Nigerian Governors have at last sheathed their sword and buried their differences. In a landmark meeting late Monday night in Abuja the governors resolved to unite and promote a common body under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum, NGF.
The meeting chaired by Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi, was held at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
Both PDP and APC Governors attended the meeting which started late Monday night and ended in the early hours of Tuesday. The very fact that the governors are reuniting after the acerbic general elections is a pointer that the incoming government of Muhammadu Buhari would not be badgered by schisms in the ranks of the governors when it eventually takes off.
Present at the meeting were Gabriel Suswam, Benue state; Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State; Ramalan Yero, Kaduna ; Abdullafatah Lawal, Kwara ; Godswil Akpabio, Akwa Ibom; Adams Oshiomhole, Edo; Babangida Aliyu Muazu, Niger; Rauf Aregbesola, Osun state; Kashim Shettima, Borno state; Ajimobi Abiola, Oyo; Saidu Dankingari, Kebbi state; Isa Yuguda, Bauchi State; Governors-elect Umar Ganduje, Kano state; Emmanuel Udom Akwai Ibom; Deputy Governors of Kogi, Nasarawa and Imo states.
Amaechi read out the communiqué thus:
“We the members of Nigeria Governors Forum ( NGF) at our meeting today at Transcorp Hilton Abuja deliberated on a number of issues and resolved as follows:
”We are here by reconciled and re united as a single umbrella association of the 36 states governors of Nigeria regardless of the party or region.
”We are now reconciled and reunited, we have passed the stage of 16 is greater than 19.
” The forum congratulate President-elect General Muhammadu Buhari on his victory in the recent presidential election, which held on March 28th 2015, and president Goodluck Jonathan for his statesmanship in accepting the outcome of the election”.
On the excess crude account, the Governors again asked the Finance Minister, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, to offer explanation on the missing money from the excess crude account.
Amaechi reads further, “There is need for the minister of finance and coordinating minister of the economy, Dr Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to provide explanation for the accrual to this account from June 2013 to April 2015 which is estimated at over 20 billion dollars.
“The induction program for new and returning governors would be held in June 2015. It is aimed at equipping new and returning governors with knowledge of global best practices establishing and running their offices, to establish a governors ‘ forum academy to be christened the NGF leadership academy which will be responsible for capacity building of governors and other officials holding offices”
” The academy would be overseen by the NGF secretariat.”
According to the outgoing chairman, Governor Amaechi, ”Governor Abdullaziz Yari of Zamfara state emerged as new chairman of NGF by consensus for one year period, May 2015 to May 2016”.
On those who were absent, he said, “The issues of the other governors, they are fully part of this meeting; over 20 governors came for the meeting.
“Accept my apologies, you know we hardly get up to 23 but here 20 governors attended, that is a very good attendance.”
