The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Rotimi Amaechi

  • NGF may shift meeting for Jonathan’s dinner

    NGF may shift meeting for Jonathan’s dinner

    The Nigeria Governors Forum headed by Governor Rotimi Amaechi may have  postponed its  post-election meeting in deference to the office of the President.

    The planned shift is reportedly meant to demonstrate that the NGF headed by the Rivers State governor has no personal problem with President Goodluk Jonathan.

    The NGF meeting, scheduled for 8pm tonight, had clashed with a presidential dinner fixed by the President for the same time.

    A source, who spoke in confidence, said: “The NGF members are of the opinion that the Office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria should be respected . We have decided to defer to this office and postpone our meeting tonight.

    “Since we are in the majority, if we go ahead with the NGF meeting, we will be ridiculing the Office of the President. We are not at war with Jonathan, we want to prove to him that the NGF battle is not personal, it is about the sanctity of the ballot and democracy.”

    The source said the NGF  also want to show that neither Amaechi nor any of the 19 governors backing him is after a do-or-die battle.

    Asked if the shift was not in connection with alleged division of the NGF by the presidency, the source denied the speculation saying the 19 governors are democrats who have respect for the nation’s constitution and the President who is the number one symbol of the nation’s democracy.
    “Any of us could also be the nation’s President, we believe and we are consulting that we should postpone the meeting in deference to the presidency. We will old our meeting soon, ” the source stated
    END

  • Quote of the day

    Quote of the day

    the commissioner of police cannot say he banned protest, when it is part of your fundamental human rights, which are in the constitution. His personal order is now superior to the Constitution.

    “We have been suffering. We are now in a police state in Rivers state. – Governor Rotimi Amaechi to Rivers  State Commissioner of police Mbu Joseph Mbu

  • Maximum leader, minimal democracy

    Maximum leader, minimal democracy

    Nigerians are loud, opinionated and impatient. Ordinarily, those traits should make for a vibrant and fascinating democratic adventure where freedom of expression and choice, as well as transparency in public affairs would take root.

    But for a people who are quick on the draw when expressing their views, recent events are evidence that we would also be content with a system of governance where a maximum ruler lays down the law and his loyal subjects fall obediently in line.

    Over the last two weeks we’ve been celebrating democracy with two symbolic dates. May 29 speaks to an uncommon longevity of civil rule – an unbroken run of 14 years. June 12 reminded us of the subversion of the very ideal we claim to hanker for.

    How interesting that the celebrations took place in the shadow of the bitter battle to elect a new leadership for the influential Nigerian Governors Forum (NGF). While it was fun for a while reducing what happened to a David and Goliath contest in which an increasingly overbearing president received his comeuppance at the hands of a Lilliputian governor, there are deeper issues at play here.

    Thirty-five governors locked themselves in a room and willingly subjected themselves to a democratic contest. When the dust settled, two “chairmen” emerged in a contest that could only produce one! The winner had a majority of 19 votes; the other claimant had a majority of pre-polling endorsements but only 16 votes.

    How telling that 20 years after General Ibrahim Babangida and his military co-conspirators annulled the results of the June 12, 1993 election, Nigerians are still being made to endure a brazen attempt to annul what was a clear-cut victory by Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi.

    Many governors who until now had been posturing as democrats have been exposed as they sought to deny what had happened by explaining that there had never been an election in the NGF, or that the polling should never have been filmed.

    Today, everyone has a version of the history of forum; how it had always chosen its leadership by consensus. One wonders where all the historians were in the run-up to the election. How come none of these custodians of the NGF folklore never piped up with a word of dissent all those months when it was clear that the next leader would emerge through balloting?

    One of the most disgraceful aspects of the NGF fiasco is the meddling by President Goodluck Jonathan. Following the defeat of his preferred candidate, Plateau State Governor, Jonah Jang, the president and his aides have sought to distance him from the mess. But then there he was recognising and addressing the “loser” as chairman of the governors forum at some Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) event in Abuja.

