Nigeria governors reconcile, set to elect new officials Monday

As the tenure of most state governors come to an end on May 29, they appear to have finally resolved to set aside their differences as members of the Nigeria Governors Forum, NGF, under the leadership of outgoing governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi.

A unified NGF meeting is expected hold, Monday, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja by 8 p.m.

The NGF went into crisis in May 2013 after the election of officials split the body into two. At the election, which held at the Rivers State Governors lodge in Abuja, Mr. Amaechi defeated his Plateau State counterpart, Jonah Jang, with 19 votes to 16.

However, indications at the time suggested that the Presidency was pushing for the emergence of anyone but the Rivers governor as NGF chair because of the political differences between Mr. Amaechi and President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience.

After the election, Mr. Jang refused to accept defeat and formed a parallel NGF with his colleagues who voted for him.

The Director General of the NGF, Ashishana Okauru, who confirmed Monday’s meeting to PREMIUM TIMES said al the governors have agreed to Mondays meeting.

He also said the major agenda of the meeting would be to look at the activities of the forum over time, saying, “We have not really met as one since May 2013”.

The DG said Mr. Amaechi would be the one giving the updates to his colleagues.

“We would also try to explore the possibility of getting new leaders,” he said.

Mr. Okauru said all second term governors are eligible to emerge ;adding, however, that a consensus arrangement may be considered. He said governors-elect would not participate in the meeting until after the handover of power on May 29.

Checks by PREMIUM TIMES show that Zamfara State governor, Abdualziz Yari, who has been the deputy to Mr. Amaechi since the 2013 election is in strong contention to emerge as the new NGF chair.

Apart from Mr. Yari, Governors Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Rochas Okorocha of Imo are also angling to take over from the Rivers governor.