The gulf in the ranks of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum became wider on Saturday as one of the claimants to the seat of the chairman of the body, Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State, conveyed a meeting of the Forum.
The meeting, held at the Benue State Governor’s Lodge in Abuja, sources said, was attended by 17 other governors.
A communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by Jang and his deputy, Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State, had the Plateau State Governor thanking his colleagues in the Northern Governors’ Forum, the Peoples Democratic Party Governors’ Forum and all governors in general for the confidence reposed in him.
Jang vowed to unite all governors and work for the interest of the country.
The Forum restated its commitment to continue being a platform for peer review, productive and collaborative engagement with all levels of government.
The Forum also resolved to continue to encourage and collaborate with President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan to restore peace and security in the country.
The Forum resolved to secure a befitting permanent secretariat outside any Governor’s lodge for its activities.
It thanked all Nigerians for their support and promised not to let them down.
The NGF became split on Friday with the re-election of the Rivers State Governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, as the chairman of the body.
Amaechi defeated Jang by 19 votes to 16.
However, governors opposed to the continuation of Amaechi in office described the election as a sham, insisting that it was Jang they wanted to head the body.
Governors that attended the meeting were: Jang (Plateau); Idris Wada (Kogi); Gabriel Suswam (Benue); Isa Yuguda (Bauchi); Theodore Orji (Abia); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); Mukhtar Yero (Kaduna); Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta); Garba Umar (Taraba); Liyel Imoke (Cross River); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Abdulfatah Ahmed (Kwara); Peter Obi (Anambra); Mimiko (Ondo); and Thaanod Rubainu (Deputy Governor, Gombe).
Although the names and signatures of Governors Sullivan Chime and Martin Elechi of Enugu and Ebonyi States respectively appeared on the attendance list, the two governors were not physically present at the meeting.
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