    What sort of example is that? Of course, he had never hidden the fact that he was opposed to Amaechi’s return. But then he’s president of Nigeria, not of the PDP and ought to elevate himself above certain things because of the exalted position he holds.

    When it suits them, those around Jonathan are quick to flay the opposition for “playing politics with everything.” They are also known to deliver lectures pointing out that elections had been held and won, and now was the time for governing, not politicking. That sermon was clearly lost on Jonathan who ought to have done everything he could to insulate himself – at least publicly – from the bitter politics of the NGF.

    By endorsing Jang and refusing to recognize the man who won the election on the night, Jonathan and the PDP have behaved in the same fashion as those who refused to accept the electoral outcome of June 12, 1993. The ‘annulers’ equally had reasons for refusing to concede.

    If Jonathan and his henchmen have refused to lead and set an example with something as simple as the NGF election, why should they expect the opposition accept any electoral outcome that isn’t favourable to them? In the same breath why would anyone believe that PDP, given their conduct in this instance, will accept anything short of victory in 2015? Put simply the bane of Nigerians elections which is mutual suspicion of the participants and the electoral umpire has only just been tragically reinforced.

    In the aftermath of the collapse of the PDP strategy to impose its man on the NGF, the party has gone overboard as it sought to exact revenge against the “traitors” who torpedoed its agenda. Both Amaechi and Sokoto State Governor, Magatarkada Wamakko, are out on their ears – the latter suspended for the most flimsy of reasons: refusing to take party chairman, Bamanga Tukur’s calls.

    Whatever may be the sins of these two men, it is evident that their greatest fault is refusal to toe the party line one hundred percent. In democratic practice there is certainly a place for enforcing the supremacy of the party. But truly democratic parties also allow room for dissent otherwise they would be no different from the old Communist parties in the USSR, China or Cuba. I may add that this flaw is not a failing of only the PDP.

    So instead of beginning to build a democratic culture with robust parties with internal traditions of vibrant and open disputation, what we now see is debate being driven underground. Parties are being split along the lines of ultra loyalists and the band of Judases.

    Debate and dissent are now dangerous foreign bodies to be stamped out at all cost. In this setting, the president or whoever is the maximum ruler at federal or state level simply lays down the law, and the rest of the cadres fall in line. In other words, the president has become the party.

    Amidst all the sentimentality that has trailed the NGF polls, the incongruity of trying to create of a new maximum ruler in a democratic environment seems lost on even the most sober of us. I have heard very intelligent people argue that governors had become too powerful and needed to have their wings clipped.

    Let’s hold this thought for a moment: if the governors are less powerful than they are now, the president simply becomes a Frankenstein monster no one can rein in. Even with the checks and balances in our system a reckless occupant of Aso Rock can unsettle the leadership of the states and National Assembly. Things even out when all sides realise there’s a balance of terror.

    In the end having these various centers of power is not so bad after all. Decisions can be arrived at on a more consensual basis. The different tendencies in the country would be carried along, and people wouldn’t feel too alienated. But beware the fake democracy where one man’s word is law.

  • 2015: I’m not desperate, Amaechi tells his critics

    A foundation member of the PDP in Rivers State, Chief Elemchukwu Ogbowu, says Governor Rotimi Amaechi is being used by the North to destroy President Goodluck Jonathan.

    But he is convinced the governor is no match for the President who, according to him, will be re-elected in 2015.

    Amaechi’s camp, through the Rivers Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, insisted that the governor is neither frustrated nor desperate for power.

    Ogbowu and Semenitari were guests on Rhythm 93.7 FM, Port Harcourt’s phone-in programme, Viewpoint, yesterday.

    Ogbowu, a two-time commissioner (Transport, Commerce and Industry) in the administration of Dr. Peter Odili accused Amaechi of talking too much.

    He said: “President Jonathan does not have a hand in Amaechi’s travails. The Rivers governor should always think very well and should check well before he speaks. Amaechi should speak like a governor. That is his problem. He is not speaking like a governor.

    “We will not allow anybody to mess up President Jonathan. Amaechi said he did not believe in the transformation agenda of the administration of President Jonathan. The good name in the Niger Delta is Dr. Jonathan. We will not allow anybody to abuse, distract or insult him. He will be re-elected in 2015.

