NGF crises (Update) : Jang faction meets, seeks for peace

 

THERE are indications that the faction of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum led by Plateau State Governor Jonah Jang is already in search of peace in the Forum.

One of the governors in the faction who attended the NGF meeting called by Jang, after the meeting in Abuja on Sunday, said “We need to settle down and settle our differences. It is not portraying us in good light before Nigerians and the international community. We need to put a stop to the factionalisation of the forum.”
Akwa Ibom State Governor Godswill Akpabio also told journalists before the end of the meeting that reconciliation was overdue. Akpabio said all the governors should be seen to be working together under one umbrella.

Akpabio, who is also the Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party’s Governors Forum, said, “We are going to reconcile. We need to work together as a team. We, all the governors, are going to reconcile and come together under one umbrella.

“We believe that all governors should come together so that we can positively impact on Nigerians.”

While he refused to answer further question as to whether Jang would step down for the Rivers State Governor Rotimi Amaechi as the NGF chair, the Akwa Ibom State governor however added that the governors were desirous to embark on peer review.

The governor said opposition had been exploiting the cracks in the NGF and those cracks needed to be sealed to prevent further damage.

“If we don’t settle our scores now it may not help the cause of the President. The opposition are already exploiting the fight among the governors to gain some grounds; we need to resolve our differences fast. We will meet with Obasabjo and thereafter meet with Mr. President to let him know that he will be the ultimate loser if the factionalisation in the NGF continues,” he said.

At the meeting which held at the faction’s headquarters located at the Maitama District of Abuja were Governors Martin Elechi ( Ebonyi); Theodore Orji (Abia); Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa); Olusegun Mimiko (Ondo); Ibrahim Shema (Katsina); and Acting Governor of Taraba, Garuba Umar.

Also in attendance were the deputy governors of Gombe, Kaduna, Anambra, Cross River and Kogi states. They all represented their governors.

The meeting, in a communique, read by Mimiko, reviewed the ongoing constitution amendment and constituted a five-man committee to streamline the proposed amendment.