Jang leads factional NGF as governors split over Amaechi

The division thrown up by Friday’s election of Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State as chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has taken a twist as a faction of the Governors Forum has declared Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau State as chairman of the Forum.

At a briefing attended by 18 of the Governors at the Benue State Governor’s lodge on Saturday, the faction said Jang remained the authentic chairman of the Forum, with Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State as vice chairman.

According to the governors, the election that threw up Ameachi as chairman was flawed and therefore cannot stand.

A communique released at the end of the meeting and read by Mimiko stated:
“The new chairman of the NGF thanks the northern Governors Forum, the PDP Governors Forum and all the governors for the support and confidence reposed in him (Jang) and vowed to work for the interest of the Forum and country.

“The chairman of the NGF, Governor Jonah Jang vows to unite members of the Forum, work for the interest of the Forum and country.

“The Forum restates its commitment to continue being a platform for peer review, productive and collaborative engagement with all levels of government.

“The Forum also resolves to continue to encourage and collaborate with Mr. President to restore peace and security in the country.

“The Forum resolves to secure a befitting permanent secretariat outside any Governor’s lodge.

“The Forum thanks all Nigerians for their support and promised not to let them down”.

The communique was jointly signed by Jang and Mimiko as chairman and vice chairman respectively.

The governors said the fact that Ameachi refused to step down as chair of the Forum before the election had rendered the process null and void, adding that the Rivers Governor failed to yield to the demand of the majority of the governors to step down and dissolve the last executive of the Forum before the election.

Akwa Ibom State Governor, Godswill Akpabio insisted that it was wrong for Amaechi to preside over the election in which he was a contestant, saying that the Jang faction had the majority by affirmation.

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 Gov. 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.

The protesting governors insisted that 19 governors of the NGF had endorsed Jang and Mimiko for the election.