    “Most of the projects in Rivers State were put in place by the administration of Dr. Peter Odili and Sir Celestine Omehia. Amaechi is just improving on what they did. Amaechi has spent so much money on power, yet there is no light as he promised. Amaechi is playing politics with the development of Rivers State.”

    But speaking for Amaechi’s camp, Semenitari said: “Governor Amaechi is not fighting President Jonathan. He (Amaechi) keeps saying that power belongs to God and he is a beneficiary of God’s grace. The Rivers governor is transforming the 23 LGAs of the state and empowering the people. Members of the opposition should not play to the gallery, but criticise constructively.

    “Overheating the polity will not be in anybody’s interest. People in positions of authority should handle issues with the fear of God.

    “A group of ex-militants were seen on the streets of Port Harcourt about two weeks ago, on a Monday morning, protesting the PDP’s crisis, without police permit. Governor Amaechi did not say the PDP sponsored the protesters. The youths were outside the gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt for over three hours.”

  • Amaechi’s God-given victory

    Amaechi’s God-given victory

    RIVERS State Governor Rotimi Amaechi must celebrate his re-election victory as Chairman of Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) with humility and gratitude to God. This is because he who God has blessed, no President can curse. No force can change what God has decreed. In the midst of tension, the one God has ordained as most appropriate in the prevailing circumstance has won.

    Amaechi’s victory is in actuality against all odds. The presidency working through Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio strained 19 governors to sign an open endorsement before the elections; but as God will have it, the governors voted with their conscience and returned Amaechi to office. Akpabio is now showing the world the pre-signed document where Governor Jonah Jang’s name was written as winner ahead of the election.

    Amaechi’s political triumph has been a wonder of light, freedom and democracy above forces of darkness, despotism and dictatorship. Right from the episode of his aspiration to become state governor, he had been confronted with serial injustices, humiliations and embarrassments – just as it was in his desire for a second term as NGF Chairman. But in all, it has become perceptible that God has been favouring him. The irresolvable contention between Governors Ibrahim Shema and Isa Yuguda was not an error but occurred in order to pave way for him. On the other side, Plateau State Governor Jang who emerged at the dying moment when the two were forced to step down rightly lost to gain the position which he was not prepared for.

    Yet, even as Amaechi has won the polls, the war is not over. The battle line for 2015 is being drawn and the hand writing is becoming clearer for people that have been blinded by sentiment and power. This is a test case on how 2015 will look like when forces of darkness will no longer comprehend the light of day. The governors, including those who voted against the winner might as well begin to see the non-viability of their contentious forum.

    In reality, the NGF brouhaha is not profiting Nigeria anything. It is sad that PDP government has continuously wasted much of the nation’s time and resources in politicking than in growth and development. The forum, with Akpabio’s haughty carriage and other governors playing the devil’s advocate for the president has polluted political atmosphere across the land with detraction to securing power and position becoming the priority.

    For Amaechi and the opposition, as 2015 approaches, more battles might be brewing which is bound to be dirtier. If Niger-Delta (ex-) militants and their leaders could be mobilized to protest publicly against Amaechi, requesting that he should step down as governor, the future of the nation, even if Boko Haram is extracted, is becoming unguaranteed.

    Just like the opposition is trailing, Amaechi might need to use this opportunity to accomplish the vision for his mission. If not, the desperate presidency with its massive manhunt tools will incessantly work to pull him down the same way the nation is being dragged down. The target would be to deprive him and his people of enjoying the rest of his political life just like the masses today are hardly benefitting from the reward of democracy under the ruling party.

    The merry-go-round Akpabio and his pro-Jonathan colleagues should realize that Nigerians are becoming wiser politically. Not many would because of ethnicity or regionalism still want to align with failure in 2015, even with the desperation to hold on to power. Just like some PDP governors denied the pro-Jonathan NGF candidate of their voting rights, many Nigerians in the South would not just vote for a failing southerner if there is a trustworthy achieving northerner in the competition. More and more, Nigerians are yearning benefiting from the good of the land above wasting their voting values on the basis of ethnicity.

