The crisis rocking the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, may have split
the governors of the 19 northern states as only five of them attended Thursdays
meeting of the Northern State
Governors Forum in Kaduna.
The
governors that attended the meeting are the chairman of the northern governors’
forum, Babangida Aliyu of Niger; Sule Lamido of Jigawa; Ibrahim Dankwanbo of
Gombe; Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa; and the host governor, Mukhtar Yero of
Kaduna State. The others were represented by their deputies.
Our
source learnt that the governors did not discuss the controversy that returned
Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as chairman of the NGF, and Jonah Jang of
Plateau State as a factional chairman.
The
northern governors in support of Mr. Jang are believed to have shelved the
meeting in protest against what they considered a betrayal during the NGF
meeting.
Hours
before last month’s meeting and chairmanship election of the NGF, the northern
governors had met and endorsed Mr. Jang as their candidate for chairman. The
results of the election, in which Mr. Jang lost to Mr. Amaechi by 16 votes to
19, however showed that some of the northern governors did not vote for the
Plateau Governor.
Since
the voting was by secret ballot, no one can say for certain how the governors
voted although three of the northern governors, who are not members of the
Peoples Democratic Party, reportedly voted for Mr. Amaechi.
Niger governor admits problems
The
Chairman of the northern governors’ forum, Babangida Aliyu, admitted that there
were problems among the governors.
“I
know there was election (NGF) that someone won. We are having problems and we
will solve it,” Mr. Aliyu said while responding to questions from newsmen.
The
traditional press briefing prior to the meeting proper was unusually shelved.
Mr.
Aliyu simply asked journalists to leave the venue of the meeting so that the
northern governors could meet.
The
meeting started around 11:00 a.m. and ended around 1:30 p.m.
A
communiqué signed by the chairman at the end of the meeting expressed concern
over the economic problems facing the nation and the north in particular and
resolved to have an economic plan that would emanate from the states, zones and
the region to form a basis for economic development.
The
Forum also asked northern states to study the recommendations in the Draft
White Paper of the Committee on Reconciliation, Healing and Security and
promptly implement them as appropriate in the interest of peaceful co-existence
and development of the country.
On
the Petroleum Industry Bill, the meeting noted
that member states had already articulated and forwarded their various
positions on the bill to the National Assembly. The forum therefore resolved to
continue to engage members of the National Assembly for the speedy passage of
the bill in the overall interest of all.
Source: Premium Time
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