Force Against Amaechi,Presidency Entices Governors with Release of Statutory Funds

Governor Rotimi Amaechi

Northern govs, PDP govs, NGF meet   Amaechi cannot step down, says David-West

Chuks Okocha   and  Ernest Chinwo

Three separate meetings have been slated to take place today to determine who will become the chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF). The meetings are that of the Northern States Governors’ Forum (NSGF), the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Governors’ Forum and the NGF.

THISDAY also learnt from a source yesterday that the presidency is using the statutory ecological funds to entice the governors to vote for the anointed candidate.
It was gathered that some of the governors were considering the offer to release their statutory grants as offer ‘too difficult to resist’.

The northern governors are expected to meet at the Niger State governor’s lodge at 11.30 a.m. The meeting would be presided over by their chairman, Dr. Babangida Aliyu, who is also the governor of the state.

The second meeting is that of the PDP governors’ forum. It will take place at 2.30 p.m at the Akwa Ibom State Governor’s lodge while the NGF meeting will take place at 4 p.m at the Rivers State Governor’s lodge.

All the three meetings have one common agenda, which is the election of the chairman, deputy chairman and members of the Board of Trustees (BoT) for each of the six geo political zone of the federation.

Already, Abuja is busy with the presence of the governors who are all in town.
Meanwhile strong indications emerged last night that the NGF may not go ahead with its election as earlier scheduled for today if the pro-presidency governors insist on a no-election to produce the forum’s next chairman.

This, however, came up at a time the Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda, the man believed to be the president’s preferred candidate, picked up his nomination form, thus formerly declaring his interest in the race.

Sources close to the two camps hinted that the situation was tensed last night as both parties stuck to their guns. While the pro-Rotimi Amaechi governors said the constitution of the forum must be upheld to guide its activities, those sympathetic to the president insisted on consensus as a way to douse tension.

Given the situation, the election purported to hold today may have come under serious threat except something dramatic and defining happens in a way that would pave the way for reason.

One of the governors who, was obviously not pleased with the way both camps have handled the situation said: “The way out of this nonsense is election. Any other way will breed crisis and create undue gulf amongst the governors. Since the constitution stipulates an election, then it must be an election.

“I worry because I don’t know who is afraid of an election? And I am particularly worried that the president is now compelling and intimidating the feeble-minded among us to sign a resolution as against an election. Unfortunately, we are all not PDP governors and even some PDP governors are displeased with this drama of shame.”

THISDAY however, gathered that for inexplicable reasons, the northern governors billed to meet yesterday postponed their meeting to today.
It was gathered that the decision to meet today was to avoid pressures being mounted on them to compromise a position earlier taken.

With the insistence of the Katsina State Governor, Ibrahim Shema, to contest the NGF chairmanship election, the chances of the pro-presidency governors to ensure a consensus in the person of Yuguda could have reduced.

Shema had on Wednesday submitted his letter of intent to contest. His submission of the letter to the NGF secretariat in Asokoro, Abuja, is an indication that the northern governors could not achieve a consensus between Shema and Yuguda.
This is one of the main agenda of the northern governors meeting to try to reduce the pro-presidency consensus candidate.

THISDAY gathered that Shema agreed to contest because of what could be allegedly described as ego.

One of Shema’s aides told THISDAY that the March meeting of the PDP governors resolved that the election should be between River State Governor, Chubuike Amaechi and Shema explaining that Yuguda’s entry was against the spirit of the resolution.

Also, Amaechi is still in the race. One of his aides confirmed to THISDAY that the governor was still in the race, adding, “Oga is still in the race and has chosen to ignore the advice of the Rivers State PDP elders. As he said, he would accept the outcome of the election as an outcome of a democratic process, whether he wins or loses.”

The various Governors’ Lodge in Asokoro has become a beehive of activities as the governors are busy criss-crossing and linking to one another as part of the campaign.
The pro presidency governors claimed that they had more than a simple majority to win the election, saying it is still difficult to verify as the election would be through the secret ballot process.
A governor from the north-west told THISDAY that unless some of the candidates step down, it would be difficult to state clearly who will carry the day.

It was gathered that the meeting of the PDP governors would try to ensure a consensus, but, as one of the governors said, “It will be difficult to enforce it, unless pressure is mounted on the governors who have indicated interest.”

It was further gathered that the opposition governors, save for those of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko and Anambra State, Peter Obi, may vote differently as they are said to be among the pro-presidency governors.

Meanwhile, a renowned Professor of Virology and social critic, Prof. Tam David-West, has faulted the state PDP Elders’ Forum for urging Amaechi to ditch his quest for a second tenure as chairman of the NGF.

In a telephone interview Thursday, David-West said the PDP elders were ignorant of the politics going on, stating that the call was misplaced.

The former Minister of Petroleum Resources, who described the elders as contractors, who do not really understand the issues at stake, added that this was the first time a chairman of the NGF was being forced to go through the rigour of an election for a second tenure.
He said Jonathan had done a lot to dissuade Amaechi from running for a second term, and that the governor had refused to be cowed.