    This was why the progressive governors might have read the minds of the people by securing victory for Amaechi. The outcome is an indication that there is still light at the end of the nation’s dark tunnel.

    The likes of Akpabio displayed how he has been governing the people of his state by false pretences. A leader who would always prefer to satisfy an individual in transitory power instead of commitment to selfless service to the people might not receive anticipated personal recompense at the end of the pursuit.

    So thrilled that he was empowered as Chairman of a desperately-created PDP Governors Forum to tackle Amaechi, Akpabio has manifested himself as a typical wolf in sheep’s clothing. He hardly knew how not to throw stone as a resident in a glass house. After his group failed to satisfy the master’s personal political desire, he attempted to turn issues upside down by declaring the election which he engineered as invalid. He said Amaechi ought to have stepped down before the conduct of the election, adding that there was no way an incumbent could be in office while an election was being conducted. It was as if he has forgotten that in Nigeria, like he experienced when seeking for his second term as governor, incumbents do not leave office before elections.

    If also he is still standing on his contention of rigging, emanating from the voting and verification of only 35 governors in attendance, then democracy still has a long way to go in Nigeria. The list he had prepared ahead of the election can never stand as authentic voting pattern. He might have counted the vote before it was casted. Whereas, he ought to know that some of those who signed on the list never did it on their minds but just to please him and his boss. Election is a game of numbers. All manners of manipulations used to be done during general elections, and might be thought as the way out in 2015 might not work again.

    If Amaechi who was eventually voted for by most of the governors had had been declared the loser, Nigerians would have been greatly thwarted. Akpabio needs to be taught that God will always do what He wants to do, no matter what, because power belongs to Him and He gives it to whom He wants. Evidently, Akpabio needs some education to know why he could not even deliver despite all the threats and arm- twisting. Let him understand why he and his team gambled and failed.

    Indeed, the reality of the NGF election is that it is a technical knockout for anti-Amaechi politicians. After several months of intrigues and politicking, the president failed to convince his initial candidate to step down for a newly-chosen one, and could not also convince his party governors to vote for his even tually chosen candidate. This inconsistency means that he has been weakened politically by the result of the election. He picked the wrong battle and was not ultimately honoured.

    It is distasteful that Mr. President, the number one citizen could not gather enough support within his own political party to defeat his perceived opponent. He should now be much more bothered how votes from South East and South-South will return him to Aso Villa in 2015. The fact is that nothing seems to be working in this regime. South-South is only supporting him because he is their son; not much practical benefit with impact on the life of the people.

    We must imbibe the lesson that the political future of Nigeria is greater than that of any individual. Nobody can become the authentic president of Nigeria without the support of majority of Nigerians. Most Nigerians has been crying in all corners that President Goodluck Jonathan is not performing pleasingly. It does not matter his address to the nation this week granting self acclamation for achievbements, what will impress the people is the level of positive impact of his practical performance on their lives.

    The wisdom might be for him to put sentiments and desperation aside so that he can move Nigeria forward. The nation that once had the potentiality of greatness has been stagnant for too long.

     

  • My suspension is politicial witch-hunt, says Amaechi

    Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi has faulted his suspension from the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by the National Working Committee of the party.

    Reacting through the state Commissioner for Information, Mrs Ibim Semenitari in Port Harcourt on Monday, Amaechi said “We are concerned, as we believe this is political witch hunt. It is worrisome”.

    “The reason given is the suspension  of the Obio/Akpor council. This is purely a legislative matter and done in accordance to the laws of local government councils in Rivers State,”Amaechi stated.

  • PDP suspends Amaechi

    PDP suspends Amaechi

    The National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party on Monday suspended Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers from the party for dissolving elected party executives in his state.

    The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the suspension is contained in a communiqué signed by the party`s National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Olisa Metuh, at the end of an emergency meeting of the NWC in Abuja.

    According to the communiqué, the decision to suspend Amaechi followed a petition submitted by the PDP Rivers Executive Committee against the governor.

