate security), love/belonging (family confidence and security) and esteem (societal appreciation and respect): and you need to climb through these rungs to gain the summit.

    This is, of course, no psychology exposé. But linking Maslow’s hierarchy to the twin main dramatis personae in the raging storm over the impending Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF) election is rather revealing.

    Performance-wise, one has attained self-actualisation in his elected office. The other is languishing at the base, still fumbling over basic needs. But both are angling for future tours of duty – or, in any case, reportedly so. That accounts for the raging war over an otherwise innocuous election!

    Enter Rivers Governor Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, sitting NGF chair.

    As far as performance goes, two-term Governor Amaechi, who nevertheless would end up spending less than eight years prescribed by law because of his delayed assumption of office (25 October 2007 instead of 29 May 2007), appears to have garnered enough swagger to aim for higher office.

    Remember former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s imperious diktat that Amaechi’s gubernatorial nomination had developed a “K-leg”; and also the legal challenge that eventually reclaimed the governor his seat, even if his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had brazenly replaced his name on the ballot with his cousin’s, Sir Celestine Omehia?

    Despite these setbacks however, Governor Amaechi has enough on ground to show (in model primary and secondary schools, healthcare, infrastructure, sports and security: ridding Rivers of the militants’ terrorist threat in kidnapping), to justify a future political ambition. He therefore appears made, with or without a second NGF term.

    So, why this contest-and-be-damned mentality in his camp? The NGF chairmanship, with its attendant networking, keeps alive Governor Amaechi’s reported vice-presidential ambition, a ticket media reports claim he hopes to share with Sule Lamido, the Jigawa governor. That sure does not sit well with Governor Amaechi’s political traducers.

    Enter then, President Goodluck Jonathan. He appears fixated with crushing Amaechi: and the controversial grounding of the Rivers government airplane would appear the latest indication.

    But between Governor Amaechi and President Jonathan, the contrast is stark.

    The one would spend less than eight years as governor; yet has an ample lot to show. The other, if his second term bid gels, would likely spend nine years as president – more than the required eight – but may have pretty little to show, if the morning shows the day, from his parlous performance so far.

    However, Dr. Doyin Okupe, with his presidential public affairs staff in tow, on a visit to The Nation the other day, believed it was only a matter of time before President Jonathan started dazzling Nigerians with tangibles.

    It would appear, therefore, a titanic (?) tussle between a clumsy “Oga at the top” and a nimble lower fry in the Nigerian Animal Farm (apologies to George Orwell), particularly with the president assuming the Obasanjo-era almighty president and “party leader” – a thorough and thorough corruption of the American presidential system.

    Yes, over there, the sitting president by convention is party leader. But that deference comes from reverence to the presidential office, which incumbent is no insufferable power brute, but a meek lamb of the constitution, created, nurtured and completely directed by the rule of law, never by brazen arbitrary power.

    In President Jonathan’s case, that misguided role is double jeopardy. The more fixated he is with crushing Amaechi, the more distracted he is from scrambling up Maslow’s pyramid by superlative performance, and the more he damns himself as unworthy of the 2015 presidential en core he clearly covets.

    But the president and his handlers appear for now too irate to think clearly.

    That explains the “Judases” metaphor of the rather tactless Godswill Akpabio, Akwa Ibom governor, on being made chair of the no less tactless PDP Governors Forum, a forum that could well destroy NGF itself. Like the Christ and Iscariot, the Jonathan presidential Judases are within, not without.

    No thanks to them, for one, there are emerging talks of many opposition governors pulling out of NGF. For another, there is counter-talk of Jonathan’s gubernatorial storm troopers either plotting to scuttle the NGF poll should Amaechi secure the number to win; or walk out after losing to paint the election as some farce – talk of (un)presidential bad faith!

    But in this presidential huffing and puffing, strategic thinking would appear to have taken a fatal flight. If not so, the president and his men ought to have carefully x-rayed the NGF power centres before plotting their moves. That apparent failure is all so reminiscent of the search-corrupt-and-destroy calamitous tactics of the Obasanjo third term gambit, as beautifully exposed by Nasir El-Rufai in The Accidental Public servant.

    President Obasanjo listened to political and careerist witches and wizards who told him what he wanted to hear. The result was a spectacular collapse of his third term pipe dream and the well-earned disgrace, even if the former president continues to live in denial of the debacle by hiding behind the proverbial finger.

    Is President Jonathan headed for the same ditch? That is hard to say, until you analyse the NGF power centres.

    The opposition NGF governors’ camp would appear a no-go area, even if Anambra’s Peter Obi and Ondo’s Segun Mimiko might go with the president. Incidentally, Governor Obi was reportedly at the dinner, at which the president allegedly told the attendees to go for Amaechi’s jugular.

    The PDP Governors Forum? That is a house divided against itself. Most of the president’s opponents are second-term governors who have less to lose than if they were seeking a second term. Besides, Governor Akpabio, the body’s chair, has been so tactlessly tactless it is doubtful if he can rally anybody for the president, beyond preaching to the converted (who seem to lack the number) and barking impotent threats at opponents.

    The Northern States Governors Forum? The body language of Niger Governor, Muazu Babangida Aliyu, the chair, speaks of a regal distancing from the president and his cause. In open balloting, how many of them would risk voting the Jonathan way, given how the traditional North feels about power in 2015? And how many, in secret balloting would, without prying presidential eyes? This is another house divided against itself but united by a primordial cause.

    But even if the president vanquishes Amaechi, what does he prove – that Goliath has slain David? Big deal! But at what cost?

    Really, all this furore over NGF election is much ado about nothing. It is a massive distraction all round.

    The president bullying the governor or the governor slaying the president does not remove the quacking basis of the Nigerian state. After all the noise of battle, the hoop of victory and the puncture of defeat, let us hope the combatants would not find themselves buried under the rubble of once upon a country!

     

  • Governors’ Forum represents the masses – Amaechi

    Governors’ Forum represents the masses – Amaechi

    Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers on Saturday said the Nigeria Governors’ Forum represents the interest of the masses.

    The governor stated this in Port Harcourt at a stakeholders meeting held as part of the National Good Governance Tour of Rivers.

    According to him, actions taken by the forum are in the interest of the Nigerian masses.

    “The governors are people-oriented. The governors defend the interest of the masses and will continue to stand by the people.

    “No matter how much they (detractors) sponsor articles in the newspapers we do not listen.

    “We can only listen if these things are coming from the people. The moment we hear the people’s voice, the governors will listen,’’ the News Agency of Nigeria quoted the governor as saying at the forum.

    Amaechi said a peer review mechanism had been set up by the forum.

    “We are going to Anambra and Ekiti very soon because they are ready and we have a committee chaired by Justice Mohammed Uwais that will first do all the necessary work before the governors will go there.

    “There are governors who do not receive as much as we receive. There are governors who do not receive enough to pay salaries,’’ he said.

    The governor said his administration had built schools and hospitals in various communities in the state.