Nigerian Gov's Forum Disowned Gbenga Daniel
The Nigerian Governors' forum yesterday disowned the purported leadership of Gbenga Daniel while insisting that it is yet to effect any change in its leadership.The forum also agreed to set up a committee of six members headed by the governor of Lagos State, Babatunde Fashola, to look into issues of succession, tenure of chairman, transition arrangement, among others issues.Speaking to journalists after their meeting, Chairman of the forum, Bukola Saraki, said those who were involved in the purported meeting that took place regretted their action and the forum has accepted it. According to the unsigned communique, the NGF said it welcomed the new executive of the Ekiti governor, Kayode Fayemi. The communique further read: “Following the chairman's briefing and after exhaustive discusion around the issue of leadership, the forum resolved that there was no change in the leadership of the forum. Members resolved that for now the chairman will continue.
“Those members who were involved in the purported meeting that took place regretted their action and the forum accepted their apology. “The forum also agreed to set up a committee of six members headed by the Governor of Lagos State to look into issues of succession, tenure of chairman, transition arrangement etc. Other members of the committee are the governors of Niger, Sokoto, Borno, and Enugu states.” The governors also deliberated on the security challenges in the country and condoled with President Jonathan for the October 1st, 2010 bomb blast.
They also condemned in very strong terms any act of terrorism and violence and commended the security agencies for their swift response and reiterated a commitment to increase security survellance in all states while also condoling with their colleague, Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State for the loss of his mother.
The meeting of the governors however lived up to expectation with several governors from the opposition parties absenting themselves.
The governors that attended the meeting include those ofRivers, Delta, Katsina, Kaduna, kwara, Adamawa, Adamawa, Enugu, Sokoto, Bauchi, Ogun, Osun, Kogi, Plateau, Benue, Nasarawa, edo, jigawa and Taraba, Lagos, Edo,b Ekiti and three deputy governors.
Meanwhile, Gbenga Daniel has pushed back against critics of his purported selection as the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF), saying he does not even have the time for such an additional job that pays nothing.
“As you know, the Chairmanship of the Governors’ Forum is not a salaried appointment; my hands are full.
“I’m sorting out Ogun State matters and I’m also Goodluck Jonathan's Campaign Co-ordinator in the South West,” said the Ogun State Governor in Abeokuta.
Indeed, Daniel is grappling with a gridlocked state Assembly split into two factions: a group of nine (G9) lawmakers loyal to him, another 15 (G15) against him.
The man is virtually on his own, legislatively speaking, the Assembly having shut down months ago – without a resolution of the conflict in sight.
As for the NGF Chairmanship, he accused his Governor colleagues of playing a political game, saying: “All that happened concerning the Governors Forum is political abracadabra.”
Daniel narrated that he did not ask for the post, but quickly added that if it comes his way he would not reject it.
According to him, the controversy over his selection has to do with the Presidential election in which he has a vested interest, being the Co-ordinator of the Jonathan Campaign.
“If it (the NGF Chairmanship) comes, I will not say no. All these political abracadabra has to do with the Presidential election; it has nothing to do with me.”
The NGF met in Abuja on Wednesday night and was expected to pick Governor Abubakar Idris of Kogi State as Chairman, nominated by Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors after the selection of Daniel had kicked off a firestorm everywhere.
However, several Governors from the opposition parties boycotted the meeting, and only about 16 PDP Governors were in attendance at press time.
Of the eight opposition Governors – in Lagos, Borno, Ekiti, Ondo, Anambra, Kano, Yobe, and Edo – only Adams Oshiomhole of Edo was in attendance.
PDP Governors met at Kwara State Lodge, the opposition camp gathered in Asokoro.
Last Saturday, some PDP Governors purportedly got rid of Governor Bukola Saraki from the NGF Chairmanship and replaced him with Daniel.
Both Jonathan and Saraki are vying for the Presidential ticket of the PDP.
On Monday, Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, condemned the selection of Daniel, describing it as an undemocratic act by some PDP Governors out to usurp and subvert the will of the entire 36 Governors.
Daniel’s emergence is also opposed by some Northern PDP Governors, and by Oshiomhole, a member of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) like Fashola and Ekiti State Governor, Kayode Fayemi, who equally objects to the selection.
“The question of who leads the Forum must be a democratic process. It bothers me because the only single national agenda we have as a country today is free and fair elections,” Fashola said.
“As I was told, only 10 Governors gathered to choose him (Daniel). It is burdensome that this kind of thing can happen in a party that professes to want free and fair elections.”
In Fashola’s view, the development highlights the need for internal vigilance on the motive and mindset of PDP Governors ahead of the elections.
Fayemi also pointed out through his Media Assistant, Mojeed Jamiu, that the NGF is ‘Nigerian Governors’ Forum,’ and not PDP Governors’ Forum, “hence it should be democratic. No Governor should be imposed on everybody; it is not a PDP affair, but a Nigerian Governors’ Forum affair.”
The NGF is expected to play a pivotal role in who becomes President next year, and Jonathan would prefer a loyalist to be its Chairman.
However, some Northern Governors also want the post for a kinfolk, so as to protect the region’s interest in the national political calculus.
Niger State Governor and Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum (NGF), Babangida Aliyu, said the emergence of Daniel as NGF Chairman and is not acceptable.
Posted by Darey
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