    “The NWC at its emergency meeting considered the petition submitted by the PDP Rivers State Executive Committee against Governor Amaechi of Rivers.

    “This followed his refusal to obey the lawful directive of the Rivers State Executive Committee to rescind his decision dissolving the elected Executive Council of Obiokpor Local Government Area of Rivers State.

    “The NWC after preliminary hearing, in exercise of the powers conferred by Articles 57 (3), 59 (3), 59 (5) and 29 (2.b), hereby suspends Governor Amaechi as a member of the PDP.’’ the communiqué said.

    It added that the governor’s action violated Articles 58 1 (b), (c), (h) and (m) of the PDP Constitution.

    It further said that the issue against the governor would be referred to the appropriate disciplinary committee of the party for further action.

    It stressed that the suspension was in furtherance of the determination of the party’s leadership to enforce discipline at all levels.

  • My ‘election’ as NGF Chair was the will of God- Jang

    Governor of Plateau state, Jonah Jang has declared that his emergence as chairman Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) was the will of God.

    Officially, Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State was declared winner of the election on Friday, but Jang and 18 other Governors have insisted that the Plateau State governor won the election.

    Speaking on Sunday in Jos during a special church service organized by the state government to offer special prayers to God as part of the program of events marking the 2013 democracy anniversary Jang said ” I did not aspire for the position”

    “We got to Abuja for the NGF meeting, in my morning morning devotion that very day, I prayed to God to allow his will prevail in the meeting, not the will of human. Because I knew the kind of problem we were passing through in the forum, so I commit everything to the hands of God.

    “I never knew God has concluded his plan on me to use me as solution to the problem, I never wanted to be chairman NGF and that was why my name never came out as a contestant.

    “But in the meeting of Northern Governors Forum, two of the contestants from the north; Gov Yuguda and Gov Shema voluntarily stepped down from the contest. Before I knew what was going on, the chairman northern governors forum presented my name as their candidate having been zoned to the north in the North-South rotational base.

    “The position of the NGF was zoned to the ruling party PDP, the PDP governors forum unanimously adopted my name and the Northern Governors forum gave their consent and approval to my name.

    Jang stated further, “I was surprised at the whole thing, and when I was wandering how, my mind took me back to my prayer during my devotion earlier in the morning and I said this is God at work, I am not even in the position to say no to the work of God. So whatever a mam does, God will always have his way.

    “I know as a pastor, before God created you, God has already designed your program in life, whatever that happened in your life is God’s will” said Jang

    On the democracy anniversary, Jang said, “By Wednesday this week, our current democracy will be fourteen years old. I Want to say democracy has come to stay in Nigeria. Because God himself is a democrat. After creating us in his own image, God gave us the right to choose our leader, he gave us the wisdom to lead our people, so God is fully democratic.

    “So therefore, in our democratic journey, we should allow God’s will to prevail because God never fails” said Jang.

  • NGF: We should work together for Nigeria – Jang

    NGF: We should work together for Nigeria – Jang

    Governor of Plateau State, Jonah David Jang, has called on his rival Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State and all members of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum to work together in the interest of the nation.

    Jang made the call on Sunday on his arrival at the Yakubu Gowon International Airport, Jos, shortly after attending the NGF meeting in Abuja.

    He said, “I have been given an assignment to chair the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) and by the grace of God I will do my best to unite this forum and to make sure the Forum give the right leadership to people of Nigeria because we are the ones that govern the states.

    “I’m advocating that we must work together as leaders of our various states. I am also appealing to my colleagues in the NGF that the election or selection processes, whichever way you may call it, should not divide us as leaders of our people. We have one purpose as members of the NGF and as leaders elected by our people.

    “We have worked with Governor Rotimi Amaechi when he was the chairman of NGF, I now expect him to join his colleagues and work with me now that I am the Chairman of the Forum, so that we continued to give Nigerians the right leadership expected of us,” the Plateau governor said.

    He was received at the airport by top government functionaries in the state led by his deputy Ambass Ignatius Longjan and secretary to the state government Prof. Shedrach Best.

     

     

  • 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.”